Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Narrator: THIS IS THE AMERICAN DREAM, SUPERSIZED.
IT HAD TO BE A LOG HOME.
WE DIDN'T CONSIDER ANYTHING ELSE.
RUGGED ON THE OUTSIDE, PURE LUXURY ON THE INSIDE.
THESE EPIC LOG CABINS
GIVE NEW MEANING TO THE WORD PERSISTENCE.
WILL TENDS TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME
ON DETAIL THAT'S EXHAUSTING.
Narrator: BUILDING THESE BEHEMOTHS
TAKES SO MUCH MORE THAN PIONEERING SPIRIT.
WHEN I SAY I'VE PUT MY HEART AND SOUL INTO IT,
IT'S BECAUSE I WAS HERE A GOOD 80% OF THE TIME.
Narrator: THESE HOMEOWNERS SCOUR THE COUNTRY
TO FIND THAT SUPER-SWEET SPOT...
Weinberg: I WAS LOOKING FOR THE BEST PLACE
IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES TO LIVE.
Narrator: ...AND POUR YEARS OF THEIR LIVES INTO EVERY DETAIL...
Jeff: OH, LOVED IT. THE CRAFTSMANSHIP IN SO MANY PLACES IN THE HOUSE
IS JUST AMAZING.
Narrator: ...AND ALWAYS KEEPING THEIR EYES ON THE PRIZE.
THAT PRETTY MUCH WAS THE INSPIRATION --
IT'S SOMEPLACE THAT WE COULD KEEP FOREVER.
Narrator: THESE TOWERS OF TIMBER
ARE A TRIPLE SHOT OF YANKEE INGENUITY ON "EPIC LOG HOMES 3."
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
THIS MASSIVE TIMBER AND STONE HOME SITS ON THREE ACRES
OF POPULAR LAKEFRONT PROPERTY
ABOUT AN HOUR FROM NEW YORK CITY.
THE FACT THAT IT RESTS THIS CLOSE TO THE SHORELINE
IS A TESTAMENT TO THE DETERMINATION
OF THE MAN WHO BUILT IT.
FOR YEARS, HERB GLASER AND HIS WIFE, BECKY,
SEARCHED FOR THE PERFECT LAKE HOME.
INSTEAD, THEY FOUND THE PERFECT PIECE OF LAND
HERE ON CULVER LAKE IN BRANCHVILLE, NEW JERSEY.
WE HAVE A BIG ATTACHMENT TO THIS PROPERTY.
MY FATHER USED TO WORK ACTUALLY ON THIS PROPERTY,
ON THE SITE THAT WE ARE ON.
WHEN HE WAS 15, IT WAS CALLED CULVERMERE.
IT WAS A SUMMER COMMUNITY. THIS WAS A GOLF COURSE.
THE CULVERMERE RESORT BURNED DOWN IN THE 1980s,
AND THIS PROPERTY SAT EMPTY
UNTIL IT FINALLY WENT UP FOR SALE
AND THE GLASERS SNAPPED IT UP.
THEY WANTED TO TAKE THEIR TIME PLANNING THEIR DREAM HOME,
BUT THAT ALL CHANGED WITH ONE PHONE CALL
AND A NEW COUNTY RULE WHICH DICTATED
THAT THE HOUSE BE SET MUCH FURTHER BACK FROM THE SHORELINE.
THE ACTUAL GUY THAT I BROUGHT THE PROPERTY FROM
CALLED ME AND SAID,
"HERB, THEY CHANGED THE SETBACKS FROM 40 FEET TO 300 FEET,"
AND I WAS LIKE, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"
HE SAYS, "HEY, YOU BETTER BUILD QUICK."
THE CHALLENGE WAS WE WEREN'T PREPARED.
HERB AND BECKY HAD LESS THAN 30 DAYS TO POUR A FOUNDATION
OR SETTLE FOR THEIR HOUSE BEING BUILT NEXT TO THE ROAD
INSTEAD OF CLOSE TO THE LAKE.
SO THEY KICKED IT INTO HIGH GEAR,
PICKED HOUSE PLANS, AND HIRED A CONTRACTOR.
WE FAST-TRACKED ALL THE PERMITS, AND WE GOT IT UNDER WAY.
WE GOT THE FOUNDATION IN IN TIME, AND THEN WE STARTED.
THEY STARTED, BUT WITHIN A WEEK, THEY STOPPED
WHEN HERB REALIZED THE PLANS THEY HAD SO QUICKLY CHOSEN
WEREN'T WHAT THEY WANTED.
SO, MY WIFE AND I SAT DOWN WITH THE ENGINEERS
AND WE STARTED DRAWING UP THE HOUSE
AND THROWING IDEAS AT EACH OTHER.
AND WE STARTED BLOWING OUT THE HOUSE.
EIGHT REVISIONS LATER,
THEIR PRECISION-CRAFT LOG-AND-TIMBER HOME
HAD DOUBLED IN SIZE TO 7,500 SQUARE FEET
WITH FIVE BEDROOMS AND FOUR BATHS.
ON ONE END OF THE MAIN FLOOR,
THE MASTER BEDROOM HAS ITS OWN PRIVATE PORCH
WITH A FLOOR-TO-CEILING FIREPLACE,
A LAKE VIEW, AND TRICKED-OUT MASTER BATHROOM.
FROM THE BEDROOM, A SHORT HALLWAY LEADS PAST A BARROOM,
WHICH SHARES A DOUBLE-SIDED FIREPLACE
WITH A TOWERING GREAT ROOM.
IT FLOWS INTO THE MASSIVE KITCHEN AND EATING AREA,
PERFECT FOR ENTERTAINING.
UPSTAIRS, THE KIDS' BEDROOMS ARE CONNECTED BY A BRIDGE
WITH A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF THE GROUNDS AND MAIN FLOOR.
DOWNSTAIRS, ON THE BASEMENT LEVEL,
TWO MORE BEDROOMS ARE ALWAYS READY FOR GUESTS.
THE GLASERS DESIGNED THE HOUSE TO BE A HYBRID --
PART LOG CABIN, PART CRAFTSMAN STYLE --
A TYPE OF ARCHITECTURE POPULAR IN THE EARLY 1900s.
PART OF THE CRAFTSMAN-STYLE HOME IS NATURAL LIGHT --
THE WINDOWS, THE OPEN FLOOR PLAN WITH BARELY ANY HALLWAYS,
THE NATURAL STONE, STUCCO, AND WOODS.
HERB USED SEVEN VARIETIES OF WOOD TO GET DIFFERENT COLORS
AND ACCENTED IT ALL WITH TONS OF STONEWORK.
HERB WAS VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT WANTING ONE SPECIFIC TYPE,
CALLED MOSS ROCK.
AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH LED THEM TO AN OLD FRIEND, OF SORTS.
I HAPPEN TO HAVE A FRIEND WHO --
[ LAUGHING ]
...WHO HAPPENED TO MARRY INTO A ROCK QUARRY,
AND HE GOT THE STONE FOR US.
THE STONE CAME FROM OKLAHOMA,
AND I HAD TO DEAL WITH HER OLD BOYFRIEND FOR A YEAR OR TWO.
AND HE WAS SENDING LOADS OF THE STONE.
I MEAN, IT'S REAL STONE,
SO IT'S BIG, THICK PIECES OF MOSS ROCK.
THE STONES MAKE UP ALMOST HALF THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOME.
BUILDING THE PORTICO AT THE ENTRANCE ALONE TOOK MONTHS.
THE STONES WERE SO HUGE, THEY HAD TO BE CUT IN HALF
IN ORDER TO BE USED INSIDE SO AS NOT TO CROWD WALKWAYS.
AND THE MASON PLACED EACH ROCK IN A POSITION.
SOME WERE STICKING OUT, SOME ARE IN.
SO IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK FOR HIM.
AND HERB DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING
TO RUIN THE LOOK OF THE STONE WALLS,
ESPECIALLY METAL VENTS NEEDED
TO BRING THE GEOTHERMAL HEAT INTO THE HOUSE.
BUILDER CLAY CAMPBELL LEARNED TO TAKE GOOD NOTES
TO MAKE SURE HIS TEAM GOT EVERY DETAIL EXACTLY RIGHT.
THE MASON AND I CAME UP WITH AN IDEA.
