Today we're speaking with Chase, who has taken the concept of rapid scaling to a whole new level. In just five years, he's gone from buying his first cabin in Running Springs, California, to owning eight properties across multiple states—all while maintaining a full-time career as a loan officer and raising a family. What started as a weekend retreat they could barely use because it kept getting booked has evolved into a sophisticated development and investment strategy that includes land hacking, private money raising, and even flipping Teslas to fund cabin purchases.From adding patina to brand-new renovations with personal record collections to creating secret amenities that delight guests through treasure hunts, Chase has mastered both the emotional and financial sides of the cabin business. We'll explore his three-role framework of visionary, manager, and technician, why he believes cabins should be about intentional experiences rather than convenience, and how strategic placement in established markets has allowed him to scale without heavy marketing investments.Whether you're dreaming of your first cabin or wondering how to grow beyond your current portfolio, this conversation offers insights into the systems, partnerships, and mindset shifts that enable rapid growth while maintaining the magic that makes cabins special. Plus, we dive deep into unconventional marketing tactics, from color contrast theory in Airbnb photos to maximizing SEO across multiple booking platforms.Instagram: @lightfootcabinBooking Site: https://charifavacationrentals.holidayfuture.com/all-listingsCozy Rock Cabin: https://staycozycabin.holidayfuture.com/listings/311027Cozy Camp Sebec: https://staycozycabin.holidayfuture.com/listings/311051Cozy Rock Website: http://www.staycozycabin.comYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_FgMwAgvORd1IwlH1nlC9g
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Systems, S'mores & Sustainable Hosting | Steph Gutierrez, North Country Cabin Co.
Today I'm chatting with Steph, the force behind North Country Cabin Co., who has been building a Wisconsin lake cabin empire for over a decade. What started as a corporate escape plan and a podcast-inspired lightbulb moment has evolved into four distinctive lake properties and a completely reimagined life centered around what truly fills her up.From drilling wells that cost double the estimate to managing hot tub maintenance across multiple properties, Steph shares the unglamorous realities that most people don't realize about running cabins. But she also reveals how fostering over sixty dogs taught her about transformation and joy—lessons that translate beautifully to watching guests fall in love with the same lakes and landscapes that captured her heart years ago.We'll explore her journey from house-hacking duplexes to building cabins from napkin sketches, the systems that allow her to manage four properties while raising two toddlers, and why she now prioritizes energy management over time management. Plus, we dive into hot topics like cameras on lake properties, the reality of cabin expenses, and why sometimes the best business strategy is simply creating spaces you genuinely love and helping others see what you see in them.Whether you're dreaming of your first lake cabin or scaling beyond your current properties, this conversation offers both practical wisdom and a reminder that there are countless ways to build a life around what brings you joy. Instagram: @northcountrycabincoBooking Site: https://northcountrycabinco.comCozy Rock Cabin: https://staycozycabin.holidayfuture.com/listings/311027Cozy Cabin Boone: https://staycozycabin.holidayfuture.com/listings/311026Cozy Camp Sebec: https://staycozycabin.holidayfuture.com/listings/311051Cozy Rock Website: http://www.staycozycabin.comYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_FgMwAgvORd1IwlH1nlC9g
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Unicorn, Work Horse, Donkey | Janice Smith, Cozy Rock Cabin
I am excited to launch a new format for some of our podcast episodes! I'm calling these 'Anchor Episodes', and they're just me 😬They'll be a bit shorter, and will be a deep dive of some of the ideas/thoughts/concepts that I reference regularly (but briefly) during our interviews with guests. My hope is it will provide some helpful content for regular listeners, as well as a way to share in the future on episodes where we mention these. This episode is all about the 'Unicorn, Work Horse and Donkey' business model comparison, the creative genius of Annemie Tonken (Photographer & Podcast host). I was listening to the podcast episode linked below on a long drive to the cabin several years ago, and couldn't stop thinking about how it applied to the world of AirBNB's and STR's. So in this episode I start by explaining the three models, and then give examples for each from my own properties where I've hosted guests over the last 10 years. I would LOVE your feedback on 1) if this is helpful and enjoyable, 2) what topics you would like me to cover and 3) any suggestions for how we can make it even better!Annemie Tonken, 'This Can't Be That Hard': https://www.thiscantbethathard.com/Episode that got me thinking about all this:  https://www.thiscantbethathard.com/podcast/038Cozy Rock Cabin: https://staycozycabin.holidayfuture.com/listings/311027Cozy Cabin Boone: https://staycozycabin.holidayfuture.com/listings/311026Cozy Camp Sebec: https://staycozycabin.holidayfuture.com/listings/311051Cozy Rock Website: http://www.staycozycabin.comYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_FgMwAgvORd1IwlH1nlC9g
