The Smokejumper Tiny Home Resort — Hotel in Idaho City

We stayed at the Smokejumper Tiny Home resort in Idaho City in mid-July 2024.

The tiny homes themselves are amazing. Whoever designed and outfitted them has a true gift for design. Every detail, from the full bathroom and compact but fully functional kitchen, to the office space and sleeping area, seems to have been thoughtfully carefully considered. Some highlights were the small "retro" type fridge, the coffee machine, which produced fine espresso, and the impressive cooktop. The downstairs space, which felt quite spacious, had a full sleeper sofa and was very comfortable. The smart glass windows downstairs and in the loft worked well, although they don't fully block the light, and the upper downstairs section had no curtain, letting in a fair amount of nighttime light from the compound.

Were I reviewing the tiny home only, this would clearly be a five star review. But alas, there were a couple outside issues, one in particular, that detracted from our stay. Unlike the interior, which was spotlessly cleaned, the wood patio just beyond the door had food strewn about from the previous occupant, as well as small bits of garbage around the firepit and in the pit itself. Really not that big of an issue though. What really was a problem for us was the common area. For context, the resort has an outdoorsy feel, with trees around the compound and lovely views of the forest. However, central to the circle of homes is a seating area with a large screen TV, available to anyone that wants to use it. So imagine just as you have grilled your dinner on the wonderful firepit in front of your unit and are sitting peacefully gazing at the trees, Kung Fu Panda 2 starts blaring on the TV. Perplexing, as each unit has its own TV loaded with all the streaming apps. Given all the consideration given the homes themselves, it begs the question: "What were they thinking?" The concept of a central gathering area is great one. Tables to chat and meet fellow traveler, games to play? Great. But a blaring TV?

Nonetheless, this was a very unique place and worth a stay if you have ever been curious about tiny homes and their potential. Just understand that your stay may not been the peaceful and quiet one you might...

Can we talk about how clean, pretty and well equipped these tiny homes are? River rock shower floor, high end soaps, a work station with very strong, very fast wifi, microwave, cooktop, dishes and Nespresso machine are only some of the creature comforts the wonderful hosts have included. Before our arrival there were very thorough text messages and email with all of the relevant details and then some. It's worth mentioning their pre-visit communications managed to cover all of the requisite legal-ese but with a warm and courteous tone, unlike most other vacation rental hosts. I stayed with my daughter and two grandsons for one affordable night and we left wishing we had made it two. The children looked for fish in the stream while we started a fire to cook dinner, after which we trooped over to the rustic outdoor cinema with a view of the forest and snow capped mountains in the distance, which is magical at dusk. We lounged like VIP's in our cozy blankets, picking our choice of movie via streaming services. After a dip in the hot tub with other guests, we all slept peacefully, they in the loft on the king size bed gazing at the stars through the skylight. When we woke in the forest, natural light streaming through our smart windows (once we were ready to let the world in with a push of a button); we walked to a quaint cafe, a neighborhood market and ice cream parlor. There is a laundry facility onsite and for each dwelling, a solo stove with grill top for your burgers, dogs and marshmallows. Even the roasting sticks were provided. Bring your swimsuit and your toothbrush, and you're there! A family of four or less will be comfortable in the space. They have dog friendly and pet free homes as well as an ADA compliant option. It's worth noting The Springs (hot springs and spa) is a short drive away but check their hours if you want to include that on your itinerary. We will all remember our visit to Smokejumper Tiny Home Resort. This getaway...

We stayed at The Smokejumper Tiny Home Resort while bike packing the Idaho Hot springs Loop and had multiple camping days and days of over 100 degree temps prior to our stay, so we really appreciated the comforts. It doesn't matter that we were very ready for basic luxuries, we would have loved the place anyway. It's great to see a business that is committed to providing a quality experience for their customers. It's obvious that the owners took the time, energy and money required to figure out the big and small things that make a difference to travelers. The entire facility was spotless, the appliances were efficient and functioned flawlessly. Not only were the major components good, the little things like free laundry, free coffee, and even free popcorn were exactly what we wanted. From the design of the buildings to the thoughtful amenities its clear that the owners are caring and smart. All that and very reasonaby priced. While the entire area had a power outage during our stay, which could be seen as a negative, it only served to demonstrate the caring and communication the owners provide. There is nothing they can do about it and it's not their fault, They responded quickly to our text asking whether it was just our building or the community as a whole and provided clear and updated info about the situation. It's a...