A Night In Nature
Welcome To JOMO
You’ve heard of FOMO — the Fear Of Missing Out. We’d like to introduce you to something better. JOMO. The Joy Of Missing Out. The joy of not fighting for a parking spot in Bar Harbor. Not waiting 90 minutes for brunch in Nashville. Not paying $28 for a cocktail with a tiny umbrella in it.
The Butterfly Bungalow sits on top of Bungalow Hill, overlooking 70 acres of the wildest, most alive piece of land in northern Wisconsin. Your closest neighbor is a porcupine. Your morning alarm is a ruffed grouse. Your view is the entire Pollinator Paradise, with the mist burning slow off Fern Gully while your coffee comes off the campfire.
People say you can taste the smoke in it.
Where You Are
Birchwood, Wisconsin. Population 402. The Bluegill Capital of Wisconsin, if you need a title. The kind of town where Paul’s Pizza Den hand-shreds cheese from Burnett Dairy every morning, fires their thin crusts in a brick oven, and doesn’t deliver to anyone. You go to Paul’s. Paul doesn’t come to you.
The county forest surrounding the ranch covers hundreds of thousands of acres. The Namekagon River — one of Wisconsin’s most scenic waterways — runs through the region. There are glacial lakes out here with canoe routes locals call the mini Boundary Waters. There is no Starbucks drive-through. There is no traffic. The stars at night are unreasonable.
This is not a destination that was built for tourism. It was built by glaciers, left to grow wild, and we are very glad it was.
Your Days Here
Today you’ll go land snorkeling.
It’s what we do on the ranch every day. It’s like water snorkeling, but considerably easier to breathe. The trick is to slow down — the slower you go, the more you see. Miles of trails wind through the ranch and into the adjacent county forest, and there is no shortage of things moving through them.
We’ve got deer, beaver, porcupine. Danielle once spotted what she’s pretty sure was a mountain lion on Cougar Passage, so there’s that. We have monarch butterflies by the hundreds — born right here on this land — and acres of milkweed, the one plant their species cannot survive without.
If you sit still enough on the pine logs next to the fire pit, a monarch might land on your shoulder. This has happened. We are not making that up.
Bring hiking boots. The trails are groomed. The woods are not as much. If you want to swim, there’s a pond. The ducks and the otter use it too. Join them at your own risk.
If you’re a forager, an angler, a hunter — we encourage all of it. There are berries, mushrooms, and wild things growing in every season. They’re just a snorkel away, if you know what you’re doing.
After Dark
In June, set your alarm for 1 a.m.
Cut every light in the bungalow. Walk out into the field. Stand there.
What happens next is ten thousand lightning bugs igniting across 70 acres of wildflowers, all of them looking for their next date, none of them paying any attention to you. No light pollution. No sound except frogs calling from Porcupine Point and wind moving through the yellow birch trees. The darkness is total and the show is endless and there is genuinely nothing in any city, at any resort, on any rooftop bar that comes close to it.
You can watch from the picture window inside if you’d rather. Either way, it will do something to you.
A Word About The Wild Part
The Butterfly Bungalow is comfortable. Dare we say luxurious — running water, heat, AC, a kitchen stocked with everything you need to cook. But you cannot take the wild out of wilderness, and we wouldn’t want to.
The bugs here are not decorations. They are residents. We consider that a feature.
Speaking of features: the deer fly. July is deer fly season and they mean business. They get especially philosophical during the heat of the day. Bring DEET, wear long sleeves, put a wide-brimmed hat on your head — they hate that. We’re telling you now so you can’t say we didn’t. The monarchs are absolutely worth it.
We have ticks. Mostly spring and fall, but check yourself every day even in summer. We have no WiFi in the bungalow. We have no TV. We have good cell service for all major carriers, and the kind of quiet that makes most people realize they haven’t actually heard silence in years.
There is a grocery store in Birchwood. It’s small. Come provisioned, or make a run to Rice Lake if you need the big store — about half an hour south. No one delivers out here. Part of the point of being out here is that you’re out here.
Check-in is 2 p.m. The bungalow is a quarter-mile walk from the parking area through the habitat. Pack light — the butterflies won’t judge your camping hair. If the walk isn’t for you, we’ll come get you in the Butterfly Buggy, our side-by-side that runs the field. Just say so when you book.
What To Expect By Season
June — Firefly Season
See above. Set the alarm. Cut the lights. Go outside. Trust us.
