Bordered against the western boundary of Spokane city limits hides a little house annexed on what otherwise is the loudest on the block.
Halloween decorations are seemingly falling out of a two-story home at the back of a dead-end road. But the owner, Ryan Oelrich, considers it just the beginning.
“We though let’s add to the magic. I’ve always been a huge Tolkien nerd,” Oelrich said. “As a kid, I’ve never been the tallest of persons so reading about other little people who still did some big things – who found courage – helped me as a kid. So, I always appreciated that part of the story.”
He proudly owns what’s become colloquially known around Spokane as The Hobbit House. A round red door opens into a little nook lined with lore, books, and figurines to fill the hearts of any J.R.R. Tolkien fan.
Year round, the Hobbit House holds the theme of it’s namesake but will lean into whatever holiday is on the horizon. It’s already getting attention in September.
“I like it. They put a lot of time into it,” neighbor Doug King said. “Just after dusk it starts getting busy.”
To respect the neighborhood and not draw large crowds, Oelrich prefers not to release his home address. He keeps the magic alive with a hint of secrecy: where second avenue and Spokane ends, imagination begins.
Anyone interested in the Hobbit House can stay up to date on events at their Facebook page here.
