Tour Seven Log and Timber Homes During the Fall Tour

A variety of log and timber frame homes will be open to the public on Aug. 25 during a fall tour hosted by Honest Abe Log Homes Cookeville.

“We believe the seven homes open for the tour are perfect to show visitors how flexible and beautiful a wood home can be,” said Greg Watson, a sales representative at Honest Abe Cookeville who’s spent almost a quarter century with the company.

Watson said that the tour includes five log homes of different sizes constructed across three decades.

“These homes were built at different times, so they really demonstrate how well a log home can hold up over the decades,” Watson said, adding that each building has a distinctively different floor plan.

Melissa Watson, who is also an Honest Abe representative at the Cookville model and sales office, pointed out that the two additional tour homes are timber frames – one that was completed three years ago and one that is currently under construction.

“We’re finding that many customers are interested in timber frame or hybrid homes, and these are good examples of how various building materials can be paired with timbers to create a visual impact,” she said.

The Watsons said that the homeowners will be available to answer questions about their design choices, the construction process, the home’s energy efficiency and more.

The tour, which begins at 10 a.m. at Honest Abe Cookeville on Hwy. 111 North, is free, but reservations are required. Guests will be treated to refreshments as they tour the recently redecorated Cookeville model homes, one of which was created using the Algood floor plan and the other using the Bellewood plan.

“We’ll provide a map to the other two finished log homes located on one property and to a timber frame on a nearby farm,” Greg Watson said. “The construction site of another new timber frame is not far from our office, so there’s plenty of time to easily tour all six.”

Melissa Watson noted that tourgoers may want to return to the Honest Abe Cookeville campus for a little shopping in yet another pair of log homes.

“One of Honest Abe’s owners has converted the very first Honest Abe model home into a store that sells everything from fresh farm products to home décor to apparel,” Melissa said. “This home was moved from its original site and reconstructed, which goes to show how durable a log home can be. The other log structure is a ‘tiny home’.”

For more information or to register for the tour, call 800-280-3651.