Sandpoint's Boho bell tent on Lake Pend Oreille

About Billie Jean Gerke

I'm a backcountry horse woman, downhill skier and bicyclist who loves the outdoors and being active. I retired in 2016 from working professionally as an editor for a local publishing company for 25 years, editing Sandpoint Magazine, Schweitzer Magazine and books, such as trail guides and natural history titles. I have one dog, Beau, whom I call a North Idaho hound terrier, an Arabian/quarter horse mare named Bunny, a filly named Karat born June 1, 2019, and a mule named Buner Pie. Originally from Wisconsin, I grew up in North Idaho riding horses, skiing, snowmobiling, dirt biking and voraciously reading books. While I was growing up in Sandpoint and Bayview in the 1970s-80s, I lived without electricity and running water three different times, so I'm not afraid of outhouses or roughing it. After graduating from Sandpoint High School in 1985, I moved back to Madison, Wisconsin, and earned a degree in journalism at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. I returned to Sandpoint in 1990, bought property, married, built a house, raised a son and stepdaughter, got unmarried, and am now married to my present partner, Mike, whom I convinced to join me in offering vacation rentals. We formed Twin Cedars Camping and Vacation Rentals LLC in 2014 with the goal of semi-retiring together. Between the two of us and our properties, we have two homes, five RV sites, a camping cabin and a tipi. We live in each of our homes for half the year, while the other home is open as a vacation rental. I'm a home brewer who's passionate about good beer, cooking from scratch, and seemingly endless home improvement projects. Mike is a private pilot, and we enjoy flying around the area and airplane camping, as well as backcountry trail riding and horse camping. I love having guests and sharing my knowledge of the area. We live in an outdoor paradise, and we like to share our pieces of paradise with others.

Why Billie Jean Gerke chose Bonner County

The property at Hawkins Point has been in my husband's family since 1944, when his great grandfather bought it. The 10+ acres my husband owns is part of a 36-acre family estate at Hawkins Point on Lake Pend Oreille. His property includes a 2,500-square-foot home that is a vacation rental for part of the year and a few RV sites. Horses and chickens live on the property. The Hawkins Point public boat dock is next door and makes it easy to launch and take out boats. Sunnyside is a desirable neighborhood close to Sandpoint, Idaho, where folks enjoy living out in the country on or near the lake. It's also a popular recreation area with public access at the Oden Wildlife Management Area, Sunnyside Access, Hawkins Point and shoreline managed by Idaho Fish and Game. The area includes longtime residents and more recent transplants to the area, as well as seasonal residents. Sunnyside is teeming with wildlife, from waterfowl to big game, while Lake Pend Oreille is home to many species of fish, including rainbow trout, kokanee, bass, whitefish, perch, bull trout and more. The lake has a thriving fishery and with 111 miles of shoreline, much of it public, there's a lot to explore by boat, canoe or kayak, or by hiking, bicycling and horseback riding. Sunnyside is between Sandpoint and Hope, Idaho, and either town may be accessed by boat or car for dining, shopping, concerts and other events. Edit

What makes this Camp ground unique

Lake Pend Oreille waterfront and rural lifestyle, a private 60-foot dock and other amenities on this family-owned beach: beach shelter, outdoor shower and sink, outdoor kitchen, hammock, fire pit, horseshoe pit, nice lawn, privacy fence and more