Home by Satterwhite Log Homes | Photography by Franklin & Ester Schmidt
From all appearances, this country cabin looks to be the home of a Texan. On the entrance drive, a sign on the windmill says, “Luna-Tick Lodge.” There’s no missing the massive Texas Star and sun-bleached cow skull that greet visitors to the house. Even the interior strongly suggests a Texas tie-in, with cowboys and Indians, six-shooters, bows and arrows, saddles and cowhides. A red neon Pegasus, landmark of the Dallas skyline for almost a century, flies over the fireplace.
So why is this ranch style homestead in Virginia? Really, it could happen anywhere people love a good Western movie—and want a fun getaway the grandkids will love to visit. (Having a horse or two, along with four-wheelers in the barn helps, too.)
The Texas motif caught on with the couple that built this home as they traveled to the Lone Star state to visit Satterwhite Log Homes.
The log home’s floor plan is a modified version of Satterwhite’s Caddo with Loft, one of more than three dozen standard plans in the Satterwhite catalog. (The company has several thousand more plans on file).
For Satterwhite’s in-house design department, customizing plans to fit a customer’s exact requirements is a quick and easy task. Which, in this case, left plenty of time for the homeowners to shop for Texas-themed accessories.
The log lodge sits in the hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, not far from Washington, D.C. Each morning, the sunrise illuminates a view of foothills below Shenandoah National Park. Within easy walking distance of the front door, a mountain stream flows through the property, offering spectacular trout fishing.
Satterwhite’s Caddo with Loft is a highly versatile plan, and this particular adaptation is ideal for grandparents: The upstairs loft is configured as a bunk house, with plenty of room for four, six, even eight or more cousins, so long as everybody puts in a strenuous day to help induce sleep.
Downstairs, there are two full bedrooms and a large family room with books and appointments suggesting the family’s ties to military service. These include a writing desk and portrait of General Stonewall Jackson, who camped on this site with an army of thousands during the Civil War.
The tasteful decor of this log home also gives a nod to history, with pressed tin ceilings, carefully selected antiques and modern fixtures in historic styles like the beautiful claw-foot tub in the master bath. The kitchen area is especially well-designed, with all modern appliances hidden behind custom cabinets or inside the pantry.
A sink and a replica wood-burning stove accent the period presentation that runs throughout the log home. A large porch and French doors were added to create outdoor living space.
Even though it’s a long way from from the Lone Star State, this lodge is a wonderful home away from home, and an excellent fit for a family looking forward to years of quality time with children and grandchildren; carefully planned and outfitted to start many long conversations and to build many happy memories.