The Haven
A Memorial Forest for Cremated remains
Here your "family tree" takes on a beautiful new meaning...
Live on and protect the forest by becoming part of it.
Now taking reservations...
We are currently in the process of securing a permanent conservation easement to protect THE HAVEN forever. Once that is in place, we will commence ash burials.
THE HAVEN Memorial Forest is a scenic and peaceful resting place for cremated remains.
Only 7 miles from Minnesota’s Itasca State Park, THE HAVEN is nestled within a beautiful, 146-acre tract of private land in the Paul Bunyan State Forest. It’s a beautiful, life-affirming ecosystem that’s healing and joyful to visit every season of the year. Pet ashes are welcome here because we believe pets are part of the family.
Why choose THE HAVEN for a final resting place?
- Multiple family members included in the price (see below).
- No annual maintenance costs or hidden fees.
- Our peaceful and inspiring pines have an average lifespan of 200-400 years.
- The land is privately owned and managed by a family of conservationists and a professional forester.
- We welcome people and beloved pets.
- With each purchase, our team plants tree seedlings in your honor to reforest land. Reforestation has been our core business since 2014, so we let you know when and where they go in the ground.
- 90-day refund policy + 180-day free tree transfer.
How it works
Find your special place...
Choose from one of three options: a mature tree, a forest glade plot, or the cremation garden.
Decide how to be laid to rest...
You can customize a memorial ceremony, select an unattended burial to let our team handle the interment, or decide to be present at a your pet's burial.
We plant tree seedlings...
in honor of your loved one.
*These seedlings don't go on land that is already protected. They reforest degraded land to expand America's forest footprint.
Burial Location Options
Serenity Glade Plot
A private spot in a forest clearing.- Rights for two people or pets included.
- 100 square feet of private space.
- GPS coordinates to your plot.
- Perpetual access to your plot.
- Three reforestation seedlings planted.
- Certificate of tree planting.
A Mature "Family" Tree
Choose your own family tree as a final resting place. Price based on tree size and species.- Rights for 4-6 people or pets included.
- GPS coordinates to your tree.
- A grove of reforestation seedlings planted.
- Certificate of reforestation.
The Starlight Garden
A designated place in the forest where cremated remains are co-mingled.- Rights for one person or pet.
- GPS coordinates to the garden.
- Perpetual access to the garden.
- One reforestation seedling planted.
- Certificate of tree planting.
When the time comes, choose from...
Memorial Service Onsite
$500*
At THE HAVEN, we’re here to support you every step of the way to make your loved one’s ceremony personal & memorable. We can facilitate the entire memorial, or we can support your chosen officiant.
*$200 discount if a death care professional is onsite during the ceremony
Unattended Burial
no charge
Unattended burial of cremated remains is a simple process. Send or drop off the ashes, and we take care of the interment with care and respect. We will share pictures with you when the burial is complete.
Pet Burial
no charge
No official ceremony, but you can assist with the burial and closure process which will take place within 30 days of receipt of remains or when the ground thaws.
Featured Trees
Frequently Asked Questions
A memorial forest as a green alternative to cemeteries is still a new idea for many people, so we've compiled a list of Q&As to get you started on this journey. Please feel free to book a discovery call with all your additional questions!
What are visiting hours at THE HAVEN?
We encourage you to visit your loved one as often as you like! Because THE HAVEN is a protected and private Memorial Forest, visitation is by appointment only. Please call or email to arrange your visit.
Can I purchase a tree, a forest glade plot, or placement in the cremation garden in advance?
Yes, burial rights for trees, forest glade plots, and the cremation garden can be purchased on a pre-need basis.
If I purchase a tree or forest glade plot before I need it, can I also pay for a memorial service and/or a marker ahead of time?
At this time, the only pre-need items we sell are the burial rights for trees, forest glade plots, or the cremation garden. Customers can only pay for a memorial service when one is scheduled and/or a marker when one is ordered.
Can my ashes be buried next to a family member, friend, or pet?
Yes! Your family tree purchase includes burial rights for 4-6 people or pets at each tree. The number of burial rights depends on the size of the tree. You can also choose to purchase multiple trees in close proximity if you desire your own family grove.
A forest glade purchase includes burial rights for 2 people or pets at each site.
If you purchase burial rights in the cremation garden, this is a communal option, which means the ash is mixed with a special soil amendment and then commingled in the garden.
Is a memorial service required?
No. Our team can take care of the burial with care and reverence and email photos afterwards. The unattended ash burial option is free.
For those who want to be present at a pet burial, you can assist with the burial and closure process which will take place within 30 days of receipt of remains or when the ground thaws. No additional charge for pet burials.
