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 FISH
ON RANCH
BACK Story by Theresa L Wolf Photos by Roger Wade Styling by Debra Grahl 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. Guests pull up a chair at one of several tables throughout the home. Whether in the dining area, on the screened porch, or at the game table in the corner of the great room, they are made to feel welcome joining the Allens.
"When you hook a fish, you yell, 'Fish On!' so everyone will get out of your way," he explains. "Fortunately, the streams at the ranch aren't crowded so we don't have to yell - except for the excitement and joy we have every time we hook up with that beautiful five-pound rainbow trout." Jerry's love of the pastime is evidenced in the fishing motif found throughout much of the home's decor. A glass-topped coffee table provides a translucent view of a fisherman casting his fly rod on the lower shelf. Jerry says granite countertops from Russia create the illusion of "looking into the bottom of a trout stream." Ceramic tiles surrounding the kitchen work areas are inlaid with images of fish. Furnishings throughout the home are a combination of lodgepole pine pieces by Old Hickory Furniture Company and others by Chad Koske of Working Horse Log Homes in Centennial. A variety of wildlife and fishing prints and statues, including a copy of a Remington bronze, complete the decor. The home sports two fireplaces, both built of river rock from the property and bearing mantels inscribed with Fish On Ranch. A fireplace in the screened porch helps extend enjoyment of the Montana landscape when the sun slips behind the Snowy Range and long shadows cool the evening mountain air. Although the home is situated as close the Little Laramie River as possible, the Allens wanted to enjoy the stream sounds indoors. To that end, Hawkeye Landscapes dug a trench and diverted the stream to create a small pond and babbling brook outside the master bedroom.
"It's great," Jerry says. "We work hard all day on the projects and enjoy the evenings in the shadow of Sheep Mountain." Since acquiring the ranch, the Allens have expanded their interests to horseback riding and now stable 12 horses on the ranch. They are in the process of building an arena and have plans to host local roping competitions. Jerry and Jorja even offered a week at the ranch for a PTO fundraiser at Kelsey's school. Fish On Ranch brought a winning bid of $6,000 at the fundraising auction in the Allens' hometown in Ohio. Whether
alone or sharing their home with a houseful of guests, at work or
at play, fishing or horseback riding, the Allens find their log
home to be the perfect refuge from the demands of their very busy
lives. -- |
Jerry's
passion for fly-fishing led the Allens to name their new home Fish
On Ranch. Jerry says the name comes from fishing crowded trout streams
in the east. 
Though
Jorja and Kelsey are often unable to join him, Jerry says he is
at the ranch more frequently because his company is using the site
for testing and developing conduit products for fiber optics. Customers
and manufacturers are able to field test the products in the splendor
southeastern Wyoming.