By Tekisha Harvey

Nestled on a quiet street within the Detroit city limits, you will find a beautiful brick home with a welcoming rainbow flag hanging outside the front entry.   It signals that it is a safe space–which it is, on more than one level. Jess and Cara Jackson are a Black, Queer couple who open their home to serve as an inclusive, liberating, canna-friendly space for their guests.  This is the Copper House.

ORIGIN STORY

An engagement trip to three cities in Europe sparked the idea. “We got engaged in Paris, and then we went to Amsterdam, and then we went to London…and stayed in three short-term rentals,” Jess Jackson said. 

In Paris, they stayed in a “gayborhood”, which made them feel safe as a queer couple.  They indulged in the cannabis experience while relaxing on a houseboat along a canal in Amsterdam. And in London, they chose to stay at a hostel which fostered a sense of community.  Their experience sparked the idea to create a similar feeling of acceptance back at home, and they acted on the opportunity to create a purposeful, welcoming atmosphere by making their home available to visitors.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Built in 1932, the Copper House infuses copper into its aesthetic throughout each room.  “We have copper bonds, copper lighters, copper ashtrays,” Jackson said.

Overnight guests have access to the entire home and a private locked room.  Guests also have access to their decarboxylation machine to make their own infused oils and kinds of butter. Each morning, visitors can cook their own infused breakfast with their waffle maker.

Conveniently located 15 minutes from downtown Detroit and right off the Avenue of Fashion, their neighborhood boasts the largest concentration of Black-owned businesses in the area.  Steps away from some of the cutest boutiques and eateries in the area, a stay at the Copper House definitely invites a memorable experience. 

HOST AN EVENT

In addition to overnight stays, they also use their home as an event and gathering place to share opportunities for economic wealth in the growing cannabis industry in Michigan. 

These include:

The Garden Party – An educational event aiming to promote urban farming and hemp and cannabis cultivation.

The Midpoint Campout — A weekend-long nature-immersive self-care retreat featuring educational workshops on holistic healing practices.

Queer Xpressions — An intimate night of immersive experiences centering Queer Folx of Color.

Visit their website, copperhousedet.com for more event opportunities and stay informed.