July–August — Peak Monarch Season
This is what the ranch is for. The monarchs born here are getting ready for their 2,000-mile journey to the Oyamel fir forests of Mexico. Mornings on the hill, they spread their wings wide to dry the dew — sometimes 10 or 11 at once, right outside the bungalow, slowly waking up. The milkweed is in full bloom. The deer flies are in full force. Bring repellent. That is not a suggestion.
April–May & September — Migration Season
The field is in motion. Monarchs are passing through, the woodcock have just returned from Louisiana or they’re on their way back, and the ruffed grouse are drumming somewhere in the forest edge. Cooler, quieter, and the right call if the deer fly thing gave you pause. Rates drop too.
October–November — Late Fall
Cold. Still. The field looks completely different after the first frost. This is for people who know what November in the north woods feels like — and want more of it.
Rates
| Season | Dates | Per Night |
|---|---|---|
| Peak | June–August | $400 |
| Migration | April–May, September | $275 |
| Late Fall | October–November | $150* |
*Late fall availability depends on temperatures.
Pollinator Pack adopters get priority booking — and some get their stay included. Bungalow Hill adopters ($1,000) get two nights free and first pick of peak-season dates before they open to the public. Fern Gully adopters ($500) get one night free with priority on June weekends.
Adoption Perks: The Booking Hierarchy
The bungalow stays are designed first for people who have adopted a piece of the Pollinator Paradise. Here’s how it works:
Butterfly Bungalow Hill — $1,000
Two nights included. First-priority booking during both firefly season (June) and monarch season (July–August) before dates open to the public. Also includes: t-shirt of your choice, Sanchez the Butterfly coffee mug, milkweed seeds, private Facebook group, and your adoption certificate.
Fern Gully — $500
One night included. Priority booking during firefly season (June) before dates open to the public. Also includes: t-shirt of your choice, milkweed seeds, private Facebook group, and your adoption certificate.
Booking Without Adopting
Non-adopters can book any dates that haven’t been claimed by adopters. You’ll have plenty of good options — especially during migration season and weekdays. If peak-season weekends matter to you, adoption is the way to lock them in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the bungalow have running water?
Yes. The bungalow has running water.
Is there heat and air conditioning?
Yes — the bungalow has both heat and AC. You won’t need AC in June. You’ll be glad it’s there in July.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, dogs are welcome. This is wild land — keep them leashed on the trails to protect the habitat and the wildlife that lives here.
Is this okay for young kids?
Yes. The outdoors is the best place for kids, full stop. The trails are natural and uneven, the field is alive with things crawling and flying, and after dark it gets genuinely dark. Kids who are comfortable outside will love it. Bring layers and bug spray.
What about biting bugs?
July is deer fly season and they are real. Bring DEET. Wear long sleeves. The monarchs are worth it, but we’d rather you know going in. June, May, and September are significantly more manageable.
How do I actually get there? Is there an address?
There is no street address. After booking, we’ll email you GPS coordinates along with arrival instructions. Plan accordingly — this is the north woods.
How far is the parking area from the bungalow?
About a quarter-mile — a walk through the habitat on a natural trail. If you’ve got a lot of gear or the walk isn’t for you, we’ll pick you up in the Butterfly Buggy, our side-by-side that runs the field. Just mention it when you book.
What’s around — grocery stores, restaurants?
Birchwood has the basics. Come provisioned, or make a run to Rice Lake if you need the big store — about half an hour south. No one delivers out here. Part of the point of being out here is that you’re out here.
Is there WiFi?
No WiFi. No TV. Good cell service for all major carriers. And the kind of quiet that makes most people realize they haven’t actually heard silence in years.
Can I explore the whole Pollinator Paradise during my stay?
Yes. The field, the trails, Fern Gully, Porcupine Point, Pine Passage, Bungalow Hill — all of it is yours to wander during your stay.
What does adopter priority booking actually mean in practice?
Bungalow Hill adopters get first access to all weekends in June and July before those dates open to the public. Fern Gully adopters get priority on June weekends. Once those windows pass, any unclaimed dates open to general booking. If peak-season weekends are important to you and you want to lock them in ahead of the crowd, adoption is the right move. If you’re flexible on timing, there will be good dates available without adopting.
How do I book?
Use the calendar on the booking page to check availability. Pick your dates, click Book Now, and we’ll follow up with confirmation, GPS coordinates, and payment details.
Questions? Email us at [email protected] or text 715-513-9336. We answer.