A POPULAR QUOTE by the late self-improvement master, Dale Carnegie:
“When fate hands you a lemon, make lemonade.”
It means that one should make the best of bad situations.
And as far as towns go, you could probably say Forks has had its share of lemons.
For many years, Forks endured an unstable timber industry. Then there is our weather: Dark, dreary and rainy.
And then along came Twilight.
While some might say Twilight is more lemon-like, with the increased traffic and lines at local stores, there are also those who have dusted off the juicer.
Dave and Lynda Breithaupt, like most people, have endured some lemons in their lives.
They had their log home at 8343 LaPush Road on the market for sale for quite some time.
As prospective buyers came to look, they wanted the Breithaupts to reduce their price.
One day a few months ago, a woman was interested in their place, and also wanted them to reduce their price; she mentioned that she wanted to turn their home into a vacation rental.
Soon after, Lynda said to Dave: “Why don’t we convert the place in to a vacation rental?”
With that the Breithaupts began researching other rental cabins in the area and found a need. They decided to move into a mobile home on their property — if it didn’t work out they could move back in to their log home.
They named their venture The Wolf Den Cabin Rental.
So far, they love it!
With special local touches like a signature soap created by Laurel Burtness of Bear Creek Naturals and a coupon for a dozen farm-fresh eggs, the Breithaupts seek to create a memorable local experience for their guests.
They have welcomed travelers from Israel, Germany, Australia, India and all over the United States.
In addition to offering treats like zucchini relish, local honey and huckleberry syrup and jelly, they serve up some regional history and a nature trail that provides glimpses of river otter and elk.
The Breithaupts’ favorite thing to do when guests leave is read what the visitors have written in their guest book.
The comments have been wonderful.
The Breithaupts are not alone in their cabin rental venture.
Just up the road at 8320 LaPush Road is Jacob Black’s House Vacation Rental, operated by Linda Middleton.
The little red farmhouse has also portrayed as Jacob’s home on the Twilight tour and has bookings in to next summer.
Every room is Twilight inspired, but Middleton says not all guests are Twilight fans there are regular vacationers too.
The Breithaupts and Middleton are not the only locals embracing Twilight-themed business opportunities.
At the south end of Forks, there is even a Twilight firewood stand.
One day a few weeks ago, I looked out the window of the office where I work and there it was, across the street: The inspiration for my column, “Twilight Lemonade, 50¢.”
I had to find out more.
Who was behind this ingenious business venture?
It turns out the young entrepreneurs are 7-year-old Carter Norbisrath and his 10-year-old sister, Savanah.
Their great-grandmother, Deannie Hoien, had made the stand, and their dad, Sean, made the sign and helped paint it.
It was Carter who came up with the idea to call it Twilight Lemonade.
Sadly, due to a busy summer, bad weather and Savanah breaking her arm, Twilight Lemonade never got off the ground.
But the infrastructure has been set for next year.
Foreseeing no problems with local permits Twilight Lemonade will be available.
Knock, knock, who’s there?
It is opportunity, and there’s a great big glass of Twilight Lemonade, just 50 cents.
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Christi Baron is a longtime West End resident who is the office and property manager for Lunsford & Associates real estate and lives with her husband, Howard, in Forks.
Phone her at 360-374-3141 or 360-374-2244 with items for this column, or e-mail her at hbaron@centurytel.net.
West End Neighbor appears on this page every other Tuesday.
