Perhaps you didn’t know it, but Katahdin Cedar Log Homes also designs and manufactures commercial cedar log buildings. The company has just contracted to produce one of the largest known Northern White Cedar building in the U.S.
Katahdin Cedar Log Homes has finalized an agreement to design and manufacture a 20,000-square-foot restaurant called Eddie Montgomery’s Steakhouse near Harrodsburg, Ky. The building, which will contain a 265-seat restaurant and tour-quality concert stage, is part of a 38.5-acre development called Skylar’s Landing which will include shops, recreational facilities and other amenities. Skylar’s Landing is named for Montgomery’s granddaughter.
Eddie Montgomery, one-half of the gold and platinum album country singers known as Montgomery Gentry, has joined Tommy Mitchell, president of Rocky Top Furniture, to develop the family-oriented destination in central Kentucky. Mitchell had developed a strong relationship with Katahdin Cedar Log Homes’ president David Gordon, when he joined the Katahdin team constructing the first cedar log home for ABC’s Extreme Makeover—Home Edition in 2005. Mitchell has since provided furnishings for several other Extreme Makeover projects since that first project.
“When we first started talking about the steakhouse, Eddie and I wanted to build something to be proud of,” Mitchell said. “Eddie gives back a lot to his community. We also wanted the steakhouse to be designed and manufactured by a company that shared our ‘green’ approach. I knew that David Gordon had long been implementing ‘green’ practices, so Katahdin Cedar Log Homes was the obvious choice.”
This project will be one of the largest known commercial structures ever constructed of Northern White Cedar. Katahdin is finalizing a design that will feature 28-foot ceilings with dramatic exposed beams and purlin log trusses, as well as the rustic amenities that make log homes so appealing: cedar paneling, stone fireplaces and other unusual interior features throughout the building. Outdoor seating will be available at either end of the building. As part of the entertainment element, Montgomery has commissioned a tour-quality, professional concert sound and light system for the top name country performers he expects to book, as well as new and up-and-coming artists.
An estimated 15 tractor trailers containing the pre-cut and drilled logs for on-site assembly will begin making their way from Katahdin’s mill in Oakfield, Maine, to the Harrodsburg construction site at the end of July—when the first three or four will set out. Another 15 semis will transport the remaining materials to the site. The restaurant is slated to open later this year—we’ll keep you posted!