About Us
The Allen House Bed & Brunch is our shared vision—born of a long-standing love of good food, genuine hospitality, and places with a true story to tell. Before restoring this house, we were best known for our Portland food cart, Crème de la Crème (affectionately called “the French Bus”), where we served approachable French food from a vintage school bus. What surprised us most was not the national press or television appearances, but how a simple philosophy—thoughtful food, well made, offered without fuss—could bring delight to neighborhood regulars, food critics, and curious travelers alike.
That same spirit guides the kitchen here. Brunch is made to order, ingredients are often estate-grown, and the experience is meant to feel generous, unhurried, and quietly special. There is no rush, no waiting list, and no need to pretend you’re not going back for seconds. Brunch, happily, is included with your stay—and for many guests, it becomes one of the most memorable parts of their time here.
A Place with History, and a House with a Soul
The Allen House sits on ten acres of pastured land and is a Queen Anne–style Victorian built in 1896 by Nathaniel and Elizabeth Allen, early settlers from Ohio. Its story has been unusually well preserved, including historic images of the home and family. The house briefly operated as The Allen Farm B&B from 1995 to 2000, and it feels fitting that welcoming guests has returned as part of its destiny.
Today, the home remains remarkably peaceful—tucked around a bend from ilani Casino, yet worlds away in feeling. Guests often remark on the contrast: how quickly neon gives way to birdsong, open skies, and the distinct sense that you’ve been transported far further than your GPS would suggest.
For travelers who love history, this is a place where time feels layered rather than lost. Guests are invited to notice original details, learn the home’s stories, and feel themselves woven into a living chapter of an already long narrative and at least two members of our family are historical docents at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. Some consider them local history experts.
Rooted in Land, Wildlife, and the Rhythm of Nature
We are deeply shaped by the land that surrounds us. The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is just minutes away, and the house rests beneath a seasonal migratory flyway. During peak seasons, guests watch cranes, geese, swans, and pelicans pass overhead from the veranda—an experience that has a way of pausing conversations and settling even the busiest minds.
Guests are welcome to wander our meadows, explore forest paths, and witness ongoing restoration efforts including reforestation, native plantings, and a newly planted camas meadow. Lake Rosannah Resource Lands sits just across the road for further discovery and a place to stretch your legs.
For wildlife travelers, birders, photographers, and anyone who feels restored by the outdoors, this is a place where nature is not scenery—it is presence.
A Working Landscape with Meaning on the Plate
Since purchasing the property in 2024, we’ve reunited twenty acres once separated by the historic 5,000-square-foot barn—now listed on the Washington State Historic Barn Registry. The southern fields are being restored for habitat and small-scale orchard production, yielding apples, pears, figs, nuts, berries, and seasonal vegetables. Culinary truffles have been hunted here for years by trained dogs, finding their way into memorable meals near and far—including the Oregon Truffle Festival.
A thriving garden, a beloved chicken coop affectionately known as Cluckingham Palace, and thoughtful stewardship of the land all contribute to what appears on the table. For guests who travel for meaningful food experiences, this is not “food culture,” it is food as care, craft, and connection to place.
With luck, you may even catch our resident barn owl, “Hedwig,” just before dawn or crossing the twilight sky.
The Innkeepers
Our family are stewards of land and memory—growers, restorers, caretakers, and occasional dreamers who believe reviving old houses and planting orchards is a perfectly reasonable way to live. Life here follows the rhythms of the orchard, gardens, wildlife, and weather, all while honoring the age, quirks, and character of a home that has seen well over a century of stories.
Guests are welcome to spend time outdoors with our livestock and working landscape—muddy boots optional, curiosity encouraged. While we love animals dearly, we do not accommodate guest pets, both to protect the historic interiors and ensure calm among the resident creatures. Resident house animals—Captain, our border collie, and Marvin, our house cat—do not occupy guest spaces. Marvin, however, occasionally considers himself exempt and may sometimes be found napping in the guest library.
Above all, this is a place of generosity, quiet beauty, nature, history, and heartfelt hospitality. Whether you arrive seeking wildlife, story, a restorative getaway, or a truly memorable brunch—we’re honored to welcome you.
