Harry Potter airbnb Washington Half Giant Hut
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A Magical Harry Potter Stay at Half Giant Hut in Washington

If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping into the wizarding world, there’s a new cozy Airbnb tucked away in Toledo, Washington, that might just be your entrance to Hogwarts. Half Giant Hut is a Harry Potter-inspired stay that brings the enchantment of the books to life—with rustic details, whimsical giant-sized décor, and a touch of magic in every corner. Take a video tour on my instagram.

This Airbnb opened in summer 2025 after 8 years of dreaming and planning, so don’t miss the meet-the-hosts interview at the end because it’s truly inspiring.

The Half Giant Hut Experience

This one-of-a-kind custom built Airbnb is modeled after Hagrid’s hut, with thoughtful nods to the beloved half-giant groundskeeper. Inside, you’ll find warm wood interiors, wizard artifacts, giant sized everything, and magical creatures.

Custom giant-sized furniture makes guests feel as if they’ve shrunk down to half-size—my daughters especially loved climbing into the oversized chairs, bed, and even the bathroom. In the kitchen, there’s giant utensils and plates to eat with.

As Hagrid isn’t much of a cook, the kitchen is rustic with a mini fridge, microwave, and sink. Plan for easy meals and snacks since there’s no stove, grill, or cookware. Better yet, head out and enjoy the small-town flavors of Toledo and its neighboring communities.

The bathroom was a big hit with my family – a unique magical toilet, the biggest shower we’ve ever seen, wizard soaps, and a sink so tall you need a stepstool to brush your teeth.

For sleeping arrangements, the hut can comfortably fit four people thanks to a bookshelf that cleverly transfigures into a Murphy bed—a little everyday magic that makes family stays seamless.

Fantastic beasts are hidden everywhere: a dragon perched in the rafters, mischievous pixies locked in a cage, a niffler with its treasure, a dragon egg in the fire, and even Aragog the Acromantula tucked away for the brave to find. With all the magical creatures around, do note Half Giant Hut is not pet friendly, so please leave pups in the muggle world!

After your stay, checkout is easy and the house elves will come by to clean up!

Beyond the Hut: A Wizarding World in the Woods

The adventure doesn’t stop at the front door! Outside the hut, you’ll stumble upon a whimsical spread of wizarding landmarks:

• A Privet Drive sign and a friendly owl to greet you at the entrance.
• The double decker purple Knight Bus and a Hogsmeade bus station
• Professor Sprout’s garden, complete with a (safely contained) Mandrake and protective earmuffs.
• The iconic Weasley car, parked as if fresh out of the Forbidden Forest.

The property feels tucked away in its own little corner of the Forbidden Forest, surrounded by trees and local critters. Muggle electronics don’t work always well around magic (cell service can be spotty), but don’t worry: excellent wi-fi is available for streaming spells and scrolling.

Magical Fun

One of the most memorable parts of our stay was introducing my daughters to the Harry Potter movies for the very first time. The hut comes with the films already downloaded, making it easy to curl up on the giant bed or sofa for a cozy family movie marathon. Watching Harry’s adventures while surrounded by dragons, potions, and spellbooks made the experience even more unforgettable.

If you look closely, you’ll find a hidden treasure chest filled with a whimsical collection of Harry potter themed games, Giant sized toys, and books, including the entire Harry Potter series.

Finally, there’s lot of letters, little secrets, and references to the wizarding world all throughout the cabin. I won’t spoil the fun, so you can discover the magic.

Exploring Toledo and Surrounding Adventures

While Half Giant Hut is a destination-in-itself, Toledo is perfectly placed for exploring the outdoors, local eats, and one of Washington’s most iconic natural wonders. Mount St. Helens offers a landscape unlike anywhere else in Washington, and this would be my top recommendation.

• Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument: Just 25 min away is the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center. Drive along Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, and stop at Mt St Helens Forest Learning Center and The Science and Learning Center at Coldwater . Castle Lake viewpoint and Elk Rock viewpoint provide picturesque views. The Buried A-frame and Bigfoot are unique stops. Although we didn’t have time for hiking, there’s plenty of trails for families, photographers, and geology enthusiasts alike.
• Lewis and Clark State Park: Ten minutes from Toledo, Lewis and Clark State Park is one of Washington’s oldest state parks, featuring old-growth forests, lush meadows, and accessible trails. It’s perfect for a picnic or a short hike before heading back to your wizarding retreat.
• Mt Rainier National Park: the Nisqually Entrance is 70 min away and one of the most popular national parks in the USA for good reason. I highly recommend Mt Rainier during the July through October, especially during wildflower and peak fall foliage season. You will need a National Park pass and note that you may need to make reservations depending on peak tourist season.

