Trading the City for the Unknown

We traded the city’s noise for the canyon’s silence, leaving the fast-paced world behind for a front-row seat to the cosmos.

Our journey began in a simple camper in remote Southeast Arizona. We had no Wi-Fi, no phone service, and hauled our own water. It was challenging, but deeply transformative. In that quiet, minimalist space, we learned to truly tune in to nature—tracking the sun across canyon walls and watching the night sky come alive with stars like we had never seen before.

We didn’t just move to the desert. We let it change us.

Welcome to Our Piece of Paradise

This cabin is worthy of the extraordinary land it sits on. After years of camper life, we knew exactly which simple luxuries we wanted to share with our guests in Portal: a modern three-level multi-head shower, an outdoor fireplace, a screened-in porch for bug-free lounging, wide French doors for year-round indoor/outdoor living, and sweeping wilderness views from every room.

It took three years of dedicated work to build the infrastructure, haul materials, and place the cabin just off Portal Road by the historic Mighty Oak landmark.

We are incredibly proud to welcome fellow travelers, birdwatchers, and stargazers. We invite you to experience the magic of the Chiricahua Sky Islands with all the comforts—from high-speed Starlink to purified reverse-osmosis drinking water—we once only dreamed of providing.

Today, we are deeply connected to our local community. Emily manages the Chiricahua Bird/Sky Cabin, while Mark works at the nearby Southwestern Research Station (SWRS).

Welcome to the canyon,

Emily & Mark