Three years ago, we welcomed our very first guests. Six years before that, the Hazelnut Inn was just a crazy dream. Hailey and I sold our home, leveraged everything we owned, and poured almost a decade of our lives into building our magical little hotel.

There were endless exhausting days and plenty of sleepless nights — wondering if we were completely foolish for risking so much. (Though Hailey, the heart of my heart, never doubted.)

A Year In Advance

These days, those fears have grown quiet. And this week, the Hazelnut Inn reached an incredible new milestone: we took our very first booking exactly one year in advance.

Seeing that “year-out” reservation pop up on the screen felt like a profound release. While we expect this will eventually become our regular rhythm, this very first one is a beautiful validation of every sacrifice we made.

More Than Just A Booking

What truly overwhelms me, though, isn’t the calendar filling up; it’s our guests’ stories.

I read every single note left in our guestbooks. Guests continually comment on the level of detail and how “real” the experience feels. Hearing that they felt like they were “stepping into another world,” or that they teared up as they crossed the threshold, is profoundly humbling.

Our magic is a team effort and a massive part belongs to my sister Becke, who pours meticulous thought and care into every single stay as our innkeeper.

A Heartfelt Thank You

To every guest who has stayed with us, to everyone who has shed a tear in our suites, and to the folks who just booked their getaway for next July: thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Our journey is just beginning, and we cannot wait to welcome you — whether you’re visiting next week, or a year from now.

Old Mr. Burrows occasionally tells the story of the heavy night-mists that rolled off the Vedder River in the days of his thrice-great-grandmother: Baba Zayka. This was no ordinary fog; it was a grey, weight that settled in the bones, leaving the local rabbits twitchy and the village folk unable to find the quiet side of sleep.

Baba Zayka watched the fog creep toward the timber doors of the Under Hill and knew the burrow was in peril — but she didn’t bolt her doors. Instead, she climbed to the ancient, moon-silvered tree atop the hill and harvested a single, sturdy limb.

Then, in the amber glow of her hearth, she worked with purpose. She rubbed the wood with hazelnut oil until it hummed with warmth and bound bundles of dried yarrow to its base with twine. She wasn’t building a weapon, but a hearth-broom.

As the mists tried to pour over her threshold, Baba Zayka stepped out to meet them. She began to sweep, humming a low, rhythmic tune that echoed the steady pulse of the earth. With every stroke, the yarrow stalks caught at the fog. 

Like wool snagging on a briar, the heavy shadows were pulled from the air and trapped within the bristles. She swept until the air felt light and the valley was clear.

At the first light of dawn, Baba Zayka tapped the broom thrice against the cobblestones. A soft cloud of golden pollen puffed out, filling the garden with the scent of sun-dried yarrow and the weightless promise of a deep sleep.

Mr. Burrows claims — always with a wink — that when the moon is full, you can see that same broom standing guard at his door. He says that when you cross the Under Hill’s threshold, the weight of the world is swept away, leaving you finally ready for a good night’s rest.

At the Hazelnut Inn, we poured years of love and craft into building an escape from the ordinary world. But when we opened our doors, we didn’t realize the true magic would be the footprints our guests would leave on our hearts.

Opening our guestbooks feels like uncovering buried treasure. Every week, we find heartfelt stories, poetry, and hand-drawn sketches. Our visitors aren’t just signing their names; they are leaving pieces of their hearts with us.

A Beautiful Surprise Under the Hill

Recently, a couple celebrating a massive milestone — 34 years of marriage — left behind a delicate watercolour painting of two rabbits holding hands with a poem that perfectly captures why we do what we do.

With their permission, we are honoured to share their beautiful words:

We came back to Chilliwack
hand in hand still,
and found the most magical
burrow, Under Hill.

With whimsy and wonder
tucked under each beam,
it felt as though we'd stepped
right into a dream.

34 years married & still
full of cheer,
how lovely to celebrate
such memories here.

For places made with kindness,
imagination and skill,
leave footprints on the heart —
and so will Under Hill.

The Ultimate Reward

We tucked whimsy into every corner of our suites, but seeing it become a page in a 34 year long, real-world love story is simply magical.

To all our past and future guests: thank you for sharing your stories, your art, and your poems. You are just as much a part of the Hazelnut Inn as the walls themselves.