meena lodge hosts
Kristie and Craig Carter are the owners of Meena Lodge.
Throughout their time together, they have traveled to many countries and cities around the world. They have used short term rentals such as Airbnb nearly exclusively when traveling, near or far. There is something so sentimental about renting someone’s home that makes you feel more grounded in a space, more connected with the environment and culture and makes you feel rooted, as if you belong and were meant to be there.
Kristie grew up in Portland, Oregon and spent a lot of time at the Oregon Coast. Her grandparents owned a house in Manzanita, Oregon and many weekends were spent walking the beach, playing with cousins and laughing by the fireplace. The coast was home away from home . A place she continues to visit to feel rejuvenated and connected to nature. She is a creative person and always has a project underway, whether that be a home remodel, making homemade wreathes or jewelry or styling a photoshoot.
Kristie met Craig at the hospital where they were both health administrators. They both continue that work with the Veterans Health Administration and work virtually with the program offices in Washington D.C.
Craig grew up in Craig, Alaska, with a house facing the Pacific Ocean. He spent his childhood playing in the woods, fishing in the waters and exploring the natural beauty around him. He was fortunate to have so many family members live in the same town, which gave him a strong sense of belonging and attachment to the land.
For years, they looked for land at the coast and always fell short, until this little corner of woods became available in Oceanside, Oregon in 2021. Building had been a dream of theirs for years and it felt like the perfect opportunity to embark on such a journey. The Lodge was completed in the Fall of 2023 and open for guests by December!
what does ‘Meena’ mean-a?
At the most basic level, the name Meena was chosen from the road “Meena Way” that crosses through our property. In looking at the definition of what Meena meant and if it spoke true to who we are and what we represented, we were pleasantly surprised. The word “Meena” means “Fish”, deriving from the Sanskrit word ‘Meen’. Craig grew up in a small Southeastern town in Alaska and spent many years as a fishing guide. Fishing was a big part of his life, as well as his family and ancestors who spent their lives in the region, living off what was provided to them via land and sea. Kristie grew up fishing with her family and always enjoyed the sport and her love fell even harder when meeting Craig and spending summers in Alaska fishing together.
When we looked at the definition on Urban Dictionary, the connection grew stronger, and we were sold on the name. Urban Dictionary defines Meena in the following way:
“Despite her name, Meena is the nicest person you will ever meet. She is a boss ass bitch, but she's the best friend you could ever have. She is a beautiful, adorable nerd who is friends with everyone. She seems innocent when you first meet her, but she is actually someone you could talk to for hours. You can tell her any secret and she would never tell anyone. You never want to let her go. She's a huge dork who loves to draw and sing but never thinks she is good enough. Everyone loves her and she doesn't have a single enemy.”
We wanted our place to embody that persona and one we can personally relate to. A place anyone would want to hang out, make memories, share secrets, and talk for hours over a bottle of wine or next to a warm cozy fire. I meen-a, why wouldn’t you want to hang at Meena Lodge?!