WE FOUND A BIG STONE OUTSIDE
AND FIGURED OUT HOW MUCH SPACE NEED,
AND WE TOOK A DEMO SAW AND CUT SLITS IN THE STONE.
AND THEN WHEN WE APPLIED IT TO THE WALL OVER THE DUCTWORK,
THAT CAME OUT GREAT.
Narrator: HERB TOOK MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS
WHEN HE DESIGNED THE GARGANTUAN
12-FOOT-WIDE, 4-FOOT-DEEP FIREPLACE.
THIS FIREPLACE WAS THE CENTER OF THE HOUSE, BASICALLY,
AND WE WANTED IT TO ACCOMMODATE THE LIVING ROOM,
AS WELL AS THE BAR.
SO WE MADE IT A THROUGH FIREPLACE.
Narrator: THE KINGPIN OF THE WHOLE DESIGN?
[ BULL ROARS ]
THIS LONGHORN-BULL TROPHY THAT PRESIDES OVER THE GREAT ROOM.
Herb: THE WHOLE HOUSE WAS BUILT AROUND THAT STEER HEAD.
I ACTUALLY PHOTOSHOPPED A STEER HEAD ONTO A FIREPLACE,
AND I JUST LOVE THE LOOK OF IT.
Narrator: THE WALLS ARE 8 INCHES THICK THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE.
THE GIGANTIC TRUSSES SUPPORTING THE ROOF
COME FROM FIR TREES ALMOST 30 INCHES THICK.
EVEN SO, HERB WENT THE EXTRA MILE TO MAKE SURE
THEY WOULD HOLD UP THE HOUSE
EVEN IF THE LOGS SETTLED OR SEPARATED.
Campbell: THEY HAD A METAL "T" INSIDE THE TRUSS.
YOU COULD STICK A BAR INSIDE THAT TURNBUCKLE
AND TURN IT AND ACTUALLY TIGHTEN IT.
SO THAT'S KIND OF UNIQUE. IT'S OLD-STYLE.
Narrator: HERB ADMITS THAT HE WAS A TOUGH CUSTOMER,
DEMANDING PERFECTION OVER EVERY DETAIL,
EVEN THE RAILINGS FOR THIS TOWER STAIRCASE.
Campbell: FOR EXAMPLE, THESE RAILS.
I THOUGHT THEY SHOULD BE BLACK. I INSISTED ON IT.
HERBIE SAID, "NO, I WANT COPPER."
OF COURSE, THEY LOOK BETTER IN COPPER, I HAVE TO ADMIT.
Narrator: EVEN THE BUTCHER-BLOCK KITCHEN TABLE
MADE FROM A GIANT POPLAR TREE WAS HERB'S IDEA.
BUT HE GOT SOME HELP FROM HIS YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, CHARLISE.
I, LIKE, TWISTED THE NAILS AND PUT A LITTLE WOOD ON
AND PUT THE GLUE ON AND STUFF.
THE BAR, BRANDI'S BIERHAUS,
IS NAMED AFTER THE COUPLE'S OTHER DAUGHTER.
IT'S LOADED WITH ONE-OF-A-KIND STAINED GLASS,
JUST ONE OF THE TOUCHES HONORING THE FAMILY'S GERMAN HERITAGE.
FOR THE GLASERS, THERE'S NO TRADING THEIR KILLER VIEWS,
AND TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE,
THEY KEPT ADDING MORE AND MORE WINDOWS TO THE PLAN TO MAKE SURE
THE LAKE CAN BE SEEN FROM EACH OF THE FIVE BEDROOMS.
BUT THE BEST WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE LAKE
IS FROM OUT ON THEIR 1,500 SQUARE FEET OF DECK
AND THE WATERFRONT PARTY AREA.
Herb: WE BUILT THESE COLUMNS TO ACCOMMODATE A SHADE SAIL.
THE BAR WAS MADE AND A COOKING AREA,
AND WE WANTED IT TO BE LIKE A LITTLE RESORT KIND OF FEEL
SO PEOPLE CAN COME OVER AND HANG OUT AND DRINK.
[ CHUCKLES ]
GOT A REFRIGERATOR DOWN THERE.
WE GOT A TRAMPOLINE FOR THE KIDS.
AND WE FISH AND HANG OUT. IT'S FUN.
Narrator: AND FUN FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY
IS EXACTLY WHAT THE GLASERS HAD IN MIND FROM THE START.
Becky: OUR CHILDREN LOVE THE HOUSE.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF FREEDOM.
IT'S SPACIOUS FOR THEM TO PLAY AND RUN AROUND AND BE CRAZY.
THEY'RE KIDS.
Herb: THAT PRETTY MUCH WAS THE INSPIRATION,
AND IT'LL BE GREAT FOR OUR FAMILY, OUR GRANDKIDS.
IT'S SOMEPLACE THAT WE CAN KEEP FOREVER.
Narrator: EVEN WITH THE QUICK START,
IT TOOK THE GLASERS FOUR LONG YEARS
TO BUILD THEIR LAKESIDE LOG HOME.
THE COST OF CREATING A FAMILY LEGACY WHEN WE RETURN.
Narrator: THIS CUSTOM TIMBER-AND-STONE HOME
ON NEW JERSEY'S CULVER LAKE
HAS 7,500 SQUARE FEET,
TONS OF MOSS ROCK,
SEVEN DIFFERENT KINDS OF TIMBER,
AND ROOM AFTER ROOM OF KILLER VIEWS.
IT TOOK FOUR YEARS TO BUILD,
AND THE HOME IS WORTH $3 MILLION.
THIS 11,000-SQUARE-FOOT LODGE
FITS BEAUTIFULLY INTO THIS HIGH-ALTITUDE LANDSCAPE
OF ASPEN TREES, WILD FLOWERS, AND WILDLIFE.
IT'S COLORADO LIVING AT ITS FINEST.
BUT IT DIDN'T ALWAYS LOOK THIS IDEAL,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS COURAGEOUS COUPLE FIRST LAID EYES ON IT.
O.B.: IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU FOUND SOMETHING THAT'S BROKEN
AND YOU HAVE AN OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DESIRE
TO FIX IT, MAKE IT A LITTLE BETTER,
A LOT BETTER THAN WHAT IT WAS.
Narrator: O.B. AND JULIE NELSON WERE ON THE HUNT
FOR A WOODED-MOUNTAIN SUMMER HOME
NEAR EDWARDS, COLORADO, WHERE THEY LIKE TO VACATION.
FROM THE OUTSIDE, THIS ONE LOOKED VERY PROMISING.
BUT BEHIND THOSE FRONT DOORS, THIS WAS A SERIOUS DO-OVER.
SOME OF THE INITIAL PEOPLE THAT WALKED INTO THIS HOUSE
THAT WERE LOOKING AS POTENTIAL BUYERS
WALKED IN THE DOOR, TURNED AROUND, AND LEFT
AND NEVER EVEN MADE IT THROUGH THE HOUSE.
IT REALLY WAS IN DESPERATE NEED OF BEING FIXED.
ONE PROBLEM -- ALL THE LOGS WERE ORANGE,
NOT THE NATURAL BROWN HUE THEY ARE TODAY.
PROBLEM TWO -- THE TRUSSES AND BEAMS.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WITH THIS ROOM
WERE THE TRUSSES AND BEAMS
WERE DONE IN THIS BLACK, DARK-BLACK FINISH.
I WAS LIKE, "OH, MY GOSH.
THIS PAINT IS JUST SOMETHING TERRIBLE."
I GUESS MY WIFE AND I JUST HAVE THAT ABILITY TO SEE PAST
THE ORANGE LOGS AND THE BLACK BEAMS AND THE GREEN WALLS.
Narrator: MIND-BOGGLING COLOR CHOICES WERE DISCOVERED THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE.
IT WAS JUST A MUCH BIGGER JOB THAN ANY OF US EVER IMAGINED.
WE STARTED OUT, "OKAY, WELL, WE THINK WE JUST HAVE THREE OR FOUR MONTHS WORTH OF WORK,"
AND, OF COURSE, IT WAS A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, AND...
AND IT WAS IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
THE NELSONS WERE DRAWN TO THIS HOUSE
WHEN THEY LEARNED ALL THE LOGS WERE HARVESTED
IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK AFTER THE 1988 FIRE.