How can I be sure my loved one’s ashes will be there in the future?
THE HAVEN is pursuing a perpetual forest conservation easement with the State of Minnesota that will extend permanent protection throughout the entire surrounding 146 acre parcel. This is a legal deed restriction and ensures the property can never be developed, and the forest will remain a forest forever. This commitment underpins all activities and decisions regarding the care, preservation, and enhancement of THE HAVEN, ensuring that it remains a place of natural beauty, serenity, and ecological integrity.
THE HAVEN customers are granted an irrevocable license to access their tree, forest glade plot, or the cremation garden so they and their loved ones can always visit. Further, 2% of the burial rights purchase price shall be deposited in THE HAVEN's Forest Stewardship Fund and devoted to the forest's perpetual care and maintenance.
How can I get the ashes to the forest?
There are a variety of options. You can bring them with you if you choose a memorial service. Or, if you choose an unattended ash burial where our team takes care of the burial, you can either mail the ashes to our team or drop them off with your funeral home professional.
Can I scatter ashes at THE HAVEN?
No, the composition of human ash has a high pH and salinity level which makes them extremely unhealthy for scattering on plants. Further, human ashes don’t decompose or dissolve in water. Even if the ash was mixed with a soil additive to make the ash bioavailable to plants and trees, if left unburied and simply scattered, the mixture would separate after a rainfall, negating the helpful effects of the additive.
We carefully manage our forests to keep them healthy, so we only allow burial after the ash has been mixed with a science-backed, organic soil amendment. Thus buried, the ash and soil amendment won't separate, and the enzymes in the soil amendment have time to fully do their work and allow the ash to truly become part of the forest forever.
How can I mark an ash burial site? How can I find my site?
All of our cremation burial sites are accurately plotted and tracked. Upon purchase, you will be given the GPS coordinates to the site. These GPS Coordinates are also listed on our website’s Registry. When a tree or forest glade plot is purchased, you also have the option to purchase a small Memorial Marker that can be anchored in the ground. Each tree is also marked with a numbered aluminum tree tag.
What if the cremation was not done recently?
No problem. Cremated ashes remain stable for many years and, once mixed with our soil amendment, can be safely buried at THE HAVEN.
Why do ashes have to be mixed with special soil before burying?
Cremated remains contain extremely high pH (approximately 11.8 - whereas healthy soil pH ranges from 5-8) and sodium levels up to 2,000 times higher than what’s considered good for most plants. Because of this high pH and sodium level, plant roots will actively avoid this contaminated area, opting for more chemically balanced soil.
In order to completely break down the calcium, phosphate, and sodium in the cremated remains, supplemental enzymes must be incorporated into them to correct imbalances and nourish plant life. This organic mixture, developed by a former funeral director and his research team of forensic anthropologists, taphonomists, and entomologists, biologists, and other scientists over several years, has been scientifically proven to foster healthy plant life by lowering the pH and diluting the sodium in testing by independent labs.
Committed to long-term forest health, THE HAVEN uses this organic mixture to offset the high pH and salinity of ash and unlock its potential to nurture new life so the ash truly becomes one with the forest.
Can bodies be buried at THE HAVEN?
No. THE HAVEN Memorial Forest is for cremated remains burial only.
Can I bury an urn?
No. THE HAVEN is a natural forest not a cemetery, therefore we do not allow man-made objects of any kind to be buried.
Can I leave flowers or objects at a loved one’s grave?
You’re welcome to leave cut flowers, but please make sure that you remove the cellophane or any other non-biodegradable items first. You should not leave trinkets or any man-made items as THE HAVEN is a natural forest ecosystem, not a traditional cemetery. We reserve the right to remove any decorative items placed on or around a grave.
Is the burial ground only for certain religions or those living in the area?
No, THE HAVEN is open to all people, regardless of religion or where they live.
What is the maximum time allowed for a memorial service?
We book burials into two-hour time slots with staff on site. However, you can choose to remain in the forest after our staff departs as long as it doesn’t impact another planned service.
When can we have the memorial service?
When the ground is not frozen. In a typical year this is mid-April to early November.
How many people can we invite to the forest memorial service?
Every family has a different vision for their ceremony. Some prefer a small and intimate gathering. Others want to invite as many as they can to experience such a unique farewell. Give us a call, and we’ll try to accommodate your vision.
Can I reschedule a memorial service if it is predicted to be bad weather?
We will generally go ahead with all planned interments except in the event of extreme weather. But we will communicate with your family directly.
