A Vision for Regenerative Living

Redefining sustainable living through creativity and community.

Explore Our Vision

A Living Model for a Regenerative Future

The Maker's Stay is a pioneering ecovillage in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, designed to be a sanctuary of creativity and a tangible model for regenerative development. Our core mission is to create a vibrant community that thrives in harmony with nature, demonstrating that sustainable living can be both beautiful and abundant.

Through our unique blend of hospitality, education, and sustainable housing, we are cultivating a new paradigm for conscious living. It's a dual-pronged approach that ensures both profitability and a lasting, positive impact on our world.

The Three Pillars of Our Mission

The Maker's Rest

Our visionary agrotourism venture, offering high-value accommodations and unique amenities like our year-round grotto pool.

From Dirt to Dazzle

The non-profit heart of our community, focused on advocacy, education, and empowering a regenerative lifestyle for all.

Kuyper Property Solutions

Our real estate arm, leveraging the ecovillage as a showroom to sell our sustainable homes to a wider market, making regenerative living accessible.

The Maker's Rest

A Vision for Experiential Travel

The Maker's Rest is a visionary agrotourism venture designed to provide a premium, immersive experience for guests. Through our unique "Wonderful Structures" earth homes and stunning amenities, we are cultivating a new paradigm for conscious tourism that is both luxurious and environmentally responsible.

Our Unique Accommodations

Royal Cabins

Our most popular unit, providing a cozy and immersive experience for guests.

$125 / Night

Two-Bedroom Cabin

A spacious unit ideal for families or small groups seeking comfort and community.

$300 / Night

Three-Bedroom Cabin

Our premium offering, designed for larger groups or long-term stays with maximum comfort.

$400 / Night

Amenities that Inspire

The Sunken Garden & Grotto Pool

The heart of our community is The Longhouse, which houses a magnificent greenhouse called The Sunken Garden. This space features a natural, chemical-free grotto pool with a waterfall, ensuring The Maker's Rest remains a compelling, all-season destination. The greenhouse also cultivates edible tropical plants, providing a unique on-site amenity and an educational experience.

This magnificent amenity, kept warm year-round, ensures the property remains a compelling destination throughout the off-season and serves as a living demonstration of regenerative food production.

Workshops & Creative Spaces

We believe in fostering an environment of creativity and learning. The Maker's Rest provides dedicated spaces for our guests to explore new skills and connect with their inner artist. All workshop participation requires a signed liability waiver to ensure a safe and secure experience for everyone.

Art & Craft Studio

A dedicated studio for painting, sketching, pottery, and other hands-on crafts. Our curated art kits provide all the materials needed to get started.

Wood & Metal Workshop

A fully equipped workshop for woodworking and metal crafting, where guests can learn to create custom pieces under the guidance of our expert instructors.

Culinary Kitchen

Our communal kitchen hosts farm-to-table culinary workshops, teaching guests how to prepare meals using fresh, on-site ingredients from our greenhouse and aquafarming system.

Rockhounding & Lapidary Arts

The Upper Peninsula is a rock collector's paradise, home to some of the most unique geological formations and minerals in the world. We offer guided rockhounding excursions for guests to explore our property and the surrounding area in search of Agates, Chlorastrolite (the state gem), and other treasures. Back at the ecovillage, our dedicated lapidary workshop allows guests to cut, shape, and polish their finds into beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry or art.

Guided Rockhounding Excursions

Explore the rugged landscape with our expert guides to find unique minerals and gems. All tools and safety equipment are provided.

Lapidary Workshop

Turn your discoveries into polished works of art. Our workshop is equipped with saws, grinders, and polishers for all skill levels. Liability waivers are required for all workshop participation.

From Dirt to Dazzle

The Non-Profit Heart of Our Community

From Dirt to Dazzle is the non-profit arm of The Maker's Trust. We believe in a regenerative ecovillage model that goes beyond sustainability to actively renew the environment. Our mission is to inspire American communities by demonstrating how stunning, sustainable homes and shared infrastructure can make a creative, nature-connected lifestyle both affordable and accessible for all.

