Oran Stainbrook at The Old Company Store, Kenilworth, Utah
How adaptive reuse, a dual-platform monetization strategy, and community commitment transformed a forgotten general store into two revenue streams — rustic camping on Hipcamp and a luxury creative retreat on Airbnb.
The Old Company Store originally served the Independent Coal & Coke Company in Kenilworth, Utah. When the mine closed in the late 1960s, the building went dark. For more than 55 years it sat vacant and deteriorating, listed for sale with no takers.
The surrounding community of Helper faced the same trajectory. A coal-and-railroad town with a stabilized population of roughly 2,000, it had boarded-up storefronts, depressed property values, and no transition plan from its extractive past.
Traditional developers wouldn't touch it. The location was too rural, the building too far gone, the market too small. Exactly the kind of opportunity Helper Forge exists to unlock.
Independent Coal & Coke ceases operations. The general store closes permanently.
The Helper Project launches, investing $500K+ in creative placemaking across downtown.
Oran Stainbrook purchases the property and begins phased renovation with design-build expertise.
Incremental renovation: zen spa retreat, live-work studios, gardens, and community spaces take shape.
4.95-star Airbnb Guest Favorite + Hipcamp rustic camping. Two audiences, maximum revenue.
Oran Stainbrook descends from generations of underground miners and laborers. He earned his BS in Architecture from Portland State University, then studied landscape architecture and city planning at UC Berkeley's College of Environmental Design.
But Oran doesn't just draw plans. As a construction foreman with Habitat for Humanity San Francisco's Neighborhood Revitalization program, he learned what it takes to actually transform communities from the ground up. He later founded recollab to develop and manage real estate that provides live-work space for artists and short-term rentals for arts patrons.
He's also trained in permaculture, sustainable design-build, and Earthship Biotecture. That combination of architecture, construction, sustainability, and community development made him the ideal developer for a project most would walk away from.
Rather than gutting the building or waiting for a single large capital infusion, the project followed an incremental development model. Phased renovation allowed for iterative testing, cost management, and organic community integration.
Maintain the historic character of the general store while converting it from single-purpose retail to mixed-use creative space. Lovingly restoring and reinventing a 115-year-old building into a space for art, community, and permaculture practice.
Multiple income streams from day one. Hipcamp camping for outdoor adventurers, Airbnb luxury retreat for design-conscious travelers, artist residency fees, event hosting, and community gallery space.
Integrate with Helper's existing creative ecosystem. Participate in art walks, support local artists through studio access, and feed the broader visitor economy: restaurants, galleries, and Main Street businesses.
The Old Company Store doesn't rely on a single revenue channel. By positioning the same property differently on two platforms, it captures two entirely separate customer segments — outdoor adventurers and luxury design travelers.
Land-based camping that monetizes the raw landscape. Budget-friendly, minimal intervention, appeals to hikers, campers, and off-grid enthusiasts seeking adventure in Utah's high-desert castle country.
High-end "Zen Spa Creative Retreat" positioned for design-conscious wellness travelers. All-inclusive pricing, heated tile floors, handmade ceramics, curated artistic details. A 115-year-old general store reborn as luxury hospitality.
Hipcamp monetizes the place. Airbnb monetizes the transformation — the old coal town building reborn as a luxury creative retreat. Same physical property, two completely different guest experiences and revenue streams. This is deliberate investment strategy, not accident.
This isn't a cash-heavy speculation play. The Old Company Store demonstrates how layered incentives, sweat equity, and diversified operations make adaptive reuse financially viable in markets traditional lenders ignore.
20% federal tax credit for certified historic structure rehabilitation. Potential state HTC supplements and Opportunity Zone capital gains benefits.
Oran's design-build background enables significant cost reduction through hands-on construction management, eliminating markup layers.
Hipcamp bookings, Airbnb luxury stays at $177/night, and artist residency fees generate ongoing income from two distinct customer segments.
Property values in Helper's revitalizing market are climbing. The Old Company Store benefits from the broader ecosystem momentum.
Perhaps the best AirBnB experience I've ever come across! Incredible place, amazing attention to detail and brilliant design. Artistic and extremely functional, Oran is a brilliant designer!
Super cozy and relaxing, and exactly as described. The room is filled with thoughtful touches, and beautiful ceramics. Oran was a wonderful host, communicative and friendly!
A great crossover between vintage and modern. Clean, beautiful, peaceful, well appointed with nice fixtures and features. The bed was super comfy and the room lacked nothing I needed. If you're thinking about booking, do it!!
Such a great stay! The space was super clean, cute, and really calming — perfect for the little getaway I needed. Oran was an amazing host and made me feel really welcome — even took me on a little tour of Main Street.
The Old Company Store didn't revitalize Helper alone. It's one anchor in a multi-institution effort that's repositioning a coal town as a creative destination. The broader ecosystem multiplies each project's impact.
In 2016, Roy and Anne Jespersen founded The Helper Project, investing over $500K in building renovations, events, and grants. Since then, Main Street earned National Historic District designation, Helper Art Workshops restored a historic hotel, and artists from across the country have put down roots.
The result is measurable: Helper's city budget grew from approximately $1M in 2015 to over $1.8M by 2025, directly correlated to creative economy investment.
Rural America has thousands of abandoned historic buildings in communities ready for revitalization. Helper Forge helps property owners find the strategy, financing, and vision to unlock them.
"The future isn't found. It's forged."
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