Camp Everhappy

How do we transform a unique off-grid cabin into a regenerative retreat—honoring its aviation-inspired legacy while upgrading it for sustainable, remote living?

At McLennan Design, we believe in breathing new life into buildings with character and soul—even in the most remote, challenging environments. Camp Everhappy, located in Washington’s San Juan Islands, is a prime example. Originally constructed in the late 1970s by a Boeing engineer, the cabin was prefabricated using aircraft construction techniques and airlifted into place by helicopter. Decades later, the off-grid structure had fallen into disrepair—lacking power, water, and basic functionality, while the elements slowly took their toll.

Rather than tear it down, we saw an opportunity to honor its innovative past and transform it into an off-grid regenerative retreat. Working with care and intention, our team stabilized the structure and preserved its original design language, while upgrading every system for durability, comfort, and resilience.

Inside, we led a full redesign—including a custom kitchen installation, new sleeping areas, and modern finishes that celebrate natural materials and simplicity. Behind the scenes, we replaced all mechanical systems with sustainable alternatives: solar panels, battery storage, rainwater harvesting, and high-efficiency lighting—all off-grid and net-zero. The result is a deeply personal, place-based retreat that’s fully self-sufficient and built to last.

Camp Everhappy demonstrates McLennan Design’s philosophy in action: a commitment to preserving architectural heritage while advancing the frontier of sustainable living. We don’t just design homes—we design systems of resilience, stories of renewal, and spaces that reconnect people to place.

Whether urban or rural, modest or ambitious, we approach each project as an opportunity to turn the existing into something extraordinary—and to shape the future through thoughtful design.