THE LOGS ARE SO BIG,
LOCAL ZONING LAWS WOULD PREVENT THIS HOME FROM BEING BUILT TODAY
BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF CRANES IT TOOK
TO INSTALL THE MASSIVE TIMBER.
SOME OF THE BEAMS ARE MORE THAN 2 FEET AROUND
AND RUN THE FULL LENGTH OF THE MAIN FLOOR.
16 GIGANTIC UPRIGHT TREES
SUPPORT THE CEILING OF THE GREAT ROOM AND DINING AREA.
STRIPPING AND SANDING IT ALL WAS A PAINSTAKINGLY SLOW PROCESS.
AS THEIR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER EXPLAINS,
IT WAS DONE ENTIRELY BY HAND.
A BEAM LIKE THIS MIGHT TAKE TWO HOURS TO BRUSH OUT.
YOU'RE NOT MOVING A LOT IN A DAY.
IT'S TIME-CONSUMING. [ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator: AND AFTER SIX MONTHS OF NONSTOP SANDING,
THE LOGS WERE STILL ORANGE.
O.B. AND JULIE WERE ASKED TO PUT THEIR TRUST IN A PAINTER
WHO HAD A REALLY SCARY PLAN.
SO THAT WAS THE FIRST MATTER OF TRUST.
WHEN NICO CAME TO US AND SAID, "DON'T THINK I'M CRAZY
"BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO STAIN THESE LOGS BLUE
TO TURN THEM BROWN."
AND HE ACTUALLY DID SOME TEST LOGS FOR US,
SO WE GOT TO SEE WHAT IT WAS GONNA LOOK LIKE
BEFORE WE SAID, "OKAY, GO."
THAT LEAP OF FAITH PAID OFF.
THE BLUE PAINT WORKED ITS MAGIC,
AND TODAY, THE FINISHED LOGS JUST BEG TO BE TOUCHED.
MY HUSBAND ALWAYS SAYS,
"THE HOUSE KIND OF HUGS YOU WHEN WALK IN."
TYPICALLY, THIS IS ONE OF THE SPOTS
WHEN SOMEBODY COMES INTO THIS HOME
AND THEY LOOK AROUND AND THE FIRST THING THEY DO IS
KIND OF GO LIKE THIS. THEY GO, "OOH."
THIS IS KIND OF FUN TO TOUCH THIS
AND FEEL IT'S ALL NICE AND SMOOTH.
Narrator: EVEN WITH THE LIGHTER STAINS,
THE NELSONS HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO ADD MORE LIGHTS TO THE GREAT ROOM.
Julie: ONE OF THE TOUGHEST THINGS ABOUT THIS ROOM
IS IT JUST EATS UP LIGHT LIKE CRAZY.
Narrator: IT TOOK 10 MONTHS JUST TO COMPLETE THE ELECTRIC WORK.
THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE HOUSE IS ALL ABOUT FUN.
IT HOUSES A WINE CELLAR AND A BUNK ROOM THAT SLEEPS SIX.
BUT THEY FOUND OTHER ROOMS WERE ENTIRELY BARE.
THIS HOME THEATER HAD NOTHING IN IT
EXCEPT FOR A HUGE BANK OF WINDOWS.
O.B.: WE HAD TO INSTALL BLACKOUT CURTAINS, OBVIOUSLY.
LIGHTS CAN INTERFERE WITH A QUALITY CINEMA EXPERIENCE.
YOU COULD ACTUALLY SIT SIX TO EIGHT PEOPLE IN THE ROOM
WITHOUT HAVING TO PEER AROUND SOMEBODY'S BIG, OLD JUG HEAD
TO SEE THE SCREEN.
Narrator: REMEMBER THE INFAMOUS GREEN ROOM?
O.B.: ONCE AGAIN, IT WAS KIND OF LIKE THE ORANGE LOGS --
IT JUST TOOK YOUR BREATH AWAY.
I'M A BIT OF A POKER PLAYER, SO WE DECIDED,
"OH, WHAT A PERFECT ROOM
FOR A BIG CUSTOM-MADE TEXAS HOLD 'EM POKER TABLE."
WE HAVE TYPICALLY A WAITING LIST ON A SATURDAY NIGHT.
GUYS KNOW TO SHOW UP EARLY,
AND WE'VE SEEN THE SUNRISE A COUPLE OF GAMES.
THE KITCHEN REQUIRED MINIMAL WORK
AND IS ONE OF THE NELSONS' FAVORITE SPOTS.
THAT'S THE HEART OF THIS HOME.
AND WE LOVE TO COOK, AND WE LOVE TO ENTERTAIN,
AND I ALMOST NEVER GET ANYBODY OUT OF THE KITCHEN.
THEY'RE ALWAYS WANTING TO STAY IN THE KITCHEN.
THE NELSONS SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THEIR DECK,
LOOKING OUT AT THE GORE MOUNTAIN RANGE
AND ALMOST TWO ACRES OF LAND.
THIS IS THE ONLY PART OF THE HOUSE
WHERE THE DID NOT GET EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANTED --
A STAIRCASE FROM THE BACK DECK LEADING DOWN TO THE YARD.
ROBERT CAME IN AND ABSOLUTELY NIXED THAT IDEA
BECAUSE OF THE WILDLIFE ISSUE THAT THAT COULD POSE.
BLACK BEAR ARE PREVALENT UP IN THIS PART OF COLORADO,
AND THE PRIMARY REASON YOU DON'T HAVE A STAIRCASE
LEADING UP TO THAT BACK PORCH --
IT'S AN ENTRANCEWAY FOR BEAR TO GET UP ON YOUR BALCONY.
WE CAN LEAVE THE WINDOWS ALL OPEN AT NIGHT
AND WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE BEAR COMING IN.
WAKING UP WITH A BLACK BEAR IN YOUR DINING ROOM.
'CAUSE PEOPLE HAVE THAT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.
TODAY, THIS MASSIVE HOME IS BEAR-FREE
AND EQUIPPED FOR THE HARSH COLORADO WINTERS.
THE TWO-WAY FIREPLACE CONNECTING THE GREAT ROOM
TO THE FORMAL DINING ROOM HAS A HEATED HEARTH,
AND THIS MASSIVE STACKED WALL OF COLORADO SANDSTONE
OFFERS A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA, AS WELL.
THE BUILDER HAD THE FORESIGHT.
HE PUT THE COILS -- THE HEATING COILS -- BEHIND THIS,
AND SO IN THE WINTERTIME, YOU CAN WALK BY
AND FEEL THE WARMTH AND THE HEAT RADIATING OFF THIS STONE WALL.
Narrator: NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF YEAR,
THE NELSONS LOVE TO ENTERTAIN.
AND WITH SIX BEDROOMS, INCLUDING TWO MASTER SUITES --
ONE ON THE SECOND LEVEL AND ONE ON THE MAIN FLOOR --
FINDING EXTRA SPACE IS NOT THE ISSUE.
WE DON'T HAVE TROUBLE GETTING PEOPLE TO COME VISIT.
IF WE HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, IT'S GETTING THEM TO LEAVE.
O.B. AND JULIE SAY ALL THE TIME, EFFORT, AND GRAY HAIR
THAT WENT INTO THIS EPIC RENOVATION WAS WORTH IT.
BUT WOULD THEY DO IT ALL AGAIN?
PROBABLY NOT IN THIS LIFETIME.
HE SAYS NO. I'M READY FOR A NEW PROJECT.
I MAY BE SPENDING TIME ON THE GOLF COURSE
WHILE SHE'S BUILDING THAT NEXT ONE.
SO, WHAT IS A LEGACY FROM YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK,
NESTLED HIGH IN THE COLORADO MOUNTAINS WORTH?
THE ONE-OF-A-KIND PRICE TAG WHEN WE COME BACK.
Narrator: THIS 11,000-SQUARE-FOOT
COLORADO MOUNTAIN PARADISE
HAD TO BE ALMOST ENTIRELY REDONE BY ITS OWNERS.
WITH SIX BEDROOMS, EIGHT BATHS, A MOVIE THEATER,
AND A CUSTOM TEXAS HOLD 'EM POKER ROOM,
IT'S A SURE BET AT NEARLY $5 MILLION.
