Greg Howe is the son of a dedicated librarian mom and a career Park Service dad. He was born in North Carolina while the family lived in the Blue Ridge National Park. Subsequent homes were in Yellowstone Park and in Juneau and Glacier Bay. Greg and his brother Fred bought the Hobbit Hole in 1973 and have the good fortune to have homes near the waters where they fish for wild salmon and halibut.

Jane Button was born, and lived most of her life in Reno, Nevada. She worked as a biochemist before becoming a middle school teacher of science and French. Meeting Greg while visiting southeast Alaska changed her life for good, and she soon moved to the Hobbit Hole.

Other domestic residents include Hector the black cat, Lacy the black dog and the ducks. Lacy and Hector both affectionately welcome guests!