It’s appropriate that TruLog™—the makers of state-of-the-art, log-like steel siding—calls Colorado home, because log cabins and other timber structures have deep roots in the state’s history, and log buildings remain popular as homes and vacation getaways.
If you’re considering building or renovating a log home or cabin, give TruLog a call first at 970-646-4490 to learn more about our beautiful, durable, innovative siding system or to request a sample. TruLog offers the aesthetic charms of a traditional log cabin, but with added durability and energy-efficiency thanks to its foam-backed steel panels; unlike standard log structures, TruLog requires no costly annual maintenance, and enhanced peace of mind is provided by a lifetime warranty.
Colorado Cabins and Mining
Thanks to the readily available timber and the relative ease and speed of building small log structures, log cabins were widespread during Colorado’s mining boom of the mid- to late-1800s. Many of these historic cabins are still standing.
A number of mining ghost towns that are accessible to visitors feature restored original cabins, or replicas of cabins and other log structures used in gold and silver mining. Abandoned log cabins and mining villages can also be passed along many of Colorado’s hiking, biking, and horseback-riding trails.
A recent story on The Denver Channel profiled a number Colorado mining ghost towns in which original log cabins and other structures dating to the 1880s still stand. Though countless historic cabins have been lost to the elements, a number have been preserved, and a few have earned spots on the National Register of Historic Places.
One of the most interesting examples of the latter is the Beckwith Ranchhouse in south-central Colorado, west of Pueblo. Named for the brothers Edwin and Elton Beckwith, early Colorado ranching barons, the Beckwith Ranchhouse began as a modest 24-foot-by22-foot log cabin in the 1870s. As the brothers’ land and cattle empire grew, so did the home; a half-story was added, as were a stairway tower, ballroom, full kitchen, and wraparound porch among other features.
Log Cabins and Ranching
As implied by the story of the Beckwith brothers, log cabins have been as significant a component of ranching’s rich tradition in Colorado as they have of mining’s.
The Littleton Museum allows visitors to get a sense of those log cabin-laden ranches by re-creating a farm setting circa the late 1800s. The exhibit, which was explored in a recent Denver Post article, features an authentic cabin from the 1860s as well as Littleton’s original schoolhouse from around 1865.
Though most historic ranching cabins aren’t as extravagant as the Beckwith Ranchhouse, many farm and ranch cabins built in the late 1800s are still standing, and some are even still in use on working land as storage facilities or temporary shelters.
Log Cabins and Vacation Rentals
Log cabins can also serve recreational as well as practical purposes.
Today, guests at some of Colorado’s world-renowned ski resorts prefer private rustic cabins to bustling hotels and condos. Of course, even the rough-hewn exteriors of these resort cottages hide modern amenities.
More traditional cabins are also available for rent around other popular Colorado destinations, such as Rocky Mountain National Park. In fact, the Forest Service and other agencies offer select backcountry cabins for personal use; information can be found at recreation.gov.
To learn more about the multi-patented, maintenance-free TruLog steel siding system or request a sample, please contact us online or call us at 970-646-4490. TruLog is based in Loveland, Colorado, but we ship nationwide and work with installers in multiple states including Colorado, Wyoming, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Texas.
