'Off the grid' and 'retreat' go together when you really want to retreat. Someone built an off-the-grid retreat on 40 acres of forest south and west of Tacoma in 1965, when off the grid was just another way of saying 'very rustic'. The cabin has never been on the public market until now, which means new views of a largely unseen place. They're asking $1,500,000 for the 1,082 square foot A-frame plus two other ADUs (aka cabins). The main house has 2 bedrooms and 1 bath, but what it really has is style (and photos with cartoonish colors). Instead of a simple brick or rock fireplace, there is an arched hearth bracketed by a live edge buttress and a metal spiderweb spark guard. From the classic stove to the pragmatic yet appealing kitchen storage, the place was evidently lived in, artistically. Outside, some of the rustic details are apparent: an outhouse, an enormous wood shed, and a spring that provides the water with an assist from gravity. The other two cabins are more conventional and may be more appealing to minimalists who want to retreat from distractions. It is a good opportunity to retreat with friends. It is up to you whether you want to access the Internet. It may be off the grid, but evidently it isn't off the web.
· 17400 Chatwood Rd SE, Rainier [Estately]
· All Cabin Fever coverage [CS]
· All Tiny Homes coverage [CS]
Written by Tom Trimbath