When a Florida couple decided that summers in the Sunshine State were too hot and muggy, they began planning a vacation home in Banner Elk, North Carolina, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains where the average summer temperature tops out at a pleasant 70 degrees. They also wanted a log house with a distinctive look, so they called on Allen Halcomb, architect and president of MossCreek in Knoxville, Tennessee, to come up with a design that would suit their personalities. “The couple expressed a desire to…

Originally established in the mid-1800s as a hub and supply center for smaller surrounding mining towns, today’s Crested Butte, Colorado, is a premier destination for year-round recreation. Located about 30 miles due north of Gunnison, it’s just far enough off the beaten path to have retained a sleepy town charm; the population of full-time residents is not much more than 1,500. But the number of vacation/getaway homes is on the rise. One such dwelling belongs to Ohio residents Greg and Beth Bookwalter….

Nestled in the foothills of the Cumberland Mountains in Tennessee, Norris Lake is a recreation paradise renowned for its pristine waters. The lake covers nearly 35,000 acres with 800 miles of shoreline that includes three state parks. Fishing, boating, hiking, and camping beckon visitors from the entire region and draw many to the area looking for a place to build a dream vacation home. This gracious Norris Lake home, designed by MossCreek in Knoxville, Tennessee, was built as a getaway and gathering sp…

Ed and Mary May fell in love with the Hocking Hills region of Ohio and were married there 10 years ago. Over time they hiked the trails and explored the caves and hollows. After staying in dozens of log cabins in the area, they knew they wanted to build one of their own, so they collected ideas from some of them. “One of our prerequisites as we chose rental cabins was that there be no drywall,” says Ed.  “So that was one of our ideas for our own cabin. It would be 100 percent log con…

Richard Phillips isn’t the least expensive builder to be had in the mountains of upstate North Carolina. But he always pays his subs and vendors in a timely manner, has never been involved in a court case, and ends up being friends with the clients he builds for. That’s what landed him the contract to build a  one-of-a-kind custom log vacation home for a couple who wants to relax and enjoy time with family and friends. Phillips says, “In these parts, we’re all neighbors, everybody kn…

“As a youngster,” declares Charlie McGonagle, “I had the good fortune of having an uncle who, along with his father, had built what he called a ‘camp’ in Wilmington, Massachusetts, near Silver Lake. He was a very gracious man, making his place available every summer to his numerous nephews and nieces and their parents. Sometimes there would be as many as 11 of us kids sleeping on the floor of the porch while the adults found room for their night’s sleep somewhere inside.” Despite the lack of running wat…

Bob Dowell and Kevin Rainey have their primary residence in Florida, but you’ll find them in North Conway, New Hampshire, at every opportunity throughout the year. Truly a four-season destination, this resort community in the heart of the White Mountains makes an ideal getaway for the couple to enjoy the spectacular autumn color, hike throughout spring and summer, or hit the slopes of Mt. Washington in winter. Lucky for Bob and Kevin, their jobs allow them the flexibility to visit often, so the idea of …

On first approach to Liz and Danny King’s getaway you may think they have a conundrum on their hands. Their one-story cabin, situated in the heart of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is a tiny oasis. Huddled in the center of town between a busy intersection and multistory lodges, the cabin’s location, on a sliver of land, hardly presents a dilemma. A Treasured Heritage Back in the late 1880s, Gatlinburg was a sleepy hamlet, home to early mountain settlers content to farm and log. Today, three communities—Pigeon F…

There’s an old saying that goes, “It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home.” The truth is, it takes both hands and heart to build a home that reflects your family’s lifestyle and values. By putting their trust in skilled craftsmen who truly listened, Casey and Rita Trumble have built a home that’s as much sanctuary as it is shelter. Nestled among the trees on the banks of the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin Dells, the Trumbles have been planning their home for a long time. Both Rit…

A Florida couple finds peaceful respite in a hybrid log and timber home on the shores of Tennesee’s Douglas Lake. “My husband was born and raised in Florida,” begins Melinda Kolar, “where our primary home is located. I’m from Hendersonville, North Carolina, and ever since leaving I have missed the changing of the seasons that occurs there. Tom and I frequently discussed the possibility of having a second home farther north.” When Tom and Melinda’s two children enrolled at Tennessee colleges (son at the …

What makes a house a home? For most of us, the answer has very little to do with construction and more to do with the people we surround ourselves with. When Amy Hyatt’s father, Dick Pate, retired, he knew he wanted to build a vacation home in the West. He spent a year exploring before discovering a property in Paradise Valley, Montana, in 2011 that was just right. “My mom still has the voice mail from him telling her about it,” says Hyatt. “He fell in love with it.” Pate had a few requirements: the pro…