Lost River Vacations offers meaningful downtime for the hearing and Deaf alike.
photographed by NIKKI BOWMAN MILLS
Nestled in the wooded hills of the Lost River Valley, two tiny houses offer stunning places to stay. Together, the structures sleep 10 people comfortably. Their sleek designs make them feel like chic, modern bastions in an ancient land, but they don’t lean too trendy or cookie-cutter. String lights glitter through the trees, and big picture windows frame vistas that may as well be paintings. At Lost River Vacations, the rentals feel like true tiny homes—not just tiny houses.
Its lodgings are fitting, given that there is also nothing cookie-cutter about the company’s story. It is owned by two Deaf people, Jane Jonas and Shawn Harrington, and their mission is bigger than simply offering sleek vacation accommodations. After noticing that many camps and programs for the Deaf lacked the funding to truly thrive, they set out to establish a for-profit business model that could support these endeavors through funding and an elevated platform. They have big plans for the future and have already made a great impact—the craftspeople who built the homes, the designers of Lost River Vacations’ logo and website, and the artists behind the decor guests gaze upon during their stay are all Deaf.
“There’s a growing movement to empower Deaf business owners,” says Jonas. “We’re seeing more community support, collaboration, and, most importantly, Deaf consumers choosing Deaf-owned businesses. This creates a ripple effect—by investing in our community, everyone thrives. At Lost River Vacations, this philosophy has been core to our mission from the beginning. We’re proud to say that our commitment to supporting the Deaf community has yielded fantastic results.”
The homes sit on a hilltop amidst 23 acres of land guests can explore at their leisure. There’s a playground, a hot tub, and a shared sauna where guests in the different homes can say hello and meet new friends. With books, games, hiking trails, and even a few special treasures for the dogs Lost River welcomes alongside its human travelers, there is truly something for everyone.
Both Deaf and hearing folks find meaning here—either through witnessing their own community create this special space, or through meeting new people and learning about a community they may not have had much exposure to. “Seeing the overwhelming support for our mission fills us with gratitude,” says Jonas. “Guests’ desire to learn about the Deaf culture and community creates deeper connections for everyone. This awareness provides our community with more opportunities to shine.”
The mission is deeply personal to Jonas. Throughout her life, she’s felt people react with pity when they learn about her deafness, and she insists that hearing folks should consider another angle. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. The challenge lies in accessibility, not our capabilities,” she says. “Since most of our guests are hearing and haven’t met a Deaf person before, we have a unique chance to change their perspective. We hope that, by interacting with us, they’ll see deafness differently.”
And that learning experience amounts to more than just expanding hearing people’s minds—it can create tangible benefits for other Deaf people in the future. “Imagine years from now, if one of our guests has a Deaf child,” Jonas continues. “Perhaps they’ll remember us and choose to learn sign language, opening a world of communication for their child. Lost River Vacations isn’t just about creating amazing vacations—it’s about fostering understanding and breaking down barriers. Even impacting one Deaf child’s life would be significant.”
Lost River Vacations shows no signs of slowing down. Jonas and Harrington have cultivated a dedicated fanbase—hundreds of five-star reviews and bookings that stretch the calendar show just how in-demand their homes and experiences are. The owners also operate Lost River Coffee Company, a coffee trailer in Hyattsville, Maryland, that also employs an all-Deaf staff. Their long-term goal is to use funds from their for-profit ventures to establish a nonprofit foundation. They envision purchasing more land in the Lost River Valley and creating a campground for Deaf children that acts as a community hub for other Deaf-centered events. In the immediate future, they’ll break new ground on a third house.
“We’re super excited to be planning our third house—that means even more awesome vacation options!” Jonas says. “We’re also expanding our coffee trailer with special events and seasonal menus—another way to keep serving up deliciousness and supporting our community.”
275 Jenkins Hollow Road, Mathias, lostrivervacations.com, @lostrivervacations on FB
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S SUMMER 2024 ISSUE
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