Inside A Sprawling $4.55 Million Tuscan-Style Estate In Bend, Oregon, Owned By A Former Nike Executive

Bend, Oregon, more than three hours south of Portland, is known for its incredible nature, craft breweries, and fantastic restaurants. With so many natural sights and great year-round weather, Bend is also a sought-after city for secondary vacation homes. Just ask former Nike executive Michener Chandlee, who called the beautiful Villa Cascadia home for some time.

Villa Cascadia, listed for $4.55 million by Engel & Völkers, was built in 2007 in an Italian Tuscan style and is located in the gated North Rim community. The 10,000-square-foot home has five bedrooms and six bathrooms and sits on a 1.07-acre parcel of land. Perched above the Deschutes National Forest and surrounded by crisp, towering pines, Villa Cascadia is the ultimate rustic-chic hideaway for those who love nature. Not only are there incredible Cascade Mountain views, but you’re not far from fabulous skiing on Mt. Bachelor.

Chandlee, who is now the CFO of Fanatics, a multi-billion-dollar sports merchandise company, wasn’t the one to build the home. The original owner and builder was a man named John Houston, a U.S. Air Force officer and pilot turned bar and restaurant supply distributor. He then became a real estate developer.

It’s rumored that Villa Cascadia cost $11 million and three years to build, which makes sense considering many of the features. There are several unique architectural details here, like ornate ceilings, pillars barged in from Peru, hand-carved wood, inlaid tile, Venetian plaster walls, limestone fireplaces, and mahogany doors from Spain. Houston passed away shortly after the home was completed.

“Purchasing this home we felt we were stepping into his legacy,” says Chandlee’s wife, Tara Chandlee. “We wanted to honor it and feel we have become part of the story. We felt we had a responsibility to bring it back to life.”

The Chandlee’s re-piped the home in 2021 and added several comfort features, like radiant floor heating, a central vacuum, and more. In addition to the design details, there is an incredible gourmet kitchen; a primary wing with new oak floors, its own washer and dryer, a custom wardrobe system, private gym, library and office; a great room; entertainment center with a home theater and games; and spacious living areas. All bedrooms have access to the exterior balconies, so the outdoors are never too far away.

The outdoor space is equally as impressive and has decks with heated travertine tile, a courtyard, basketball hoop, an outdoor fireplace, and abounding views. There are many intimate nooks to relax and places to entertain that you’ll never get bored of this architectural masterpiece. There is also a heated driveway and motor court, a waterfall feature with a moat and bridge, upper-level balconies with a snow melt radiant system, speakers, a wine cellar, and a formal dining room.

The home is 10 minutes from downtown Bend and close to Awbrey Glen Golf Club. Residents of North Rim have access to a private clubhouse called The Lodge, as well as a park, tennis court, pickleball court, and patio area. It’s a true year-round destination.