My friend Kristie was 30, making $12/hr in a potato factory. That was 11 yrs ago.
Today, she owns a viral empire of one-of-a-kind stays:
- mountaintop fire lookouts
- hobbit houses in the woods
- 6-ton potato turned hotel
- and a lot more
All without a single loan (her story):
Today, she owns a viral empire of one-of-a-kind stays:
- mountaintop fire lookouts
- hobbit houses in the woods
- 6-ton potato turned hotel
- and a lot more
All without a single loan (her story):
Kristie Wolfe grew up in Idaho, dropped out of high school, and spent a decade in factories.
One day, a friend sent her a job listing. The Idaho Potato Commission needed a spokeswoman for their iconic 6-ton potato.
She got the gig, touring fairs nationwide, saving every...
One day, a friend sent her a job listing. The Idaho Potato Commission needed a spokeswoman for their iconic 6-ton potato.
She got the gig, touring fairs nationwide, saving every...
...penny of her $60/day per diem.
A year later, she spotted a craigslist ad: 1/2 acre in Hawaii, $8,000.
Seller-financed for $200/mo. She bought it, sight unseen.
She sketched designs on napkins, hacked through the Hawaiian jungle with a chainsaw, and built a treehouse...
A year later, she spotted a craigslist ad: 1/2 acre in Hawaii, $8,000.
Seller-financed for $200/mo. She bought it, sight unseen.
She sketched designs on napkins, hacked through the Hawaiian jungle with a chainsaw, and built a treehouse...
...16 feet up in the rainforest.
All-in cost: $11,000.
She listed it on this new site called Airbnb. Within 2 months, fully booked. A youtuber’s viral video brought honeymooners in droves.
100 days later, the property was completely paid off. 🤯
All-in cost: $11,000.
She listed it on this new site called Airbnb. Within 2 months, fully booked. A youtuber’s viral video brought honeymooners in droves.
100 days later, the property was completely paid off. 🤯
Then she found a bare lot in rural Washington. No road access, no utilities.
She excavated into the hillside, and carried every piece of lumber up the trail by hand.
Three months, $50k all-in.
She listed the hobbit house at $400/night. It booked solid 18 mo out.
She excavated into the hillside, and carried every piece of lumber up the trail by hand.
Three months, $50k all-in.
She listed the hobbit house at $400/night. It booked solid 18 mo out.
And again - paid off in 100 days!
Her epiphany: people wanted experiences & would travel anywhere for them.
About a year later, scrolling a random forum, she found a 2-year-old post about an abandoned 1959 fire lookout tower in Idaho.
The realtor had forgotten to re-list it...
Her epiphany: people wanted experiences & would travel anywhere for them.
About a year later, scrolling a random forum, she found a 2-year-old post about an abandoned 1959 fire lookout tower in Idaho.
The realtor had forgotten to re-list it...
...and it was still available.
She bought it for $67k, seller-financed, along with 13 acres of huckleberries and huge trees on top of a mountain.
She gutted and renovated it in 4 months.
Then bought a 1964 snowcat and turned it into a cocoa bar on treads so guests...
She bought it for $67k, seller-financed, along with 13 acres of huckleberries and huge trees on top of a mountain.
She gutted and renovated it in 4 months.
Then bought a 1964 snowcat and turned it into a cocoa bar on treads so guests...
...could stay even in winter.
Five years after her potato tour, the mega hit arrived.
The commission was retiring the famous potato for a newer, more roadworthy one.
Kristie pitched them: “let me turn it into an airbnb.”
The old-school marketing guys rolled their eyes...
Five years after her potato tour, the mega hit arrived.
The commission was retiring the famous potato for a newer, more roadworthy one.
Kristie pitched them: “let me turn it into an airbnb.”
The old-school marketing guys rolled their eyes...
...and said “sure," gifting her the potato (it had cost ~$750k to build years before) and trademark.
She hauled it to a $7,500 lot she’d bought near Boise, worked her magic inside, added a grain silo for the bathroom, and listed it.
Overnight, the potato exploded globally...
She hauled it to a $7,500 lot she’d bought near Boise, worked her magic inside, added a grain silo for the bathroom, and listed it.
Overnight, the potato exploded globally...
Drew Barrymore, Today Show, corporate commercials, World Cup ad, and a 22M-view youtube video.
And then Brian Chesky called (but that’s another story). They’re good friends to this today.
Kristie kept building: a shipwreck house on a mountain lake, a cocoon on the Oregon coast...
And then Brian Chesky called (but that’s another story). They’re good friends to this today.
Kristie kept building: a shipwreck house on a mountain lake, a cocoon on the Oregon coast...
And now she’s building her most ambitious project:
55 acres in Idaho with a fire lookout museum and a series of 30-ft stargazing towers.
She crowdfunded $450k on indiegogo (without giving up any equity) by pre-selling 1,000 nights.
55 acres in Idaho with a fire lookout museum and a series of 30-ft stargazing towers.
She crowdfunded $450k on indiegogo (without giving up any equity) by pre-selling 1,000 nights.
Somehow, Kristie has never taken a bank loan. Every build done with her own hands. No crew, just occasional help from her brother Sam.
A few weeks ago, she stopped by to see our farmhouse restoration, train car, and the work we’ve been up to in Deary. World-class human.
A few weeks ago, she stopped by to see our farmhouse restoration, train car, and the work we’ve been up to in Deary. World-class human.
In 12 years: 7 properties, millions in equity, and ~$500k annual revenue (soon to double).
From $12.50 an hour in a potato factory… to one of Airbnb’s most iconic & valuable portfolios.
And she’s just getting started.
From $12.50 an hour in a potato factory… to one of Airbnb’s most iconic & valuable portfolios.
And she’s just getting started.
https://x.com/isaacfrench_/status/1964319649853734976
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