A lakeside scene with a large yellow building and a dock, surrounded by tall pine trees during sunset.

RETREAT OVERVIEW

A WORKING PROPERTY TURNED PRIVATE RETREAT

The Retreat sits on Glengary Bay, a quiet cove along the shore of Lake Pend Oreille, where the water is calm and the Selkirk Mountains rise above. Small by design, the property is nine acres with 400 feet of lakefront, surrounded by tall pines at the edges. The buildings and gathering spaces sit lakeside.

A cozy living room with wooden walls and ceiling, featuring a large stone fireplace, a flat-screen TV, four salmon-colored sofas with dark pillows, and a red patterned rug. There are multiple lamps, some with blue bases, and decorative animal and fish wall-mounted figures, along with a bar area and various chairs and tables.

THE CHARACTER

A PACIFIC NORTHWEST LODGE with a MID-CENTURY SOUL

At its core, The Retreat is a place with a remarkable past. Once the lakeside home and working property of inventor Dr. Forrest Bird, it has been carefully preserved while evolving into a private retreat for today's gatherings. Its architecture, craftsmanship, and enduring sense of purpose continue to shape the experience of being here.

Two men in suits standing in the Oval Office, one of them holding a box with medals or awards inside, with American flags and presidential furnishings in the background.
Two men in tuxedos are shaking hands in a formal setting with yellow curtains and flags in the background.

A Legacy OF INNOVATION

Long before it became a private retreat, this was the lakeside home and working property of Dr. Forrest Bird, pioneering aviator, inventor, and creator of the first mass-produced medical ventilator.

Many of his most important breakthroughs began here, inspired by a lifelong curiosity and a belief that stepping away from convention creates space for new ideas.

Today, that same spirit remains. The buildings have been carefully preserved, and the property continues to offer what it always has: room to think, create, and see things differently.

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FOUR DISTINCT BUILDINGS, and an Airstream

Thirty bedrooms across four buildings and one Airstream, with overnight accommodations for 30 single-occupancy guests or up to 74 with shared rooms.

People gathering outside a building with wooden beams and string lights, overlooking a body of water in the background.

The LODGE

Home to The Hangar event space and the upstairs Nest with lake views. Six bedrooms upstairs.

Wooden house with large glass windows, a balcony with a railing, surrounded by trees and a landscaped yard with flowers, shrubs, and a stone retaining wall.

The BIRDHOUSE

Dr. Bird's former primary residence, situated directly on the lake. Five bedrooms, one full kitchen, and common living areas.

Aerial view of lakeside property with house, dock, boat, trees, and green lawn.

The GALLERY

(Coming Summer 2027!) The newest addition, tucked at the back in the shade of the trees. Fourteen bedrooms.

A large wooden house with a porch and four garage doors at the bottom, situated in a wooded area with tall trees and green grass.

The INVENTOR’S LOFT

A duplex tucked into the trees, with four bedrooms, two full kitchens, common living area, and a lakeside deck.

Airstream camper trailer parked on a patio with chairs and flowers, a wooden multi-story building with balconies, and a stone staircase leading to the upper level. There are trees, grass, and mountains in the background.

The LAB

An Airstream in the center of it all. Ideal for the adventurer in the group who loves a unique experience, and perfectly located for a late-night lake plunge. Fully hooked up to water and electricity, with a small full bathroom and a kitchenette.

EXPLORE ACCOMMODATIONS

ONE GROUP.
THE ENTIRE PROPERTY. Exclusively Yours.

THE RETREAT and Beyond

A wooden house with a red roof and a stone and wooden patio area, located by a body of water, surrounded by tall evergreen and deciduous trees in a natural setting, under a clear blue sky.

THE PROPERTY

Get the lay of the land and see how the buildings, gathering spaces, shoreline, and natural spaces all fit together.

VIEW PROPERTY MAP
Two women sitting on a red sofa with a dog, holding mugs, in a wooden balcony with mountain and forest views.

GATHERING SPACES

See how the property is set up for meals, meetings, lakefront time, music by the amphitheater, fireside conversations, and the moments in between.

SEE GATHERING SPACES
A person standing on a rocky trail surrounded by trees overlooking a large body of water and distant mountains under a partly cloudy sky.

THE LAKE & BEYOND

See how the property is set up for meals, meetings, lakefront time, music by the amphitheater, fireside conversations, and the moments in between.

EXPLORE THE AREA
A group of four people and a dog standing on a boat near a lake, with trees and blue sky in the background.

THE THORP FAMILY

CONTINUING The STORY

Steve and Terry Thorp first became neighbors of Dr. Forrest Bird in 1998, and a friendship quickly followed.

When the opportunity arose to purchase the property from the Bird estate in 2015, it wasn't simply a real estate decision. It was the chance to care for a place they already knew and loved.

Over the years, they've thoughtfully restored the buildings while preserving the character that made the property so special, creating a private retreat where groups can disconnect, reconnect, and gather with purpose.

Today, their daughter Mae oversees the retreat, continuing a family connection that began long before she was born.

People sitting around a fire pit on a deck overlooking a lake during dusk, with mountains and a house in the background.

COULD THE RETREAT
BE THE RIGHT PLACE
FOR Your Gathering?

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