🌿 A First Project Full of Challenges
Once upon a time, in the hidden kingdom of Les Pieds sur Terre, deep within the enchanted forest of Saint-Calixte, two adventurers, Stanislas and Kedarnathan, set out on a quest. Their dream? To create a magical forest retreat, where travelers could reconnect with nature and gaze at the stars.
Their first project was an underground Hobbit house, inspired by the ancient master builder Mike Oehler. But the land had other plans—a solid rock layer lay just beneath the surface, making excavation impossible. Undeterred, they attempted to build a geodesic dome, but moving and assembling the wooden structure proved too challenging.
Despite these setbacks, their determination remained unshaken.
🔥 A New Beginning: The Birth of the Tipi
In the summer of 2015, discouraged by their failed underground home, they heard whispers of a distant land where a grand tipi stood, built with traditional oiled cotton canvas and insulated wood to keep it warm in winter.
Inspired once more, they embarked on a new journey—to build their own tipi.
But the adventure had only just begun...
🎨 The Quest for the Perfect Canvas
Their journey led them to Saint-Jean-de-Matha, where a talented craftswoman made strong, beautiful tipis. But there was a problem—their gold was running low, and the cost of the canvas was more than they could afford.
Then, like a fairy godmother, Stanislas’s mother stepped in and gifted them just enough gold to purchase the precious canvas. Filled with gratitude, they set out to claim the fabric that would bring their tipi to life.
🌲 The Unexpected Challenge of Finding the Right Trees
What seemed like a simple task turned into a summer-long trial. They needed trees over 30 feet long, perfectly straight, and of a rare species.
🌞 July and August passed in a blur of sweat, mosquito bites, and long hours of stripping bark under the scorching summer sun.
🔮 The Oracle later revealed that this task would have been much easier in spring or fall… but these builders followed instincts beyond logic, leading to much hindsight laughter.
🏗️ The Battle with the Forest Spirits
With the poles finally ready, it was time to build the foundation. But as soon as they began, mysterious forces rose against them.
The Shadow Vespers, underworld spirits of the forest, refused to yield their territory. For days, the site was plagued by strange disruptions, as if unseen hands were working against them.
But the adventurers refused to back down.
Guided by the Oracle, they learned the art of building a circular platform, and as winter’s first snowflakes fell, they knew time was running out.
📜 Raising the Poles: A Feat of Strength and Ingenuity
One of the biggest challenges remained—lifting the enormous wooden poles into place.
🌲 It looked easy in pictures, but in reality, how could two mere mortals lift these towering 30-foot logs?
Using clever techniques and an exceptionally long ladder, they managed to raise the first two poles. Then three. Then more, until they formed the tipi’s massive wooden skeleton.
But something was missing…
🎭 The Arrival of Magical Beings
This is when the first magical beings arrived—wandering fairies and gnomes, drawn by the energy of the place.
✨ Romain, a culinary wizard from France, quickly learned woodworking and helped complete the interior walls.✨ Laura, whose efficiency was legendary, arrived soon after.✨ Alexandra, a fairy from Italy, crafted the bathroom and seating areas.✨ Anastasia, Stanislas’s sister, joined with a joyful spirit, adding final touches to the kitchen.
With their help, the tipi took its final shape beneath the winter sky… until at last…
🎉 The Grand Opening: A Race Against Time
On the day of the first guest’s arrival, the site was still littered with construction scraps and sawdust!
But, as if powered by fairy speed, the team cleared, cleaned, and transformed the tipi just in time.
By June 2016, the tipi officially opened its doors, becoming the first nature-immersive retreat of Les Pieds sur Terre.
🔮 An Accommodation That Evolved Over Time
Through the years, the tipi faced new challenges:
Solar-powered lights flickered unpredictably.
The glass dome leaked in heavy rain.
Wood maintenance was an ongoing battle.
To keep the tipi alive, Stanislas and his husband Jordan gave it a second life:
The canvas exterior was replaced with wood for better durability.
Electricity and a private jacuzzi were added, modernizing the experience while keeping its rustic charm.
🌌 The Tipi’s Lesson: Believe in Your Dreams
Would they do it all over again? Of course! But differently.
Not because they aren’t proud—but because every project is a dance with the unknown.
Lessons from the tipi’s creation:
✨ Not all great journeys begin with a perfect plan. Sometimes, it’s the momentum, the desire to move forward and create, that leads the way—even without knowing exactly where it will take you.
🔥 The Tipi taught us that spontaneity can be a strength. It was born in a moment when we needed to keep dreaming, keep building, keep moving despite the setbacks. Even though not every detail was mapped out, the magic found its way in.
🌿 Some projects exist simply to keep the fire burning, and sometimes, they are the ones that end up lighting the path forward.
🔹 Come experience its magic for yourself. 👉 Explore the Tipi
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