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Timber Creek's fabulous lodges give new meaning to the words "modular homes"
If your idea of a modular home is all about plywood and plastic, with cheesy designs and a slapdash finish, you ought to get to know Timber Creek Homes.
A photo gallery of Timber Creek’s past projects reminds one of browsing through the pages of Sunset magazine. Many are dramatic mountain lodges, with towering columns of stone, log and brick. The interior shots show off tremendous attention to details, with designs and finishes that would be appropriate for any high-end home – except that instead of being built onsite, these homes were built inside, on a factory floor, in the Village of Stratton, NE.
Which only goes to prove that entrepreneurs are dreamers, who can imagine an idea, grab it, and make it a reality.
Charles Pelkey, CEO of Timber Creek Homes, Inc. dreamed of innovations in the modular home building business. With his partner Carl Rasmussen, Pelkey created a system that elevates the manufacture of modular homes to one of quality design, quality building materials, fine wood finishes, lots of customer choice and input, and a highly efficient construction system.
“Dream it, and together we can turn your dreams into reality,” is Pelkey’s mission and vision for Timber Creek Homes, Inc.
Wood in his veins
Pelkey comes by his passion for building with wood honestly: his grandfather was a boat builder and furniture builder, and his father owned a logging business.
Early in his career, Pelkey was drawn to the modular home industry.
“I was 26 years old when I saw my first modular home, and I recognized that modular construction is the future for housing,” Pelkey said. After graduating from college in Maine, he began building single family houses and built his first modular housing factory at the age of 29 in upstate New York. He sold his interests in that company six years later and joined a Fortune 500 Company as Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
“I got bored in large companies because things move so slowly,” Pelkey said. “I wanted to put my own ideas into an industrial process.” His dreams began to coalesce when he met Carl Rasmussen, and they started Timber Creek Homes in Stratton.
Ideas into practice
Pelkey and Rasmussen incorporated Timber Creek Homes in 2001 and assembled their first home that same year. Rasmussen handles production, engineering and purchasing, and Pelkey the accounting, financing, administration and sales.
“We are the only company in the West with the quality of modular home that we build in the Timber Creek factory.” Pelkey says. “We design dynamic exteriors and interiors with character so our homes create exactly the feeling our customers are looking for in their living environment.”
Since the company’s inception, Pelkey and Rasmussen have devised processes to design and build in the Stratton factory (including fine interior finish details), transport the house in sections, and assemble the finished product on a mountain top in Colorado or on the Midwestern Plains.
Customers in Nebraska, California, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Wyoming send Timber Creek Homes their own home plans or select one from a series of award-winning Timber Creek designs, and then collaborate with engineers who customize the home to suit the customer’s unique lifestyle and site location. Many homes feature polished wood finishes, natural stone and marble as well as broad expanses of glass windows for locations with dramatic views.
Pelkey says, “We build with a heavy concentration of wood, hence our name: Timber Creek Homes, Inc.”
Our roots are here in Stratton
“We enjoy the challenges of a small company and a small community,” says Pelkey. “We make the decisions. We see the results immediately not in months or years.”
Although Pelkey enjoys his rural location, there are drawbacks.
“The single largest problem is finding people to work in our area,” Pelkey says. “Our backlog of orders is approximately $20 million, which represents many months of production. We would hire 30 additional employees today if they were available in our area.”
Timber Creek Homes, Inc. recruits men and women who are willing to work and acquire professional level skills in plumbing, heating and air conditioning, wiring, trim work, cabinet making, construction techniques, and all other aspects of building and installing fine homes and lodges.
“The opportunity exists nearly every week to earn time-and-a-half overtime pay,” Pelkey says. “The company offers full benefits, full medical benefits, a 401k program, a Christmas bonus, pay bonuses based on productivity, and plenty of challenges.” Timber Creek Homes, Inc. advertises for employees in regional newspapers, television, and radio.
Pelkey’s vision for the future is optimistic. Given the backlog of projects, there is clearly strong demand for the product. And he’s confident that in time, workers who live up to his quality standards can be found in – or lured to – Stratton.
“We started in Stratton, and we want to see the company grow here in Stratton,” said Pelkey. “Our roots are here in Stratton.”
Who To Contact...
Timber Creek Homes
Charles Pelkey & Carl Rasmussen
One Timber Creek Trail
P.O. Box 304
Stratton, Nebraska 69043
308-276-2478
charles@timbercreekhomesinc.com
www.timbercreekhomesinc.com
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