Jerry and Jorja Allen had casually discussed building a log home but didn't actively pursue the endeavor until a cancelled business meeting left Jerry with time on his hands.

"I was in Denver and took advantage of the few free days to do some fly-fishing in Wyoming. My guide mentioned that there was a ranch for sale in the Centennial area." The 550-acre ranch is, Jerry says, "small by Wyoming standards, but just the right size for what we had in mind." He and Jorja did not want to be involved in a working ranch but wanted access to stream fishing as well as sufficient space for hiking, horseback riding and snowmobiling. With the Snowy Range Ski Area only miles away and the north fork of the Little Laramie River running right through the property, it couldn't have been more perfect.

The Allens chose Log Knowledge of LaPorte, Colorado, to build the home. Because their permanent residence is in Ohio, Jerry and Jorja were unable to be on-site throughout the entire construction process and needed a company that could provide a turnkey product. Log Knowledge was able to handle everything from start to finish. Not only did company president Brad Burgat and his staff design the home, but they handcrafted and erected the log shell and performed all of the framing and finishing work.

The 4,050 square foot floor plan selected by the Allens is based on one of Log Knowledge's custom designs. The Allens added a screened porch and modified the dormers from the original version.

Due to the demands of Jerry's work and daughter Kelsey's school commitments, the Allens are at the ranch during spring break and throughout the summer. As a result, they designed the home to provide plenty of relaxation, support their recreational interests and allow sufficient space for entertaining and sharing its magnificent surroundings with family and friends.

Built of 12" lodgepole pine and Engelmann spruce, the Allen home includes a master bedroom/bath suite, great room, kitchen and dining area, utility/laundry areas, a full bath and two half-baths on the main level. A screened porch and almost 2,000 square feet of redwood decking on the rear of the home provide additional living space for entertaining.

"We wanted a great room with high ceilings and a stone fireplace and a large deck along the back of the home to be able to enjoy the trout stream," Jerry says. "We had always planned to have lots of guests. Last summer we hosted over 90 people at the ranch.

The second story features three bedrooms, one full and two half baths plus a game room. Visitors can be accommodated in a guest house (to be featured in the September issue of Log Home Design Ideas), a playhouse recently converted for overnight accommodations and a bunkhouse in the 12,000 square foot barn.

Log Knowledge installed Australian cypress plank flooring and tongue and groove pine ceilings throughout. All of the woodwork in the home is pine with golden oak stain.

Neither Jerry not Jorja claim to be great chefs and, in fact, prefer to enjoy the company of their guests rather than spend time in the kitchen. Jerry says it is not uncommon for 20 people to join them for dinner on any give summer evening. The Allens engage a local couple to prepare many evening meals in a well-equiped kitchen boasting near commercial-grade appliances, including a Sub-Zero refrigerator.