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White Pine Inn
"Thank you for our stay at the White Pine Inn. We love it here."
-Kathleen & Anthony, Allenton, WI
The White Pine Inn, an example of Finnish log craftsmanship, is a 12-sided building shaped like the Red Cross. This church-architecture inspired inn can sleep 16-20 people.
This inn is a versatile building not only for groups or family lodging but also for small meetings, retreats, and intimate weddings. You can reserve 1 suite and share the Great Room with other guests or you can rent out the whole cabin.
The Suites
The White Pine Inn has four 2-bedroom suites with private full baths. Ask for the suite with an original church pew in the bathroom.
Each Suite features:
- 1 private full bath
- 1 bedroom (king size or single bed)
- a living room areas with another king size bed
- small table with coffee maker
- a private porch
- comfortable, country décor
Click on a thumbnail below to see a larger view.
The Great Room
Its cathedral ceilings are a stunning site in the spacious great room, which offers:
- floor to ceiling wood-burning fireplace
- a beautiful log staircase
- a large south-facing window
- comfortable furniture
- a bar area with fridge and microwave
History of The White Pine Inn
The White Pine Inn was designed and built by Jim Palmquist and many devoted friends from all over the country and world. It was completed in December of 1992 after 1 1/2 years of hard work and construction. The large white pine logs (some up to 30" in diameter) used to build this cabin were locally harvested and scribed to fit tightly together by a young girl from the Czech Republic who had never seen a scribe before.
In order to save time, the builders worked on the foundation and the logs simultaneously. While the foundation was being poured and finished, the logs were fit together and assembled a short distance away. Once the builders were satisfied with the fit of the logs, they were then disassembled and moved onto the completed foundation and put back together like a puzzle. It took one day to move the building.
Jim Palmquist says concerning the building process, "We worked right through the winter. Every day we worked, and it was cold. And on Halloween night, there was an ice storm, and two inches of black ice covered the whole structure before the roof was on. It took us days to chip it all off so we could start with the roof. One man even fell off the logs four times because of the slippery ice."
Around the time of construction, Jim also dug the skating pond and molded the sledding hill that sits next to the White Pine Inn. When you come to stay at the White Pine Inn, look for a photo album with pictures of the construction and building process, usually kept in the Great Room near the fireplace. This album is on its second cover because it is so worn out from people looking at it.
Log buildings have always been a part of the Palmquist Farm family from early on. The family owned a logging company, and the original farmhouse, barn, and Maki House are also made from logs. This craft has a special place in their hearts. Jim has taught log building workshops, built the log house that he and his wife reside in, and done consulting in that area of construction for over 20 years.
If you’d like to learn more about the history of this cabin and Palmquist Farm, including early pictures, check out the Palmquist Farm Walking Tour book.