THIS PICTURESQUE RED-PINE LOG HOME IS THE PERFECT GETAWAY,
SURROUNDED BY 350 ACRES OF NORTHERN BACK COUNTRY
AND ITS OWN PRIVATE LAKE.
WITH HORSE BARNS, WOODED TRAILS, AND EVEN ITS OWN CHICKEN COOP,
THIS 8,000-SQUARE-FOOT HOME IS JUST WHAT THE FAMILY ORDERED.
Maggie: IT'S SO FUN. IT'S LIKE A VACATION.
THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON.
THIS IS OUR LIFESTYLE.
THAT'S WHY WE STUCK IT BACK HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
IT'S FOR US.
Narrator: AFTER LIVING IN FLORIDA FOR A DECADE,
DOUG AND MARY McNABB AND THEIR TWO KIDS
WANTED TO RETURN TO THEIR ROOTS IN THE NORTH,
SO THEY DECIDED TO MOVE BACK TO MICHIGAN,
AND THEY FOUND 350 ACRES AND A MODEST 2,000-SQUARE-FOOT HOME
ON A PRIVATE LAKE IN THE TOWN OF FIFE LAKE.
BUT IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE DOUG GOT THE ITCH
TO BUILD SOMETHING HE'D ALWAYS DREAMED OF.
WE'VE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT BUILDING A LOG HOME,
SO WE SAID, "THIS IS THE SPOT."
WE CLEARED THE LAND OURSELVES,
AND THEN WE HAD CONTACTED MAPLE ISLAND
AND TOLD THEM WHAT WE WANTED, AND WE CAME UP WITH A PLAN.
MAPLE ISLAND BUILDS LOG HOMES,
BUT EVEN WITH A PRELIMINARY PLAN,
DOUG AND MARY WERE STILL TWO YEARS AWAY FROM MOVING IN.
BUILDING A HOUSE FROM SCRATCH IS A CHORE IN ITSELF,
BUT A LOG HOME FROM SCRATCH IS VERY INTERESTING.
[ CHUCKLES ] A LOT OF WORK.
AND A LOT OF HEADACHES.
WHILE DIGGING THE FOUNDATION,
THE COUPLE DISCOVERED THE SOIL WAS SATURATED WITH WATER,
SO DOUG HAD 50 WELLS, EACH 20 FEET DEEP, INSTALLED
AND PUMPED WATER INTO THE NEARBY LAKE
AT A RATE OF 800 GALLONS A MINUTE FOR EIGHT DAYS.
THAT'S ENOUGH WATER TO FILL NEARLY 15 OLYMPIC-SIZED POOLS.
THEN BUILDERS REMOVED ALL THE SAND AND SOIL, DRIED IT OUT,
AND THEN PUT IT BACK IN, CREATING A STABLE FOUNDATION.
THIS SOGGY SURPRISE
SET THE PROJECT BACK TWO WEEKS AND $20,000.
PUTTING A MASSIVE LOG STRUCTURE TOGETHER WASN'T ANY EASIER.
YOU CAN'T JUST CREATE A FLOOR PLAN
WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THE ROUGH STRUCTURE.
IT HAS TO START FROM THE TOP AND WORK ITS WAY DOWN.
REASON BEING IS YOU CAN ONLY GET LOGS SO LONG
AND THEY CAN ONLY SPAN SO FAR.
SO YOU HAVE TO THINK OF THE WHOLE PICTURE.
Narrator: MAPLE ISLAND BUILDS
THEIR RED-PINE HOMES AT THEIR LOG YARD
AND THEN REASSEMBLES THEM ON SITE.
THIS ONE TOOK JUST FOUR DAYS.
BUT IT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS
THAT CREATES THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE.
LOGS SHRINK AS THEY SEASON, AND AS THIS HOUSE SETTLED,
THE ROOF CAME DOWN MORE THAN 6 INCHES.
Doug: SO THAT'S A LOT.
AND SO EVERYTHING'S MOVING,
AND YOU'LL HEAR SOME STRANGE NOISES AT NIGHT,
POPPING AND CREAKING.
Narrator: EVERYTHING IN THE HOME HAS TO BE BUILT
TO COMPENSATE FOR THE MOVEMENT.
Mary: SO ALL OF THE WINDOWS AND DOORS ALL HAVE SLIP JOINTS,
AS DO THE BATHTUB ENCLOSURES, ANYTHING.
SO AS THE LOGS SETTLE, THE WINDOWS DON'T GO OUT OR --
RIGHT.
YOUR CONTRACTOR HAS TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING
TO BUILD A LOG HOME.
AND THAT'S WHERE DENNIS COBURN COMES IN.
ONCE THE SHELL WAS IN PLACE, IT WAS HIS JOB TO MAKE
DOUG AND MARY'S OUT-OF-THE-BOX IDEAS COME TO LIFE.
THEY TENDED TO LIKE TO BE MORE INVOLVED.
ALMOST A HANDS-ON TYPE OF A CUSTOMER.
Narrator: BEGINNING WITH THIS MONSTER FIREPLACE
THAT SOARS A WHOPPING 30 FEET FROM FLOOR TO CEILING,
DOUG AND MARY WANTED A UNIQUE BLEND
OF COBBLESTONE WITH FULL AND SPLIT STONE.
DENNIS FOUND THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB.
HE WORKED BY HIMSELF,
AND HE DID ALL THE STONEWORK IN THE HOUSE --
THE THREE FIREPLACES,
THE BASE OF THE HOUSE AROUND FROM THE GROUND TO THE LOGS.
HE WAS HERE ABOUT TWO YEARS TOTAL.
Narrator: COLLABORATION WAS KEY ALL THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAME TIME TO BUILD THE LOG STAIRS.
IT TOOK ONE TREE AND ONE MAN THREE MONTHS TO CREATE.
THE ARTISAN PAINSTAKINGLY SLICED THE TREE IN 1/4-INCH STRIPS,
THEN GLUED THEM BACK TOGETHER IN JUST THE RIGHT SHAPE
TO MEET THE SPECS OF THE SPACE.
EVEN WITH SUCH A BEAUTIFUL STAIRCASE,
DOUG STILL WASN'T SATISFIED.
THEN, ON A BUSINESS TRIP, HE HAD AN EPIPHANY.
Doug: I WAS STAYING AT A HOTEL, AND IN THEIR LOBBY,
IT HAS THIS HUGE WATERFALL AND I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY COOL.
I SAID, "HOW BIG?" HE SAID, "ALL THE WAY TO THE CEILING."
WELL, I'D NEVER DONE A 20-FOOT BY 10-FOOT WATERFALL,
SO IMMEDIATELY I STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES ON ANY FIXED STRUCTURE IN A LOG HOME --
FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE THE WATERFALL --
IS THOSE ARE STATIONARY.
THEY DON'T MOVE. THEY DON'T SETTLE.
THE LOGS BEHIND THEM, ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY SETTLE,
AND SOMETHING 20 FEET HIGH
WILL MOVE AS MUCH AS 6 INCHES FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.
Narrator: SO DENNIS CREATED A BLACK GRANITE WALL
THAT IS BASICALLY FREESTANDING
SO THE LOGS CAN SLIP PAST IT AS THEY SETTLE.
ONCE THEY KIDS ADDED A FEW FISH AND TURTLES,
IT WAS PERFECT.
I THINK HE HAD TO PULL HIS HAIR OUT FOR A WHILE, BUT IT WORKED.
Narrator: FOR TWO YEARS, DOUG KEPT THROWING OUT BIG IDEAS,
AND DENNIS KEPT DELIVERING.
WHEN DOUG FOUND THESE
100-YEAR-OLD STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS FROM AN OLD CHURCH,
DENNIS CREATED DOORS OUT OF THEM.
Doug: WE JUST LOVE THE LOOK OF THE STAINED GLASS.
GOES WELL WITH THE LOGS.
Narrator: WHEN DOUG SPOTTED THIS 500-POUND CHANDELIER ON eBay,
HE KNEW HE HAD TO HAVE IT.
WE BROUGHT IT OVER WITH, LITERALLY,
A FORKLIFT-STYLE SkyTrack.