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From Loss to Light | Mia Holland, Three Sisters Farm Maine
Today I'm speaking with Mia, a clinical psychologist who transformed childhood memories of a Maine dairy farm into a healing refuge for her family after profound loss. When Mia and her husband lost their six-and-a-half-year-old daughter Eloise, they discovered that all the therapeutic tools in the world couldn't shield them from devastation—but they could find solace in returning to the place where Mia felt most herself as a child.Three Sisters Farm isn't just a 1850s rambling farmhouse on eleven acres in mid-coast Maine; it's a testament to the healing power of place and the courage to rebuild after tragedy. From discovering Sarah Morton's signature scratched in the original window glass to creating outdoor living spaces that invite guests to simply be, Mia has crafted a space where the truest versions of ourselves can emerge.In our conversation, we explore how physical spaces can facilitate healing, the difference between being and doing, and why sometimes the most important journey is back to who we were before the world told us who we should be. We'll discuss the privilege inherent in creating these escapes while acknowledging that relentlessness alone can't conquer everything, and how sharing these sanctuaries with others becomes both a practical necessity and an unexpected gift.Whether you're drawn to farmhouse culture, cabin culture, or simply searching for your own place of respite, this conversation offers profound insights into how we can create spaces that honor our deepest needs while opening our hearts to community and connection.Website: https://www.threesistersfarmmaine.comIG Handle: @threesistersfarmmaineVideo, by Ethan Abitz: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Yt53KmC5dgiWLbCgIxerKay-Z5S0A5jx/view?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaeyWzyuONncByvo4tVDu0P2k7iypbl7gYc55YAfjX1Qd5hJFbpleghNiUoeOg_aem_L0AoWMM0Z8qaXCS60N1QGw Cozy Rock Cabin: https://staycozycabin.holidayfuture.com/listings/311027Cozy Cabin Boone: https://staycozycabin.holidayfuture.com/listings/311026Cozy Camp Sebec: https://staycozycabin.holidayfuture.com/listings/311051Cozy Rock Website: http://www.staycozycabin.comYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_FgMwAgvORd1IwlH1nlC9g
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Beyond the Build | Maura Gianobile, The Everwoods
Today we're welcoming Maura, an interior designer who created the Everwoods brand in Ohio's stunning Hocking Hills region. Drawing inspiration from childhood summers at a Wyoming dude ranch, Maura and her husband Tony have built four distinctive cabins that showcase the evolution from rustic log cabins to modern mountain retreats in this hidden Midwest gem. What started as a dream to escape corporate America has become a lesson in brand building, strategic partnerships, and navigating the complexities of hosting both intimate couples and large groups.From hand-sketching blueprints at their kitchen table to managing two HVAC failures in a single winter, Maura shares the realities of running multiple properties while maintaining a full-time design business. We'll explore her approach to creating functional layouts that cater to different guest dynamics, the challenge of protecting families from themselves in our hyperconnected world, and how she's adapted to market changes with innovative add-on services ranging from in-cabin massage to photography sessions.Whether you're considering your first cabin investment or looking to scale an existing operation, this conversation offers honest insights into the emotional labor of hospitality, the unexpected rewards of building community with guests, and why sometimes the most foolproof solution means removing the remote control entirely.Website: https://www.theeverwoods.com Interior Design Website: https://theeverwoodsinteriors.comIG Handle: @the.everwoodsCozy Rock Cabin: https://staycozycabin.holidayfuture.com/listings/311027Cozy Cabin Boone: https://staycozycabin.holidayfuture.com/listings/311026Cozy Camp Sebec: https://staycozycabin.holidayfuture.com/listings/311051Cozy Rock Website: http://www.staycozycabin.comYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_FgMwAgvORd1IwlH1nlC9g
Janice, cabin owner and AirBNB Superhost for 9+ years, speaks with cabin lovers, dwellers, builders, designers, and creators in the cabin community to find out what drives their passion for adventure, escape and sense of place.
Ireland