David and Melissa Hatter have always felt right at home in Big Sky, Montana, even though they are also quite used to the bustle of the big city of Atlanta, Georgia. Melissa works as a director of information technology, while David is an entrepreneur and owner of financial services companies with a “passion for leading people to financial security.” It seems the wide open spaces and breathtaking mountain vistas of Montana provide the couple with another sense of well-being—one that is priceless. They recently purchased a beautiful log home in the Powder Ridge development of Big Sky, adding a sense of permanence to the area where they have vacationed for several years.
“A log home holds a special place in my heart,” explains David. “My love of log cabins came from my parents. My dad grew up in Liberty, Kentucky, where only the ‘rich folks’ could afford to live in one. He always dreamed of retiring to ‘a log cabin on a hill.’ My parents built their dream cabin on a remote piece of property in Indiana 26 years ago, and at 81 and 74 still live there today. Holidays and family events at that cabin established a sense of comfort and simplicity inside me. With all those memories, nothing makes me feel more at home than a log cabin.”
For the Hatters, comfort and simplicity begin with 1,559 square feet on two floors, three bedrooms, and two baths. The master suite is located upstairs, and the living space is contained on the primary level, where a gourmet kitchen complete with granite countertops, 48-inch Sub-Zero refrigerator, and 36-inch Dual Fuel Wolf range opens into a convenient dining area and gathering space with a large, stone wood-burning fireplace that beckons visitors to linger and enjoy its warmth. A Western theme is carried throughout the home, accented with exposed pine beams and chinking.
Resting at an elevation of 8,000 feet on the east side of Powder Ridge, roughly 60 miles from the western entrance to Yellowstone National Park and 50 miles from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, the home is fashioned from hefty squared pine logs with oak flooring, Alder trim, and Douglas Fir doors and window frames. Skillfully placed on the lot to take advantage of the panoramic views, the home offers spectacular glimpses of the Rockies. Snow-capped Lone Peak towers 11,166 feet to the southwest, while Fan Mountain,
Blaze Mountain, Gallatin Peak, and the Spanish Peaks rise majestically in the west, north, and east.
“I’ve always wanted to have a log home in the mountains,” relates Melissa. “I gain a sense of peace when I am there. I can do my three favorite things: ski, sit by the fire, and read a book. I love Big Sky, and the small town feel reminds me of the town where I grew up, Washington, Indiana.”
While the Hatters had been vacationing in Big Sky for years, they purchased the home early this year. “Our good friend and Montana native Jim Edwards invited us to stay in his cabin in Meadow Village,” remarks David. “We quickly developed a love for the town and the people. Once his home was no longer available we had to find a place of our own.”
A large deck with an inviting hot tub faces the Spanish Peaks, and a private deck off the master bedroom fronts Lone Peak. During the search, this particular home stood out among others. “Some key elements of the home that were attractive to us and seem to be attractive to every buyer are the large fireplace, exposed wood beams, and great views,” reasons Melissa. “It has an open feel but is cozy enough to feel like home.”
According to David, the quality finishes of the home built about 10 years ago by RMR Group of Big Sky, the right number of bedrooms for family and guests, ski access, marketability as a reliable rental, turnkey status, and the ongoing management of the property are key elements that made the home desirable as well.
“The Powder Ridge development provides for privacy, convenience, quality construction and furnishings, and ski-in, ski-out access,” he comments. “We feel so fortunate that a good friend introduced us to such a beautiful place. It is awesome to have the privilege to share it with special friends and family.”
The Hatters and those who are dear to them have found the best of Big Sky living with their log home in the mountains, and future generations are sure to follow.