THE ONE-LOG HOUSE: Classic Kitsch Amongst the Redwoods

705 US-101, Garberville, CA 95542

The kitsch factor is off the charts at this classic roadside attraction located amongst the giant trees of the Redwood forrest. Welcome to the infamous One-Log House of Garberville.

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The one-log house is one of those goofy things you see plastered across promotional signs all over the highways and back roads as you tour through the lovely and economically prosperous Humboldt County region. They're proud of this log up here, damned proud, and they should be. Just look at this beauty in the wooden flesh.

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What is the one log house, you ask? Well, it's exactly what it sounds like: One large Redwood tree log, hollowed out and gutted, then outfitted like the living room of a house, presumably by some grizzled backwoods Martha Stewart-type. Get it? How could you ever resist stepping in?

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Once inside, things are small and, sadly, far superior to most $3,000 a month apartment you'll find in NYC or LA nowadays.

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You've got your kitchen (along with various spices, probably expired) breakfast nook, reading tables, benches, books, curtained windows and dual beds in case you want to have a slumber party with a friend. How romantic?

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At $1 a pop-- yes, they charge you to enter-- it's more than worth taking five minutes of your day and checking out.

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In conclusion, you gotta wonder how the surrounding trees feel about the one-log house. Is it painful for them to see their fallen brethren all decked out like a rustic cabin and whored to the public? Jealous that he earns $1 a head when someone steps inside, perhaps? Is this a form of tree prostitution? Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself.

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HOW THE HELL DID THIS HAPPEN?

Created in 1946 by the finely named Art Schmock (seriously, A+ on the name given the source material here) the hollowed out beast that makes up the One Log House is actually 2000+ years old and weighs a whopping 42 tons. 

With intent to create a tourist attraction that replicated a living situation akin to a motor home, it apparently took two men eight months to hollow this sucker out, eventually creating the 7 foot high and 32 foot long room you see today. Plus, according to legend, the chips taken from the tree were enough wood to build a five-bedroom house.

As an added bonus, the house was built on wheels, as Art had the idea to take it on some type of tour. After stopping at such exotic places like Leggett and Phillipsville, the one log house eventually settling in its current Garberville location in 1999.

CHECK IT OUT

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One Log House