If I purchase burial rights, do I own that tree or piece of land?
Purchasing burial rights is not like buying land, although there are similarities. When you buy burial rights, you don’t own land; you own the right to be buried (interred) in that spot.
Tell us more about THE HAVEN and the history of the land.
This beautiful and complex ecosystem is a privately owned forest, located within the Paul Bunyan State Forest. Bordered by Birch Creek, the property consists of rolling hills and native oak, red pine, white pine, jack pine, aspen, birch, white spruce, and balsam fir to create a living sanctuary that supports the birds, bees, waterfowl, and all sorts of animals that make this forest their home.
Itasca State Park (home to the Mississippi River Headwaters) lie a few miles to the west; while the Chippewa National Forest and other state forests and state parks are due east.
The establishment of a sawmill near Akeley by the Red River Lumber Company in 1898 led to devastating logging of the old-growth red pine and eastern white pine which covered the land in the early twentieth century. By 1908, there were eight to ten logging camps in the area, which led to the construction of a railroad which extended to Lake Alice Township and further logging, which ceased in 1915 when the Red River Lumber Company moved to California. By then, most of Minnesota’s old growth forests had been decimated.
Somehow, five massive white pine trees on our property were spared. These lie deeper in the forest off THE HAVEN’s established trail system. We speculate their survival was due to the surveyor's error, but we’ll never know. We’re just very grateful! These old growth mother trees take two people to wrap their arms around and are truly a joy and wonder to be around.
Our founders, David and Misty Dietz, have been responsible forest stewards since 2014. Together with professional foresters, they don’t practice walk-away forestry. They own and manage nearly 630 acres of Minnesota timberlands and have planted more than 35,000 trees since they purchased their first property.
They believe designating your final resting place in a living forest is an important way to sustainably protect forests from development and are delighted to share this special sanctuary with others.
What tree species do you have for purchase at THE HAVEN?
THE HAVEN currently offers nine native tree species for ash burial: northern red oak, red pine, white pine, white spruce, paper birch, river birch, balsam fir, quaking aspen, and jack pine.
What types of wildlife are in THE HAVEN?
Fifty-two species of mammals and more than 170 species of birds make seasonal or year-round homes in nearby Itasca State Park, which is only 4 miles as the crow flies and 7.7 driving miles away. Some familiar species include owls, eagles, pileated woodpeckers, Northern flying squirrel, porcupines, white-tail deer, chickadees, raccoons, nuthatches, foxes, snowshoe hares, ruffed grouse, trumpeter swans, black bears, coyotes, and Timberwolves.
What does the 90-day refund policy mean?
You have 90 days from the date you purchase burial right(s) for a tree, forest glade plot, or the cremation garden to change your mind and get 100% of your money back as long as the ash burial has not been completed. After ash burial, all purchases are non-refundable.
Custom memorial markers are also nonrefundable.
What does the 180-day free tree transfer policy mean?
You have 180 days from the date you purchase tree burial right(s) to choose a different tree as long as the ash burial has not been completed. If the tree you choose costs more than your original tree, you simply pay the difference. If the tree you choose costs less than your original tree, you will be refunded the difference.
What are your pre-need payment plans?
For pre-need customers, we offer 6-month and 12-month installment plans. Whichever plan you choose, the total amount will be divided by that number of months. All outstanding balances must be paid in full before the burial.
Is there parking on site?
Yes, THE HAVEN accommodates parking. The parking area and paths are maintained spring, summer, and fall.
Are pets allowed?
Dogs are allowed on site, but please keep them on a leash and be sure to clean up after them. We have no trash receptacles in the forest so you will need to take all waste with you when you leave.
Are there toilet facilities?
We are unable to provide toilet facilities at this time. The Woodland Store in nearby Lake George is 3 ½ miles from THE HAVEN at the intersection of State Hwy 71 and Hubbard County Road 4. This is a full-service convenience store offering gas, diesel, sandwiches, snacks, beverages, restrooms, and more.
What if my tree dies?
Death is a natural part of any ecosystem. If your tree dies before any ashes are buried, you can transfer to another tree free of charge. If your tree dies after ashes have been buried, your plot, marked by GPS coordinates, remain yours as well as any memorial marker(s) purchased. The beauty of dead trees is that they continue to fuel new life, releasing all sorts of resources and making room for new and different plants to grow. As a tree decomposes, nutrients once stored within the tree are released and made available to plants that were once its competitors. Our foresters may opt to leave the dead tree in place to support wildlife and extend its ecological benefits, or they may decide it’s more beneficial to remove it if it obstructs a walking path, or other reasons.