SkyTracked IT THROUGH THOSE DOORS,
AND THEN WE USED A 2-TON COME-ALONG
TO LITERALLY WINCH IT UP OFF THE CHAIN
AND GET IT HIGH ENOUGH THAT WE COULD THEN MAKE
ALL THE ATTACHMENTS UP AT THE RIDGE LINE,
WIRE IT, AND CROSS OUR FINGERS AND STAND BACK.
AND IT HELD, AND IT STILL HELD,
AND I STILL GET NERVOUS EVERY TIME I COME HERE AND SEE IT.
Narrator: THE FINISHED HOME IS LARGE,
AND EACH MEMBER OF THE FAMILY HAS THEIR OWN SPECIAL SPOT.
DOUG IS A HUNTER, BUT SURPRISINGLY,
HIS FAVORITE ROOM IS JUST OFF THE GREAT ROOM.
THIS IS OUR KITCHEN AND MY FAVORITE SPOT IN THE HOUSE.
I SPEND A LOT OF TIME HERE.
MARY AND I HAD A DEAL WHEN WE FIRST GOT MARRIED --
I COOK, SHE CLEANS -- AND IT WORKS JUST RIGHT FOR US.
Narrator: MARY'S FAVORITE GETAWAY IS DOWN THE HALL
IN THE MASTER BEDROOM SUITE.
Mary: I JUST LOVE OUR BATHROOM.
IT'S GOT HEATED FLOORS.
IT'S A NICE BATHTUB WITH A WINDOW OVER IT.
IT WALKS OUT TO THE DECK,
LOOKS OVER THE YARD, OVER THE LAKE.
IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL ROOM IN THE HOUSE.
Narrator: UPSTAIRS ARE THE TWO BEDROOMS FOR THE KIDS,
BUT THEY PREFER HANGING OUT IN THE GAME ROOM
JUST ABOVE THE SEPARATE GARAGE.
Dawson: WELL, IT'S REALLY FUN 'CAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF GAMES,
LIKE POOL AND PINBALL.
NORMALLY, A TRIP TO THE GAME ROOM
WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE KIDS OUTSIDE,
SO DOUG AND DENNIS CREATED AN ENCLOSED SKYWAY
TO CONNECT THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE HOUSE WITH THE GARAGE.
WITH 350 ACRES TO SPREAD OUT,
THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM FOR EVERYONE'S FAVORITE HOBBIES --
A 600-FOOT SHOOTING RANGE FOR DOUG,
A SUGAR SHACK WHERE THE FAMILY MAKES THEIR OWN MAPLE SYRUP,
AND EVEN A CHICKEN COOP FOR MARY.
AND WE HAVE SO MANY TRAILS.
WE CAN, LIKE, FOUR-WHEELER AND...
...GO-KART AND EVERYTHING.
Doug: WE REALLY LOVE LIVING HERE
AND ENJOYING THE WOODS AND THE LAKE AND THE HOUSE.
Narrator: SO, WHAT DOES IT COST TO CREATE
A FULL-TIME FAMILY FREE-FOR-ALL WITH SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE?
THE ANSWER IS COMING UP.
Narrator: IT'S A 350-ACRE FAMILY FREE-FOR-ALL IN MICHIGAN.
AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL
IS A LARGER-THAN-LIFE THREE-BEDROOM LOG HOME,
COMPLETE WITH ITS OWN WATERFALL AND ADJOINING GAME ROOM.
THE PRICE TAG FOR ALL THIS FUN?
AN EXHILARATING $5.2 MILLION.
THIS 15,000-SQUARE-FOOT MEGA MANSION OF TIMBER AND STONE
DOMINATES THE HILLSIDE
IN WHAT'S BEEN CALLED THE GEM OF THE CATSKILLS.
THIS YEAR-ROUND RESORT AND MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY
IS JUST TWO HOURS FROM NEW YORK CITY
AND HAS BEEN LURING VISITORS FOR YEARS,
INCLUDING WILL RAPHAEL'S FAMILY.
ALL OF THAT JUST BECAME PART OF THE FAMILY FOLKLORE.
Narrator: WINDHAM, NEW YORK, IN THE NORTHERN CATSKILLS BECAME
SUCH A FAMILY FAVORITE THAT THIS NEW YORK BUSINESS OWNER
DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO GO BIG OR GO HOME.
THAT MEANT CREATING A PRIVATE LODGE
WITH ENOUGH PLAY SPACE FOR ANY AGE OR SEASON.
NOW WILL'S FAMILY HAS PLENTY OF ROOM TO SPREAD OUT
IN A GREAT ROOM WITH SOARING CATHEDRAL CEILINGS
AND A MASSIVE STONE FIREPLACE.
THERE'S AMPLE SPACE TO ENTERTAIN FRIENDS AND FAMILY,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE OFF THE SLOPES.
I ACTUALLY STARTED THE WHOLE PROCESS WITH *** JORDAN.
HE HAD BUILT MANY HOUSES ON THE MOUNTAIN, SO HE WAS AN EXPERT.
HE KNEW HOW TO CUT INTO THE MOUNTAIN
AND PUT THE HOUSE IN THE PROPER PLACE.
Narrator: EVEN WITH A GREAT CONTRACTOR,
WILL WAS INVOLVED IN EVERY DETAIL.
WILL HAD SOME IDEAS, AND THEY GENERALLY REVOLVED AROUND ROUND.
HE WANTED LOGS.
HE DIDN'T WANT ANY SQUARE TIMBERS.
HE WANTED ROUND.
Narrator: WILL ALSO WANTED TO INCORPORATE
MANY OF THE IDEAS HE'D SEEN IN NATIONAL-PARK LODGES.
IT TOOK ARCHITECTS A FULL YEAR TO DRAW UP THE PLANS
AND ANOTHER EIGHT MONTHS
FOR PIONEER LOG HOMES TO BUILD IT IN MONTANA.
BACK IN NEW YORK, *** AND HIS CREW STRUGGLED
WITH THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF ALL --
HOW TO CREATE A FOUNDATION IN THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN --
A MOUNTAIN MADE OF STONE -- IN THE DEAD OF WINTER.
WE HAD TO NESTLE A RATHER LARGE HOME --
THIS IS 15,000 SQUARE FEET INTO A RATHER STEEP HILLSIDE.
ONE FOOT UNDER THE SOIL IS ROCK -- LEDGE ROCK --
THAT HAS TO BE CHISELED OUT.
Narrator: AND IN SOME SPOTS EVEN BLASTED OUT TO CREATE A FLAT SURFACE.
AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, THE FOUNDATION WAS READY.
MEANWHILE, THE HOUSE IN MONTANA
WAS DISASSEMBLED AND LOADED ONTO TRUCKS.
NEARLY A DOZEN SEMITRAILERS MADE THE 2,500 CROSS-COUNTRY TREK,
BUT WHEN THEY REACHED WINDHAM MOUNTAIN,
THEY HIT A MAJOR ROADBLOCK.
THE SEMIS COULDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH
THIS LOW, NARROW TUNNEL NEAR THE JOB SITE,
SO THEY HAD TO TRANSFER ALL THOSE LOGS ONTO SMALLER TRUCKS.
Raphael: AND THEN, ONCE WE GOT ALL THE LOGS ON SITE,
THEN WE STARTED TO ASSEMBLE THE HOUSE LOG BY LOG.
Narrator: FOUR WEEKS LATER, THE HOUSE WAS REASSEMBLED,
BUT WILL WAS JUST GETTING STARTED.
WILL TENDS TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME
ON DETAIL THAT'S EXHAUSTING.
HOWEVER, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS,
IF YOU LOOK AT ANYTHING IN THIS HOUSE,
YOU'LL SEE EVERYTHING IS TOP-QUALITY.
WHEN I SAY I PUT MY HEART AND SOUL INTO IT,
IT'S BECAUSE I WAS HERE A GOOD 80% OF THE TIME,
AND I CONSTANTLY WAS ENCOURAGING THE WORKERS
TO GIVE ME THEIR BEST.
Narrator: WILL ALSO WANTED THE BEST WHEN IT CAME TO MATERIALS.
COPPER PLAYS HEAVY ON THE EXTERIOR,
FROM THE RAIN GUTTERS TO THE WINDOWS,
WHICH ARE MAHOGANY CLAD IN COPPER.
THE PRICE TAG FOR THE WINDOWS ALONE -- 400 GRAND.
