Cabin Fever

Forget renting a log home for a short retreat: These luxurious abodes are a good investment as a second—or primary—residence.

BY MARGOT CARMICHAEL LESTER

THE RUSTIC LOG cabins of yesteryear are largely a thing of the past. Today’s post-and-beam residences have gone upscale—and they’re not just for vacations any more. Enterprising real estate developers are building log cabin communities, where the rough-hewn structures are anything but quaint and countrifi ed.

This new take on an old form is driven by seemingly competing desires: to live among the most modern energy-saving materials in the most bucolic and natural environment. Meeting both these needs requires new construction. “The green movement has increasingly brought homes like this into the forefront because, by their nature, they incorporate so many natural elements,” says Steve Crandall, owner of Tectonics II Ltd., a Roseland, VA, dealer of Lindal Cedar Homes (a Seattle-based company that designs unique log- and post-and-beam homes). “Our clients are seeking to lead more energy-effi cient, healthy, earth-friendly lives.”

In addition to looking for green building, buyers want eco-friendly living. “The nostalgia of hearth and home is what people envision with a log home,” Crandall says. “Some may have memories of a vacation cabin that they visited as children. While they hope to capture the magic of that carefree vacation, they want a retreat that provides the comfort and luxury they enjoy and expect as adults.”

Another factor is driving development of new log homes, too: convenience. Old cabins can be costly and time-consuming to maintain, particularly for absentee owners using cabins as vacation homes.

In addition to the convenience factor, new construction is appealing to buyers because they can design a rustic home with all of the modern amenities they’re accustomed to.

At the Homestead Preserve in Hot Springs, VA, families from Washington, DC, and Richmond are showing interest in antique-looking log cabins ranging in size from 2,000 to almost 10,000 square feet. The structures feature reclaimed logs, native fi eldstone chimneys and bluestone floors. Prices start in the $600,000s.

Interior of a Homestead
Preserve log home “Our typical buyer is seeking a home for a weekend retreat where they can gather with children, grandchildren or close friends,” says Don Killoren, principal and co-general manager of Homestead Preserve. “The vast majority are second-homeowners who want a simpler, smaller style. They have the option of enjoying a more rustic mountain getaway that pays homage to the architectural styles of the past but still has all the modern amenities.”

Another type of buyer seeks country living close to urban work centers like the 148-acre, 39-home Stone’s Path, a luxury log home community in Alamance County, NC. The homes, designed by Kuhns Bros. Log Homes Inc. of Lewisburg, PA, will start in the $400,000s, and the fi rst model will be completed this fall.

“The beauty of Stone’s Path is that, while it offers a mountainous terrain, it’s conveniently located about 8 miles from the I-85/ I-40 corridor,” says Chris Faircloth, co-owner of Faircloth Construction, the community’s Burlington, NC-based developer.

This central location makes it possible to have a luxury log home as a primary residence, or as an alternative to the pricier, more remote second-home market in the North Carolina mountains.

Other log home owners, like Frank Groff, are looking for a vacation/rental opportunity. “I visited some family in the Portland and Mount Hood areas (in Oregon) and fell in love with it,” says Groff , whose primary residence is in Long Beach, CA. Living quite far from the area, he would need to use the cabin as a vacation home and rental property to make it work. “The rental market is pretty strong year-round,” Groff says.

And then there are those who want resort living. Suncadia, a 6,400-acre resort near Roslyn, WA, is a large-scale destination featuring a members-only golf course and a swim and fi tness center. “Our typical buyer is a second or vacation home buyer,” says Dave Lockwood, owner of Country Classic Log and Timber Houses, a featured builder at Suncadia. “You can get really creative with log cabins. Each has its own unique personality.”

Whether situated in the remote woods, a fancy resort, or a community of other log home lovers, these high-end homes provide the convenience and style of city living without the hustle and hassle.

“Log homes are very natural and peaceful,” says Jon Sellers, vice president of sales for Rocky Mountain Log Homes. The company uses dry standing dead timber to build its 3,000- to 6,000-square-foot homes, priced at $200 per square foot and up. “They give you the feeling of getting away from it all.”