Image of a bulldozer on the hillside

The Construction 1983-1993

The couple that built this house documented the process in a photo album that has been handed down to each new owner.

Here in the photo collection below are some selected highlights of that album. These selected photos illustrate how over a 10 year period the original owners changed this property from a steep, scrubby hillside parcel into a comfortable mountain home with magnificent views.

Image of the happy owners with the garage walkway in the background — The original owners/builders of the house

Image of a dirt road, a few trees and scrubby brush. — This is what it looked like at the top of the driveway before there was a house here.

Image of a path through Bear Clover with trees and a picnic table in the background — Looking Southwest to the future site of the garage

Image of steep hillside with picnic table, trees and brush — Looking Northeast to the future site of the house

Image of a bulldozer on the hillside — The first task is to create a level site for building.

Image of a bulldozer and large rocks — Making progress…

Image of a bulldozer next to a wall of dirt — Here the west side of the site is taking shape

Image of flat graded area carved out of the hillside — Looking Northeast to where the house will be

Image of flat graded area and dirt wall, rocks and a line of railroad ties — Looking Southwest to where the water tank will be

Image of a water tank next to the wall and snow on the ground — The water tank is in place

Image of stacked railroad ties and the water tank in the background — The wall is taking shape

Image of a low u-shaped cinder block wall with an electric generator — Initially the shed was a generator shack

Image of a fresh-cut, rough dirt road — This is one of the first views of the path to the picnic area

Image of brown shed in the trees with a brown water tank above and behind it — This view shows the finished shed with the water tank behind it

Image of completed railroad-tie retaining wall with old rusty tools hung on it — The wall is now finished and decorated with old iron tools

The entrance lights are in!

Slab forms for the garage

Framing the garage

The garage walkway takes shape

The garage is done!

Initially the garage was living space

Extending the driveway slab

The driveway bottom before concrete

The driveway bottom after concrete

The steep section before concrete

The steep section after concrete

The driveway top before concrete

The driveway top after concrete

They poured concrete from the top down

Finishing the driveway surface

Pouring the foundation

Framing begins!

Mid level framing

Framing the breezeway

Another view of the breezeway

View of the house framing from below with open rafters and siding installed — The siding is going on and the rafters are installed

Ready for roofing tiles

Finally done, viewed from below

Finally done, viewed from the driveway

If you would like to share a memory or a brief story about a connection you had to the Logger’s Retreat before the Railroad Fire destroyed it, please post it in the Comments section below.

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