Looking for ideas for your own custom home?
Explore the Kuyahoora Lodge.
Total Square Footage 5,963 Sq. Ft. – Main Level 2,935 Sq. Ft. – Upper Level 3,028 Sq. Ft. – Optional Lower Level 2,935 Sq. Ft.
Call 607-467-2700 to schedule a design consultation.
A Conversation with John Rich, President of Rich Home Building, and builder of The Kuyahoora Lodge.
Once The Kuyahoora Lodge, an exceptional example of luxury timber frame home design featuring 8,898 sq. ft. of living space, was completed, Beaver Mountain reached out to the builder to discuss his experience working on this project.
After asking John to share a bit about his company, he explained, “We started in business in 1984 as Rich Home Building, so it’s been 36 years now. Most of our projects happen within a 50 mile radius, although we spent several years working in the central Adirondacks. We tackle numerous types of architecture, but have an affinity for log and timber hybrid construction, as it helps us achieve our goals more efficiently and cost-effectively.”
We were highly impressed with the caliber and exquisite detail of John’s craftsmanship and very much enjoyed working with his team of professionals. John was also kind enough to comment on his experience working with us. “I was contacted by my clients about building the Kuyahoora Lodge several years before construction started. It began with a dream and a vision to build a ‘Great Camp’ type lodge on the shores of Hinckley Lake, a reservoir fed by the West Canada Creek or as the Native Americans once called it, The Kuy-a-ho-ra River, meaning slanting or leaping waters. We met many times to discuss the details that would eventually be translated to paper and then incorporated into the final design.”
In discussing how John feels about the quality of Beaver Mountain’s materials and our level of service, he talked about the discovery process, “I spent a lot of time researching and visiting log home suppliers…eventually it became apparent they were unable to provide the kind of material and level of quality we were searching for. Fortunately, I met with the sales staff at Beaver Mountain and viewed several of their model homes and an impressive showroom. I was introduced to various staff members and toured their facilities, where I became impressed with their team approach to the manufacturing process and high level of quality and craftsmanship. One visit with my clients and they were sold as well. Beaver Mountain played a pivotal role in the design process and excelled in providing quality materials and components to complete the project.”
In addition to its sprawling floor plan that delivers 8,898 sq. ft. of living space, The Kuyahoora Lodge has many distinctive features. According to John Rich, “The planning and construction process went very smoothly, as Beaver Mountain was able to engineer and provide components that pushed the envelope of hybrid log home design. Some of the most unique features of the Lodge include a three-story glass elevator with a wraparound timber staircase and a hand-chiseled, granite stone fireplace with four openings. The owners and their guests are also enjoying a custom crafted wine cellar and bar, a panoramic lake front deck with a one of a kind custom iron railing system, and a handcrafted, large diameter log portico.”
As the project evolved, we were all especially proud of the home’s level of sophistication, architectural flourishes, and luxury finishes. It’s quality-built through and through…as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside.
Here at Beaver Mountain, we understand each customer has a unique expectation of how their dream home will shape up. As different families have different needs, we work closely with builders like John to make sure homes are impeccably tailored to each family’s individual lifestyle. John agrees, “Every client has a long wish list when beginning to design a luxury log home. Typically, over time, it ends up getting pared down to prioritize different aspects of the design. We were fortunate, in this case, to have a client with a generous budget.”
As both Rich Home Building and Beaver Mountain are family-owned businesses with shared values, working together felt natural and comfortable. “A family owned business, Rich Home Building is built on the team approach to accomplishing our goals,” says John. “With the value we place on quality, it was a pleasure to experience those same attributes and professionalism from Beaver Mountain.”
When you enter this breathtaking timber frame home, you’ll find yourself welcomed in by pools of light flooding in through the Great Room’s two-story wall of windows. Vaulted cathedral ceilings draw the gaze upwards where the craftsmanship and artistry of this home are in full view.