BUT NOTHING LASTS LONGER THAN STONE,
AND THIS HOUSE IS LOADED
WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF IT.
WILL WENT WITH THE CREW TO THE LOCAL QUARRY
AND HANDPICKED EVERY STONE.
IT TOOK MASONS TWO LONG YEARS TO INSTALL IT.
Raphael: A LOT OF HOUSES HAVE WHAT YOU CALL "LICK 'EM AND STICK 'EM."
AND THAT'S A FULL STONE,
AND IT'S JUST GLUED TO THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
THESE WERE STONES THAT WERE CUT AND PLACED ALL BY HAND
AND MORTARED BY HAND.
Narrator: ONE THING THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME --
THIS WALK-IN FIREPLACE, WHICH IS 40 FEET HIGH AND 10 FEET WIDE,
SPANNED BY A SINGLE STONE.
THAT MANTLE IS ONE ROCK.
A FLATBED TRUCK HAD TO BRING ONE ROCK DOWN.
Narrator: ON THE SECOND FLOOR,
WILL INSISTED ON A TUNNEL
THAT LETS YOU WALK THROUGH THE CHIMNEY
TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BALCONY.
WILL WANTED EVERY DETAIL TO LOOK AS GOOD IN 100 YEARS
AS IT DOES NOW.
Raphael: WE TRIED TO INCORPORATE HISTORICAL ELEMENTS,
LIKE THE RAILINGS IN THE HOUSE.
I THINK THEY'RE FROM THE YELLOWSTONE LODGE.
SO WE USED THAT STYLE THROUGHOUT.
Narrator: BUT BEAUTY RUNS MORE THAN SKIN-DEEP.
WHAT MAKES THIS HOUSE EVEN MORE AMAZING
IS ITS GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM.
18 WELLS CIRCULATE LIQUID
200 TO 300 FEET THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN BELOW,
AND THE CONSTANT 55-DEGREE TEMPERATURE
IS USED TO HEAT AND COOL THE HOUSE.
WILL INSISTED ON COMFORT ALL THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE,
ESPECIALLY IN THE KITCHEN,
WITH ITS MASSIVE 90-SQUARE-FOOT ISLAND.
THIS RELAXING LODGE HAS THREE LEVELS,
BUT DON'T EVEN TRY TO COUNT THE BEDROOMS.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY BEDROOMS IN THE HOUSE.
DID YOU SEE ANY?
Narrator: INSTEAD, WILL INSISTED ON BUILDING SUITES --
SIX OF THEM -- THE MASTER ON THE MAIN FLOOR,
THREE ON THE SECOND FLOOR,
AND TWO ON THE LOWER LEVEL.
Raphael: EVERY BEDROOM HAS ITS OWN PRIVATE BATH.
AND IN THAT PRIVATE BATH WOULD BE A SHOWER OR A STEAM SHOWER.
Narrator: WILL WANTS TO KEEP HIS FAMILY AND GUESTS ENTERTAINED,
EVEN WHEN THE SKI CONDITIONS ARE BAD.
AND THIS TIME, HE DEFERRED TO THE EXPERTS.
Raphael: THIS IS THE RESULT OF INTERVIEWING PROBABLY 50 KIDS.
SO WE HAVE A POOL TABLE,
CHAMPIONSHIP-TOURNAMENT PING PONG TABLE.
WE HAVE A PINBALL MACHINE.
AND MY FAVORITE GAME IS OUR 16-FOOT SHUFFLEBOARD.
Narrator: AND FOR SOME SERIOUS OUTDOOR HANG TIME,
WILL CREATED THIS SPA, HIDDEN BY A STONE WALL,
OUT OF VIEW OF PASSING SKIERS.
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES.
THIS IS PERFECT TO SIT OUT HERE
WHEN THE SNOW IS FALLING TO GET IN THE HOT TUB.
SO, FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT COME HERE, MANY SAY,
"WELL, I DON'T SKI" OR "I DON'T SNOWBOARD."
I SAY, "WELL, COME UP AND BURN A LOG,
"AND IT WILL BE HERE ON WINDHAM MOUNTAIN
FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO COME."
Narrator: SO, WHAT DOES IT COST TO BUILD
AN ENDURING FAMILY MOUNTAIN RETREAT WHEN MONEY IS NO OBJECT
AND "COMPROMISE" IS NOT IN YOUR VOCABULARY?
THE ANSWER WHEN WE COME BACK.
Narrator: THIS 15,000-SQUARE-FOOT LOG CABIN,
NESTLED IN THE CATSKILL MOUNTAINS,
IS GUARANTEED TO MAKE A LASTING IMPRESSION
FROM ITS MASSIVE STONE FIREPLACE IN THE GREAT ROOM
TO THE LOWER-LEVEL GAME ROOM
AND COMFORTABLE SUITES THROUGHOUT.
THE PRICE TAG FOR THIS DREAM HOME FAMILY GETAWAY --
$9,750,000.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DREAM BIG --
5,000 SQUARE FEET OF WISCONSIN LAKESIDE PERFECTION,
WITH PLENTY OF PLAY SPACE FOR A GROWING FAMILY.
MOST PEOPLE WOULD NEVER HAVE GOTTEN THIS FAR
CONSIDERING ALL IT TOOK TO BUILD THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND LOG HOME.
THEN AGAIN, THEY'RE NOT BETSY ELGIN.
IT HAD TO BE A LOG HOME.
WE DIDN'T CONSIDER ANYTHING ELSE.
I DIDN'T CONSIDER ANYTHING ELSE.
BETSY WAS DETERMINED TO GET EXACTLY WHAT SHE WANTED,
AND NO ONE WAS GOING TO STAND IN HER WAY -- NOT EVEN MR. ELGIN.
HE WAS NOT SO THRILLED WITH THE IDEA
'CAUSE HIS IDEA OF LOG CABINS
WAS THAT THEY WERE DARK AND DINGY.
AND ANYTHING BUT THE DREAM HOME HE HAD IN MIND.
I HAD MY DOUBTS. YEAH.
BUT BETSY REFUSED TO LET IT GO,
EVEN RECRUITING AN ALLY TO HELP IN THE FIGHT --
THAD MARCOM OF STRONGWOOD LOG HOMES.
TOGETHER, THEY SOLD JEFF ON THE IDEA
OF AN EPIC NORTHWOODS OFFICE WITH AWESOME VIEWS,
BUT THEN THEY HAD TO ACTUALLY FIND THOSE VIEWS.
THE ELGINS SET THEIR SIGHTS
ON THE CHAIN OF LAKES RECREATION AREA NEAR WAUPACA, WISCONSIN.
BETSY'S GRANDPARENTS ONCE OWNED A CABIN HERE.
TROUBLE IS, LAKE PROPERTY IN THIS NECK OF THE WOODS
IS HARD TO COME BY.
SO WHEN A PRIME LOT WENT UP FOR SALE,
BETSY INSISTED THE FAMILY CUT SHORT A VACATION OUT WEST
TO HOP A RED-EYE HOME
AND MAKE AN IMMEDIATE CASH OFFER OF $900,000,
WORTH EVERY PENNY FROM WHAT BETSY COULD SEE.
WE JUST HAVE A NICE HARD-SAND BEACH OUT THERE
THAT EXTENDS WAY OUT.
AND THE WEST-FACING FOR THE SUNSET, WE LOVE THAT.
AND IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY.
BEAUTIFUL, BUT WAY TOO SMALL
FOR THE CABIN JEFF AND BETSY HAD IN MIND --
AND ODD-SHAPED TO BOOT.
OUR LOT IS PIE-SHAPED,
AND IT'S WIDER AT THE LAKESIDE THAN IT IS ON THE INLAND SIDE,
AND MOST LOTS ARE NOT DESIGNED THAT WAY.
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,
THERE'S A ZONING LAW REQUIRING ANY CONSTRUCTION
TO BE AT LEAST 75 FEET FROM THE LAKESHORE.
WE HAD TO MODIFY THE PLAN, TOO,
BECAUSE WE HAD TO MAKE THE HOUSE
10 FEET NARROWER PARTWAY THROUGH.
KNOWING THEY'D BE LOCKED IN TO THE FINAL DESIGN,
BETSY AND THAD SPENT NEARLY A YEAR
REWORKING THE PLANS DOWN TO THE VERY LAST INCH.
