A couple rents its 40-foot-tall fire tower on Airbnb for over $260 a night — over 1,600 are on the waitlist for the property's 65 spots

Amanda AdlerAug 13, 2024, 22:23 IST

Dabney Tompkins and Alan Colley built the 388-square-foot property in the 2000s.Tom Hanny

A couple built a 40-foot-tall Airbnb inspired by the US Forest Service's fire-lookout towers.
Located in remote Oregon, the 388-square-foot rental sleeps four and has a full kitchen.

Drive along a one-lane gravel road deep in Oregon's Umpqua National Forest, and you'll find Summit Prairie, a secluded 40-foot fire-lookout tower with three beds, a pee pot, and limited cell service. Over 1,600 people are on the waitlist to spend the night there.

Dabney Tompkins and Alan Colley built the tower in 2009 as a reprieve from city life in Portland. "Some people want to have a ski condo. Some people want a beach cottage for a second home. But we said, 'Let's do a fire lookout.'" Tompkins told Business Insider.

Years later, the couple started renting Summit Prairie on Airbnb, staying nearby on the 160-acre property so they could serve as high-touch hosts. Now, they have a list of regulars and more demand than the property can accommodate.

The US Forest Service manages rentals of repurposed fire lookouts, but these historic properties are hard to come by.

Dabney Tompkins and Alan Colley decided to build their own tower in the early 2000s.Tom Hanny

In 2004, demand for fire-lookout rentals was so strong that Tompkins and Colley decided to build a tower of their own.

Summit Prairie is outside of Tiller, Oregon.Tom Hanny

The couple hired skilled craftsmen to develop the 40-foot tower, which is only accessible via four flights of stairs.

There's no elevator or escalator on the property.Tom Hanny

The pair eventually listed the tower on Airbnb, where it now goes for about $260 a night.

The couple used to live nearby on the land.Tom Hanny

Summit Prairie has expansive mountain views, a full kitchen, an exterior shower on the deck, and a wood-fired hot tub.

The kitchen and dining table are in the main room.Dabney Tompkins

The property sleeps four, with two twin-size beds on the 324-square-foot main floor.

The twin-size beds are on the same level as the kitchen and dining area.Alan Colley

There's also a queen-size bed in the 64-square-foot cupola.

Guests have to climb stairs to get to the cupola.Allan Colley

Summit Prairie guests have to walk about 100 feet from the tower to use the bathroom.

The toilet is in an enclosed space.Tom Hanny

Inside the bathroom, there's a pit toilet.

The toilet is a short walk from the tower.Tom Hanny

Tompkins and Colley have forged meaningful relationships with many of their Airbnb guests.

Summit Prairie attracts solo travelers, large groups, and everything in between.Tom Hanny

Colley and Tompkins no longer live at Summit Prairie, but the property's popularity has continued to grow. And snagging a stay at this coveted listing is no small feat.

Many guests choose to stargaze during their stay at Summit Prairie.Joel Belmont

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A couple rents its 40-foot-tall fire tower on Airbnb for over $260 a night &mdash; over 1,600 are on the waitlist for the property's 65 spots