We expected some quirks. Some fixes. A handful of items to knock out before hosting guests. What we got instead was a full-on renovation starter pack. A house-shaped checklist of issues ranging from "eh, cosmetic" to "you should probably call an electrician yesterday." Let’s break it down!

We pulled up to a "For Sale" sign in the front yard of an unassuming fixer-upper. After years of imagining a vacation rental of our own, here we were, standing in front of a house that was either a hidden gem or a total disaster.

This is the story of how we found, bought, and are now renovating a fixer-upper near Yellowstone National Park, including what we saw in these cabins, why we took the leap, and the adventure that’s only just beginning!