BY BETSY'S COUNT,
IT FELT LIKE THEY WENT THROUGH 50 SETS OF BLUEPRINTS.
OFFICIALLY, ON RECORD, IF YOU LOOK, WE HAVE 17 VERSIONS,
BUT IN BETWEEN THOSE 17 ARE MANY SMALL ONES
THAT WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY RENAME.
Narrator: FINALLY, JUST AS THEY WERE ABOUT TO BREAK GROUND,
STICKER SHOCK SENT THEM BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD YET AGAIN.
AND SO, THEY ACTUALLY BID THE PROJECT OUT.
IT CAME IN ABOUT $800,000 MORE
THAN THE MAXIMUM THAT WE HAD DECIDED TO SPEND.
AND I'D JUST ABOUT HAD A HEART ATTACK.
THAD SUGGESTED ERASING
A $300,000 OCTAGONAL TOWER FROM THE PLAN TO SAVE SOME CASH.
THAT DIDN'T FLY WITH JEFF
BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE MEANT THE END OF HIS OFFICE --
THE ONE THING THAT GOT HIM TO AGREE TO THE PLAN
IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THEY'D ALSO HAVE TO SCRAP
AN ELEVATED DINING ROOM WITH FLOOR-TO-CEILING WINDOWS.
Jeff: THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES IN THE ENTIRE HOUSE.
IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL PANORAMIC VIEW,
270 DEGREES OF GLASS LOOKING OVER TWO LAKES
BECAUSE WE'RE ON A POINT BETWEEN TWO LAKES.
Narrator: SO JEFF INSISTED THAT IT ALL STAY.
THE ELGINS ORDERED THE LOGS AND BROKE GROUND,
BUT NOT UNTIL THE END OF THE SUMMER SEASON,
BECAUSE BETSY DIDN'T WANT TO DISTURB THE NEIGHBORS.
BUT THAT DELAY CREATED
A MASSIVE PROBLEM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION CREW.
SHORTLY AFTER THE FOUNDATION WAS LAID,
WINTER STRUCK EARLY AND HARD.
Marcom: IT WAS A NIGHTMARE.
I THINK IT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST WINTERS
THAT WE'VE EVER HAD HERE IN WISCONSIN.
IT WAS WINDY AND ICE STORMS CONTINUALLY,
AND THAT WINTER, WE ONLY MISSED ONE DAY OF WORK.
SO WE FOUGHT THROUGH THE WEATHER 'CAUSE WE NEEDED TO GET IT DONE.
Narrator: NAIL GUNS AND POWER TOOLS FROZE UP.
ICY SLOPES MADE IT SO SLIPPERY,
THAD'S FORKLIFTS WERE STRANDED AT THE BUILDING SITE.
SO THE HUGE WINDOWS FOR THE ELGINS' GREAT ROOM
HAD TO BE HAND-CARRIED FROM THE ROAD TO THE CABIN.
NORMALLY, A BIG WINDOW WOULD TAKE US AN HOUR OR TWO.
THESE WINDOWS TOOK US A WHOLE DAY APIECE TO GET THEM IN.
EACH WINDOW TOOK APPROXIMATELY A DOZEN PEOPLE.
THE TOP WINDOWS YOU SEE BEHIND ARE 30 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL.
AND SO, THEY HAD TO LIFT THEM UP.
THEY HAD OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INSIDE ON SCAFFOLDING,
WITH ONE FOOT ON THE LOG AND ONE FOOT ON THE SCAFFOLDING,
TRYING TO WRESTLE THE WINDOW INTO PLACE WHILE HE MOUNTED IT.
IT WAS VERY SCARY.
Narrator: BETSY AND JEFF MAY HAVE STARTED OUT
WITH TOTALLY DIFFERENT VISIONS
OF WHAT A DREAM HOUSE SHOULD LOOK LIKE,
BUT ENDED UP AT THE EXACT SAME PLACE --
LOVING THEIR EPIC MASTERPIECE.
WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR IN THIS HOME
WAS A PLACE WHERE WE COULD ENTERTAIN FRIENDS AND FAMILY,
NOT TOO MASSIVE, BUT ENOUGH WHERE WE COULD BRING A CROWD IN
AND JUST HAVE A REALLY WONDERFUL TIME.
I LIKE JUST WALKING IN THE FRONT DOOR.
I LIKE THE WAY THE GREAT ROOM LOOKS,
AND I LIKE SEEING THE LAKE OUT THROUGH THE FRONT WINDOWS.
IT'S LIKE, "WELCOME TO THE LAKE. YOU'RE HOME."
LOG STAIRS LEAD TO THE TOP FLOOR AND A LOFT,
WITH MORE OF THOSE AMAZING LAKE VIEWS,
PLUS SOME OF THE CABIN'S FIVE BEDROOMS AND SEVEN BATHROOMS.
AMONG THE ELGINS' FAVORITE SPOTS --
A FULLY STOCKED, CHERRY-WOOD BAR ON THE LOWER LEVEL.
Jeff: THIS BAR TOP REPRESENTS A CARVE-OUT
OF THE ENTIRE CHAIN OF LAKES RECREATIONAL AREA THAT WE'RE IN.
YOU CAN SEE HOW THE LAKES FOLLOW ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE BAR.
OUR HOUSE IS REPRESENTED BY THE GREEN TREE,
WHICH IS RIGHT IN THE CENTER.
Narrator: ON THE SAME LEVEL,
A HUGE TV ROOM AND A LOG-FRAMED POOL TABLE.
Jeff: WE DESIGNED IT AS A GRANDKID MAGNET, TOO.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY GRANDKIDS YET,
BUT WE WANT TO HAVE LOTS OF THEM.
THE BUNK ROOM AND THE SETUP DOWNSTAIRS
WAS REALLY DESIGNED FOR A YOUNGER CROWD.
THE BUNK ROOM SLEEPS EIGHT,
AND ITS ADJOINING BATHROOM IS BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE
A CROWD OF COUSINS ALL AT ONCE.
AND JUST IN CASE ANY OF THE ELGINS' GUESTS
LAND HERE FOR AN EXTENDED STAY,
THEY SHOULD FEEL HONORED TO GET SENT TO THE GARAGE.
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW SUITE HAS A BEDROOM AND A LIVING-ROOM AREA
THAT WE CAN ALSO CONVERT INTO A SECOND BEDROOM UP THERE.
THERE'S A LITTLE KITCHENETTE.
DESPITE A ROCKY START,
BETSY MANAGED TO WIN OVER THE BIGGEST CABIN SKEPTIC OF ALL.
OH, LOVED IT. THE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF SO MANY PLACES IN THE HOUSE
IS JUST AMAZING.
BUT IT AIN'T CHEAP TO SLUMBER WITH SUCH EPIC LUMBER.
THE PRICE TAG ON THIS PIECE OF PINE-COUNTRY PARADISE NEXT.
Narrator: BETSY ELGIN SET HER HEART
ON RECAPTURING HER CHILDHOOD
WITH AN EPIC LOG CABIN IN WISCONSIN LAKE COUNTRY.
IT COMES COMPLETE WITH AN OCTAGONAL TOWER,
LOTS OF PLAY SPACE, AND A BUNK ROOM.
HOW FAR OUT ON A LIMB DID THEY HAVE TO GO?
CLOSE TO $2 MILLION.
THIS 7,500-SQUARE-FOOT MONTANA LODGE,
SURROUNDED BY GREEN FORESTS, STUNNING MOUNTAIN VIEWS,
AND A PRISTINE FRESHWATER LAKE TEEMING WITH WILDLIFE
IS ABOUT AS PICTURE-PERFECT AS IT GETS.
THAT'S A GOOD THING CONSIDERING THE MAN WHO BUILT IT
HAD QUITE A LAUNDRY LIST OF MUST-HAVES.
I WANTED TO BE IN THE MOUNTAINS.
I WANTED TO BE ON A CLEAN LAKE.
I WANTED A GOOD-SIZE PLACE WHERE THE FAMILY COULD GET TOGETHER.
I WANTED PRIVACY.
I WANTED A THEATER.
I DON'T KNOW. I WANTED WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS.
I WANTED A CONVENIENT KITCHEN.
