 The Original Shack |  The Old Wagon Wheel Today |
After decades of living overseas my wife and I set a goal to settle in Montana and build a log home. The interest in a log home stemmed, in part, from a childhood visit to a homestead where the remnants of an early 20th century log home were still standing. In 2012 we were able to realize this dream when we were lucky enough to find our "perfect" property while enjoying the magic of Christmas in Whitefish.
I can still remember driving down a rutted, dead-end dirt road and arriving at a plywood shack that had no electricity or running water; heated only by a wood stove. The location was perfect for us and the purchase of the land was soon completed. What soon followed was a whirlwind of visits and discussions with builders, and suppliers of all the essentials for building a home. Our goal was to recreate a log home as authentic to the original structures as possible using native and reclaimed materials and design elements.
During much of the construction process I was still working overseas and the actual construction management was left in the very capable hands of my wife/project manager. We maintained daily contact through the electronic magic of FaceTime and the internet so I had a reasonably good idea of the current state of construction. Even so, I can recall the overwhelming, emotional impact of arriving at the house on December 10th, 2012 on a short R&R in the middle of the season's first major snowstorm. Through the windshield wipers and the swirling snow I first caught a glimpse of what was to become our new home. It was exactly the image I had in mind and closely mirrored a tattered photo I had carried for many years of what our cabin should look like. Although not nearly completed at that time, we enjoyed a wonderful meal of buffalo chili and red wine amidst a roaring fire in the fireplace, construction heaters, plywood floors and stubbed-in plumbing. Truly a memory to be treasured!
From the initial ups and downs of home construction to the warm and inviting cabin we enjoy today, it has been and continues to be, a journey we feel very fortunate to be able to enjoy. We look forward to sharing this magical place with our future and returning guests.
I can still remember driving down a rutted, dead-end dirt road and arriving at a plywood shack that had no electricity or running water; heated only by a wood stove. The location was perfect for us and the purchase of the land was soon completed. What soon followed was a whirlwind of visits and discussions with builders, and suppliers of all the essentials for building a home. Our goal was to recreate a log home as authentic to the original structures as possible using native and reclaimed materials and design elements.
During much of the construction process I was still working overseas and the actual construction management was left in the very capable hands of my wife/project manager. We maintained daily contact through the electronic magic of FaceTime and the internet so I had a reasonably good idea of the current state of construction. Even so, I can recall the overwhelming, emotional impact of arriving at the house on December 10th, 2012 on a short R&R in the middle of the season's first major snowstorm. Through the windshield wipers and the swirling snow I first caught a glimpse of what was to become our new home. It was exactly the image I had in mind and closely mirrored a tattered photo I had carried for many years of what our cabin should look like. Although not nearly completed at that time, we enjoyed a wonderful meal of buffalo chili and red wine amidst a roaring fire in the fireplace, construction heaters, plywood floors and stubbed-in plumbing. Truly a memory to be treasured!
From the initial ups and downs of home construction to the warm and inviting cabin we enjoy today, it has been and continues to be, a journey we feel very fortunate to be able to enjoy. We look forward to sharing this magical place with our future and returning guests.
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