Why Half Giant Hut Should Be on Your Bucket List

The magic of Half Giant Hut is its perfect blend of fantasy and real-world adventure. You can immerse yourself in a Harry Potter-inspired escape, then step outside to discover some of Washington’s most beautiful natural landscapes and local gems.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan of the wizarding world, a family looking for a whimsical getaway, or a traveler seeking something unique, this Toledo retreat offers both nostalgia and nature in one unforgettable stay.

Travel Tip: Book early! Half Giant Hut has become a popular stay for Potterheads and weekend adventurers alike. Pair your visit with a trip with Washington’s mountains, and you’ll experience both magic and natural wonder in one journey.

Check out a video tour on my instagram!

Meet the Hosts

I always love learning more about the hosts behind the cabins; I had the pleasure of interviewing Lauren and her mother Mamie, who brought Half Giant Hut to life after 8 years of magic.

Interviewing Half Giant Hut

We have always loved Harry Potter. My older brother was in 5th grade when he got the first book and we were hooked!

One night my mom and her friend, Kevin, were staying the night in a hobbit inspired vacation rental. They talked about how awesome a Harry Potter vacation rental would be and the Half-Giant Hut was born. That was late 2017.

They initially started looking in and near Leavenworth. They took no less than 18 trips before they found the perfect property. They ended up buying it in 2019. It took some time to decide how they were going to tackle the land, which already had a cabin on it. It was a good thing they did…COVID hit in 2020 and the Chelan county commissioners were trying to sunset all vacation rentals under 2.5 acres. This worried them so they decided to sell the land. That took them back to square one.

But they had plenty of time on their hands since their business was closed during COVID. They visited EVERY SINGLE red dot on Zillow in Washington, northern Oregon, and north eastern Idaho. They had a vision they were looking for. The land had to be wooded – think Sleepy Hollow, and had to be at least three acres. They wanted it to feel secluded, but not too far from civilization.

They found the Toledo property in 2021. It took some time, since western Washington is quite wet, to get the ball rolling. They broke ground in July 2022 and it slowly came to life. It opened to guests in April this year, 2025.

Once the right land was secured, they found a local architect and engineer to make the plans.

They started collecting things to put in the Hut in 2018. They wanted it to be full of things and trinkets that Hagrid might like or use. They went to every thrift shop and estate sale that they could in Washington. They came home with a new suitcase full of stuff every trip they took. Many of the items came from Florida, Utah, Idaho, Tennessee, and Oregon. They also had friends donate things that they found in their travels.

Once the Hut was well under way they built the furniture in my grandpa’s wood shop. They wanted everything to be oversized so they had to build everything themselves.

My mom’s favorite thing in the Hut is the amber lamp. She found it in a thrift shop in Utah for $7. Kevin’s favorite thing is the dragon. They found that in Tampa, Florida. That was ridiculously expensive (compared to all the thrifted items).

Their decorating motto was “think junk and clutter”.

If I had only one night at the Hut I would take some food/snacks, my house robes (for pics), curl up on the couch and binge all the HP movies. I would soak it all in and not leave.

If I had two nights at the Hut, I’d spend some time exploring the area on the way there. Mt. Rainier is beautiful and has a lot of hiking and things to see. I’d go to dinner at Jeremy’s Farm to table in Chehalis, then cozy up on the couch and watch movies. The second day, I’d visit Mt. Saint Helens or hike the Trail of the Deer near Chehalis and eat lunch at the Northwest Salmon Smokehouse. Then of course cozy up and finish the HP movies. The Hut itself is so magical I just love being in it!

The hardest part about running a vacation rental is not being close. My mom and Kevin live in the Tri-Cities. It is a 3.5 hour drive. Luckily, they have an amazing lady that cleans and takes care of everything that she can so they only have to go up about once each month to fix things or restock supplies.

We get quite the mix of families and couples. They’ve always said that the Hut is for everyone. If you’re an HP fan, you’ll love and recognize all the magical touches. If you’re not a fan, you’ll love that everything is made for a giant.

Our favorite part is when we get to see all the amazing pictures and videos of the excitement the Hut brings.

We are working on pumpkins for the fall season. And Christmas is bound to bring some surprises…

Many people have been asking what we are going to do with the Knight bus. We originally bought it with the intention of turning that into a vacation rental as well. Those plans are put on hold for now but hopefully we will do something with it next year. 

We see a lot of pictures and videos from guests that they don’t share publicly. Our favorites are the videos parents take when driving up the driveway when they are surprising their kids. It is truly what makes the Hut so special – watching them realize they get to be part of the magic. 

My mom, Mamie, is Gryffindor and Kevin is Slytherin. I’m a Hufflepuff. 

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