Where the rolling hills of golden wheat fold themselves into wooded canyons and creek beds, tucked away like a secret letter into a sacred hiding spot, Stella’s Homestead is a love letter to the Walla Walla Valley’s natural and historical landscapes.
The Coppei Creek runs right through the fold of Stella’s Homestead. The word coppei comes from the Palouse language and means “birth place,” and it’s easy to understand why Stella Homestead’s host – Cheryl Hansen – is so happy to share her birth place on the banks of the Coppei Creek with guests who stay there.
While the exact location that is now Stella’s Homestead has been in her family for two generations, their roots reach even further down into this very same South Coppei Creek canyon, going back four generations and spanning over 135 years. Hansen’s great grandfather Robert William Leid purchased his first farm on top of Coppei Mountain in 1889. Today, regional history buffs may come to the Homestead for the history but will stay (and return) for the heart of Hansen’s hospitality.
The Homestead has five different options for accommodations, offering versatility for different group sizes.
The tiny house aptly named La Casita is tucked back on the property and offers a quiet respite for guests, sleeping 1 – 2 people.
Stella’s Shed sleeps up to four, with a queen-sized bed on the main floor and two double beds in the loft – a cozy choice for a family with kids.
Then there’s Calico’s Chicken House. Don’t let the name fool you, because Calico’s Chicken House is certainly not for the birds. Sleeping up to four people, this lodge has a queen bed in an enclosed bedroom, with a roomy living area with a full size sleeper sofa and kitchenette. And for an additional dose of outdoor serenity, a private deck looking out over the banks of South Fork Coppei Creek.
The Harvest House is a private apartment in the lower level of the main house and sleeps up to 3 people. Like with all the other Stella’s Homestead accommodations, the Harvest House has its own kitchen and bathroom.
A stay in The Shop is where the Homestead’s sense of history really comes to light. A bunk house that sleeps up to eight people, it’s no stretch of the imagination to think what boarding in this historic bunkhouse in the midst of a busy harvest season would have entailed. In The Shop, guests can cook in the roomy kitchen and share meals at the expansive harvest table – an original heirloom from the Hansen family’s farm where seasonal harvest workers gathered together for meals.
But regardless of where on the Homestead guests stay, they all share in its warmth, enduring history, and natural beauty. One of the best perks of a Stella Homestead’s stay is access to the Homestead’s private trails traversing the property.
As the bird flies, the Skyrocket Trail is just a flitting jaunt to the top of Stella’s Ridge. But as the hiker saunters, the steep trail winds up switchbacks to the top of the ridge. For those sure of foot, the vast views out across the Walla Walla are well worth the trudge to the top, where there’s a well-placed bench for taking in the expansive views. While steep, the hike is short. The hike up and back spans just over half a mile with three benches along the way to sit and capture the views.
For Homestead guests who prefer to stick to steadier footing and a lesser graded slope, the Sparky Trail is a soft forested trail that ambles along the Coppei Creek bed.
While Homestead guests typically come for the peace and quiet of the country, it’s also worth taking in the night life – the wildlife night life that is. As the day softens into evening and the sun sets below the hills, wild turkeys spill out from the trees into the yard. Deer come out to graze. Listen and look closely and a great grey owl may make its own special guest appearance.
Things to know before you go:
Stella’s Homestead and its surrounding areas are located on lands that hold an important place in the traditions of the Palus and Nez Perce tribes. Learn more about how the surrounding region supports the culture and way of life of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
Getting there:
For guests flying in to the Walla Walla airport, Stella’s Homestead is just a short 13 mile drive from the airport, heading east on Highway 12. After about 9 miles, turn right onto Lewis Peak Rd, just before the grain elevator. Where the road splits after 0.2 miles, hang to the left onto Walker Rd. After a mile and a half, turn right onto South Fork Coppei Creek Road. Stella’s Homestead will be another 1.5 miles down on the right.