I WANTED COMFORT MORE THAN ANYTHING.
Narrator: WHEN YOU HAVE THE KIND OF EXACTING STANDARDS
THAT DAN WEINBERG HAS, NOT JUST ANY PLACE WILL DO.
Weinberg: I WAS LOOKING FOR THE BEST PLACE
IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES TO LIVE.
Narrator: AND HE FOUND IT IN WHITEFISH, MONTANA,
A QUAINT VILLAGE ABOUT 30 MILES FROM GLACIER NATIONAL PARK.
WHILE CHECKING OUT LOTS ON WHITEFISH LAKE,
DAN SPIED THE 10-ACRE LAZY BAY ISLAND ACROSS THE WATER
AND KNEW HE'D COME HOME.
NOW ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS BUILD ONE.
THIS LUXURY LAKESIDE LODGE HAS FIVE BEDROOMS, FIVE BATHS,
A GOURMET KITCHEN, AND A MASSIVE GREAT ROOM
ANCHORED BY A GIGANTIC RIVER-ROCK FIREPLACE.
MY IDEA WAS TO PUT EVERYTHING THAT I COULD THINK OF
INTO THIS ORIGINAL PLAN
AND THEN, WHEN IT CAME TIME TO WORK WITH THE ARCHITECT,
TO START SCALING BACK.
AND I DIDN'T SCALE BACK.
Narrator: DAN WORKED WITH ALPINE LOG HOMES
AND ARCHITECT CASEY MALMQUIST,
WHO DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH DAN'S IDEAS.
THERE WERE TWO THINGS THAT HE OBJECTED TO.
ONE WAS THE DESIGN OF THE WINDOWS.
THE OTHER THING THAT CASEY WARNED ME ABOUT
WAS THE COLOR OF THE EXTERIOR.
HE DIDN'T GET HIS WAY ON EITHER ONE OF THEM.
Narrator: DAN INSISTED ON A DARK EXTERIOR STAIN
TO MIMIC THE LOOK OF THE LODGES AT GLACIER NATIONAL PARK --
TOO DARK, ACCORDING TO CASEY.
AND AS FAR AS THE WINDOWS,
DAN WANTED A DESIGN REMINISCENT OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
LIKE THOSE IN HIS HOMETOWN OF CHICAGO.
I KNOW.
WHAT'S FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT DOING IN A MONTANA HOME?
BUT I THINK IT WORKS.
Malmquist: INITIALLY, I HAD A BIT OF PUSHBACK WITH THAT
JUST BECAUSE IT'S A MORE TRADITIONAL VICTORIAN STYLE,
BUT CLEARLY, IT WORKED OUT VERY WELL,
AND IT LOOKS WONDERFUL IN THIS HOUSE.
Narrator: THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGE TO BUILDING ANY LOG HOME
IS THAT THE LOGS INEVITABLY SETTLE OVER TIME.
CASEY TOOK A DIFFERENT APPROACH THAT KEEPS THE LOGS IN PLACE.
HE BROUGHT IN A CREW THAT SPECIALIZES IN LOG CHINKING.
THEY USE A COMBINATION OF PLYWOOD SHIMS AND FOAM
TO FILL THE SPACE BETWEEN THE LOGS.
IT'S THEN SEALED
WITH A HIGH-TECH ACRYLIC CHINKING MATERIAL
TO HOLD EVERYTHING IN PLACE.
OBVIOUSLY, WORKING LARGE WINDOWS
INTO THE HOME CAN MAKE THE JOB HARDER.
BUT DAN WASN'T ABOUT TO SCALE BACK.
Weinberg: WE'RE LOOKING AT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PART OF MONTANA,
SO WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO HAVE HUGE WINDOWS
SO THAT YOU COULD BRING THAT INTO THE HOME?
Narrator: DAN WANTED A GREAT ROOM
THAT COULD ACCOMMODATE UP TO 100 GUESTS.
BUT I WANTED IT TO FEEL WARM.
I DIDN'T WANT IT TO FEEL LIKE A GREAT HALL.
Narrator: SO HE INSISTED ON A MASSIVE 30-FOOT-TALL FIREPLACE.
THE MONSTROUS MANTELPIECE IS ONE OF CASEY'S PERSONAL TOUCHES.
HUNTING AROUND FOR AN INTERESTING PIECE
THAT'S GOT A LOT OF CHARACTER.
IT'S KIND OF A FUN THING TO DO.
Narrator: DAN'S ORIGINAL PLAN
CALLED FOR JUST A COUPLE OF BEDROOMS,
BUT CASEY PERSUADED HIM TO ADD A FEW MORE UPSTAIRS.
THE OPPOSITE WING OF THE HOUSE
IS DEDICATED TO A GUEST APARTMENT,
WITH PLENTY OF SPACE FOR A POOL TABLE,
LIVING ROOM, FULL KITCHEN, AND BUNKS TO SLEEP SIX.
AND TO CONNECT THE TWO SIDES OF THE UPPER FLOOR,
DAN ORDERED A BRIDGE TO PRESERVE THE WIDE-OPEN FEEL.
IT TOOK A STEADY HAND AND A LOT OF EXPERIENCE
TO CREATE THE HAND-CUT ARCHWAYS
CONNECTING THE GREAT ROOM TO THE DINING ROOM AND KITCHEN.
THAT'S A PRETTY DIFFICULT CUT TO MAKE.
WE DO USE SOME GUIDES
ON THE VERTICAL PORTIONS TO KEEP IT VERTICAL,
BUT AFTER HERE, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST A FREE CUT
THAT'S TAKEN ALL THE WAY ACROSS THERE.
Narrator: THE FULLY LOADED GOURMET KITCHEN
DOUBLES AS AN OBSERVATION DECK TO SPY WILDLIFE
OUT OF THE 180-DEGREE WINDOWS.
Weinberg: THE KITCHEN HAS WONDERFUL VIEWS
OF THE LAKE AND THE MOUNTAINS
AND GET SOME WONDERFUL MORNING SUN.
Narrator: STEPS AWAY IS AN ALL-SEASON PORCH
WITH AN INDOOR GRILL TO ACCOMMODATE
A YEAR-ROUND CRAVING FOR BURGERS.
Weinberg: IN THE WINTER, YOU CAN STILL BARBECUE WITHOUT FREEZING,
BUT IN THE SUMMER, YOU CAN TAKE THE GLASS PANES OUT
AND JUST HAVE SCREENS AND USE IT AS A SCREEN PORCH.
Narrator: IT TOOK JUST TWO YEARS TO BUILD DAN'S DREAM LOG HOME.
HE GOT EVERYTHING HE WANTED AND MORE.
Weinberg: I GUESS I DIDN'T FULLY REALIZE WHEN WE WERE BUILDING IT
HOW MUCH ACTIVITY THERE IS OUTSIDE.
YOU GET TO SEE A LOT OF ANIMAL LIFE.
OTTERS AND DEER AND ELK
AND MOOSE AND EAGLES -- LOTS OF EAGLES.
IT'S A SHOW OUT THERE. IT'S AN ABSOLUTE SHOW.
Narrator: SO, WHAT'S THE GOING PRICE
FOR A 7,500-SQUARE-FOOT GRAND LOG HOME
SET ON ITS OWN PRIVATE 10-ACRE ISLAND
ON MONTANA'S PRISTINE WHITEFISH LAKE?
THIS LAZY BAY GEM CAN BE YOURS FOR ABOUT $6 MILLION.
THESE LOG HOMES ARE MORE THAN RUGGED MILLION-DOLLAR MANSIONS.
THEY'RE A TEST OF WILLS BETWEEN MAN AND NATURE,
WHERE MOUNTAINS ARE BLASTED TO MAKE WAY FOR FOUNDATIONS
AND GIANT TREES TRUCKED IN TO SUPPORT SOARING CEILINGS.
BUILT NEAR NATIONAL PARKS, FAVORITE SKI SLOPES,
OR ON PRISTINE LAKES,
THEY OFFER UNPARALLELED VISTAS AND ACTIVITIES FOR EVERYONE,
FROM OUTDOOR HOT TUBS TO INDOOR WATERFALLS,
GAME ROOMS TO WILD GAME,
AND PARTY ROOMS TO BAR ROOMS.
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE RETREATING TO THESE EPIC LOG HOMES.