01/16/2025
It’s groovy ✨
Welcome! I’m Taylor Hessler, owner of Time Capsule Holiday House, a part term rental property in Gwinn, Marquette County, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Let me tell you the story of this property.
This was my first home. It was built in 1920 and the last occupant was the builder’s daughter, who lived there well into old age and whose family is even tied to mine through a marriage. Although I never had the privilege to meet Mary, she made a lasting impression on those who did, and from what I know about her, she was a kind neighbor, an excellent baker and homemaker. She lived simply, which would be the perfect blank canvas for me.
When I decided to buy the house in 2017, I initially planned to modernize it more, but after moving in I fell under the spell of the old fashioned charm it had, along with some of the vintage furniture and decor the family had left in the house for me that really set the tone. The house had obviously undergone very few cosmetic changes in the past several decades, and I found liked that. When furnishing and decorating, I really leaned into the 60s and 70s with remnants of older decades scattered around. There’s just something about the colors and designs of that era that give me dopamine.
I didn’t just paint walls and move furniture around. I ripped up carpet and tiles to uncover original hardwood floors, which I sanded and refinished completely on my own. The landscaping is humble, but the perennial gardens around the house are all my own work. Making my house more MINE was how I spent my free time for fun. I would even scour the front lawn for daisies to transplant to the backyard.
I lived alone in my little haven feeling perfectly settled in with my cats, dogs and plants, with plans to travel all I could and come back to my home base in my hometown, where my business was flourishing (by some crazy miracle the house next door hit the market in 2021, and I bought it to operate my business out of) and I could wave at all the people I knew cruising the streets in my cute little Thunderbird convertible. That was a different lifetime! I felt on top of the world. I didn’t think much would change.
But of course it did. In 2022 I met the love of my life and decided to move to Ohio (yep, I moved from the gorgeous UP to the most memed on and hated state- but if you already follow me on any social media platform, you know I find natural beauty everywhere, Ohio is just fine!) and I started a new massage therapy practice. Prior to moving, I wasn’t sure what to do with my home, other than I knew I wanted to keep it. I figured I’d better rent it out, but I didn’t want to empty it, as my then fiancé now husband already had a fully furnished house. Inspiration had to hit me on the head for me to realize I could make it a short term rental and solve all my problems with that answer. The excitement went from idea to reality very quickly and has been a rewarding experience in the almost-year it’s been listed.
I figured the name would set the tone for what guests can expect- Time Capsule Holiday House- and it’s exactly what it sounds like, a step back in time. Not everyone wants to live in a space of vibrant color and retro almost everything, but almost everyone loves vacationing in unique surroundings that take you out of everyday mundane reality. This place is whimsical and imaginative. You’re surrounded by rich tones and things that belonged to somebody’s grandparents, collections I curated with much commitment and intention.
At this time, it’s been listed for almost a year and hosted 30+ guests (I achieved the status of Superhost) including a friend whose family stayed for two months outside of air bnb (which then lost me the status of Superhost, but I’m sure I’ll get there again) The entirety of July 2025 booked a year in advance, and I’ve had a diverse variety of guests, many of whom I’ve had the joy of interacting with in person. I had a lot of very moving feedback from people who didn’t just enjoy the vibe, but truly loved it. One woman said upon entering the house, her mom burst into tears for the flood of sentiment and joy she experienced walking in. It’s not always easy managing a property from over nine hours away, but it’s so worth it when people share things like this with me!
This isn’t just a place to stay and a source of income for me. I want it to be an experience. I want it to be memorable. I want my guests to enjoy being in the house as much as they enjoy the UP exploration they do outside of it. It’s a mid century dream to me, and though I do miss my little retro dwelling, it’s just awesome to have guests fall in love with something I put together with so much dedication.
Thanks for being here and I hope you enjoy getting a glimpse into the place I love!