Our Core Programs

Regenerative Education

We offer hands-on workshops on a wide range of regenerative practices, including:

Sustainable construction and Earthship design
Aquaculture and advanced food production systems
Permaculture, foraging, and biodynamic agriculture
Artistic and creative skills like painting, pottery, and metalworking

Community Advocacy & Outreach

We serve as a leader in advocating for regenerative development. Our work includes:

Securing grants to fund innovative, eco-friendly projects
Documenting and sharing our building practices with other communities
Fostering strong community bonds through shared purpose and a collaborative spirit

Support Our Mission

From Dirt to Dazzle is financially supported through a multi-faceted approach, ensuring our mission is self-sustaining and not solely dependent on a single revenue stream. We invite you to join us in building a more regenerative future.

Grant Funding

Securing grants from organizations focused on rural revitalization, environmental education, and sustainable development.

Community Support

Generating revenue from workshops, events, and a long-term endowment funded by community members and supporters.

Donations

Accepting donations from individuals and corporate sponsors aligned with our vision.

Support Our Mission

Kuyper Property Solutions

Redefining Sustainable Homeownership

Kuyper Property Solutions is the licensed sales and marketing arm for "Wonderful Structures," a collection of innovative, regenerative homes. We leverage The Maker's Stay as a living showroom, showcasing our unique homes' long-term viability and aesthetic appeal to a global market.

Our Services

Expert Sales & Marketing

We serve as the exclusive, licensed sales agent for Wonderful Structures, focusing on bringing these regenerative homes to a global market, with a heavy initial focus on the United States.

Consulting & Project Guidance

We provide high-value consulting to clients, guiding them through the complex process of building a sustainable home, from permitting and engineering to working with distributors.

In-House Financing

For residents of The Maker's Stay, we offer flexible, in-house financing for the structures, creating a stable revenue stream for The Maker's Trust while making homeownership more accessible.

Become a Resident

Our sales strategy is built on the power of experience. The Maker's Stay ecovillage is not just a community; it's a living model that showcases our homes in a real-world, regenerative environment. We invite potential buyers to become guests at The Maker's Rest to truly understand the value and vision of a sustainable lifestyle.

Experience the Lifestyle

Explore our unique homes as a guest of The Maker's Rest, and discover what it's like to live in a community dedicated to creativity and regenerative practices.

Flexible In-House Financing

We make homeownership accessible with our flexible, in-house financing options for all structures, allowing you to focus on building a life, not just paying a mortgage.

Learn More About Residency

Financial Projections

Key Projections for The Maker's Rest

These projections provide a data-driven outlook for the financial health of our agrotourism venture, demonstrating a clear path to profitability and long-term sustainability.

$451,445

Projected Annual Revenue

$243,445

Projected Net Income (Year 1)

60.8%

Break-Even Occupancy Rate

Our break-even occupancy rate is well below our conservative projection of 65%, demonstrating a strong and secure path to profitability from the very beginning.

10-Year Growth Outlook

Our phased expansion plan ensures long-term growth and scalability, with a clear trajectory for increasing revenue and profitability over the next decade.

Year	Total Revenue	Total Expenses	Net Income	Break-Even Occupancy
Year 1	$451,445	$208,000	$243,445	60.8%
Year 2	$500,000	$215,000	$285,000	58.0%
Year 3	$550,000	$223,000	$327,000	55.4%
Year 4	$600,000	$230,000	$370,000	51.1%
Year 5	$650,000	$238,000	$412,000	48.2%
Year 6	$700,000	$246,000	$454,000	45.4%
Year 7	$750,000	$254,000	$496,000	42.9%
Year 8	$800,000	$262,000	$538,000	40.7%
Year 9	$850,000	$270,000	$580,000	38.8%
Year 10	$900,000	$278,000	$622,000	36.9%