OT: Building in isolated location
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 7:17 am
All--
I just bought 80 acres deep in the Ozarks. The property is reached after traveling 1.10 miles over a logging road. The property itself is 80 acres, half a mile long and a quarter mile wide. The half mile length straddles an east/west ridge with cliffs on both sides. The land below the cliffs is very steep and leads down to two very well known creeks, one of them which runs through the famous Rockbridge Trout farm and resort. Of the 80 acres, probably only 20 to 25 is usable. However, it is nice and flat. Tall pines abound. There are big hardwoods, but they are fewer in number due to the logging operation years ago.
VERY fortunately, power is available from the local co-op's line which runs across one of the creeks, up to the ridge and down the other side across the other creek. This line is located at the far east edge of the property. My prime building sites are within several hundred feet of the line.
My plan is to build an ICF (insulated concrete form) home on the property. It will be a traditional walkout, but sunk into the ground as far as possible. The south end of the house will be glass, to encompass the fantastic view. Ideally, one would be able to walk up to the roof across a gentle slope. But, that depends on how deep the solid rock shelf--stretching under the property from the north cliff to the south cliff--is beneath the top of the ridge. My calculations show that it is probably deep enough at one home site location and definitely deep enough at the second. There are actually many great locations, but so far we like these two the best. (All the home site locations feature a great view to the south over the mountains with the large creek far below.)
Of course, I will be able to build a shop from scratch. Since I need a place to put stuff during construction, I am thinking of having a pole barn built long enough to hold a pickup and a skid loader and wide enough for the shop and a small studio apartment. (I need a place to stay when I am in the area during construction. Staying at the resort might get expensive.)
I am looking for ANY advice regarding this entire concept: well, septic, concrete home (NO exposed wood!), pole barn garage/shop/apartment and whatever you can think of. My time frame for completion is based on when my wife retires, which will be sometime within two to five years. I imagine it will be five years, since that will be full retirement for her. It COULD be four years, since Medicare will kick in when she is 65.
Here is a video of the drive down the logging road and then several short views of us and the property. It is almost 14 minutes long. I don't expect anyone to watch the entire thing. You might watch enough of the first part to get an idea of the access and then tune in to the all of the shorter second part for the views. (Remember that some of the trees will be removed when the house is built.)
--Bill
I just bought 80 acres deep in the Ozarks. The property is reached after traveling 1.10 miles over a logging road. The property itself is 80 acres, half a mile long and a quarter mile wide. The half mile length straddles an east/west ridge with cliffs on both sides. The land below the cliffs is very steep and leads down to two very well known creeks, one of them which runs through the famous Rockbridge Trout farm and resort. Of the 80 acres, probably only 20 to 25 is usable. However, it is nice and flat. Tall pines abound. There are big hardwoods, but they are fewer in number due to the logging operation years ago.
VERY fortunately, power is available from the local co-op's line which runs across one of the creeks, up to the ridge and down the other side across the other creek. This line is located at the far east edge of the property. My prime building sites are within several hundred feet of the line.
My plan is to build an ICF (insulated concrete form) home on the property. It will be a traditional walkout, but sunk into the ground as far as possible. The south end of the house will be glass, to encompass the fantastic view. Ideally, one would be able to walk up to the roof across a gentle slope. But, that depends on how deep the solid rock shelf--stretching under the property from the north cliff to the south cliff--is beneath the top of the ridge. My calculations show that it is probably deep enough at one home site location and definitely deep enough at the second. There are actually many great locations, but so far we like these two the best. (All the home site locations feature a great view to the south over the mountains with the large creek far below.)
Of course, I will be able to build a shop from scratch. Since I need a place to put stuff during construction, I am thinking of having a pole barn built long enough to hold a pickup and a skid loader and wide enough for the shop and a small studio apartment. (I need a place to stay when I am in the area during construction. Staying at the resort might get expensive.)
I am looking for ANY advice regarding this entire concept: well, septic, concrete home (NO exposed wood!), pole barn garage/shop/apartment and whatever you can think of. My time frame for completion is based on when my wife retires, which will be sometime within two to five years. I imagine it will be five years, since that will be full retirement for her. It COULD be four years, since Medicare will kick in when she is 65.
Here is a video of the drive down the logging road and then several short views of us and the property. It is almost 14 minutes long. I don't expect anyone to watch the entire thing. You might watch enough of the first part to get an idea of the access and then tune in to the all of the shorter second part for the views. (Remember that some of the trees will be removed when the house is built.)
--Bill