Majestic hilltop log home estate in Kansas

You wouldn’t expect to find a luxurious Rocky Mountain lodge surrounded by a hardwood forest in Kansas — but here it is. And now you can own it.

This distinctive, one-of-a-kind, serene retreat at 719 N. 1851 Diagonal Road, Lecompton, is for sale, listed at $1,275,000. The log home is situated on 10 acres surrounded by a hardwood forest offering absolute privacy, but is minutes from Interstate 70, allowing the residents to reach downtown Lawrence in 15 minutes and downtown Kansas City in 45 minutes.

You immediately know this property is unique when you enter the custom gate, flanked by stone pillars and log verticals, and topped by a handcrafted cedar truss. Then follow the 500-yard drive as it rises 120 feet to the hilltop home site.

This home offers 5,475 square feet of luxurious lodge-style interior space on three levels and was designed by the current owners, who supervised every aspect of its construction. It has been featured in Kansas City Homes and Gardens and Log Home Living magazines.

It is built of 18-inch diameter, full round Englemann spruce logs which were harvested from a national forest in Utah after a wildfire. The logs were hand-hewn and crafted to the current owners’ specifications. It was crafted, log by log, in Stevensville, Mont., then disassembled, with each log carefully tagged and numbered, to be reassembled on the prepared foundation near Lawrence.

The lower level of the home is nestled into the side of its hilltop setting providing a ground level entrance on two levels. The lower level has an exterior of Colorado river rock, providing a distinctive foundation for the logs on the upper two levels.

The lower level includes the entryway, home office, a sitting room and two guest bedrooms, one of which is a second master suite. On the main level are a casual dining area, formal dining area that opens to a screened porch, great room, kitchen, half bath, laundry room, master suite and sunset room.

The loft area includes a game room and workout room, as well as a balcony accessible by French doors off the game area. A music/media center in the loft fills the air of the entire home through strategically located ceiling speakers.

Large expanses of windows in all of the living areas offer unimpeded sweeping views of the hardwood forest surrounding the home, but the only neighbors you see are wildlife.

Log staircases with forged iron railings link the three living areas. All cabinets in the home are furniture grade knotty pine material and the chef’s kitchen has professional grade appliances.

The wood flooring on the main level is wide plank reclaimed oak heart wood. All of the main and loft level drywall surfaces are covered in custom veneer plaster with color included and hand applied.

A three-car garage is entered through cedar doors and glass insert windows customized on site.

The home has four fireplaces, a wood-burning one in the great room and gas fireplaces in the three bedrooms. They are strategically located to heat the home if the area should lose power. The electrical contractor wired certain items to a separate electric breaker control panel box that can be connected to a generator, included with the house, making the house livable if the area were to be without electricity. The feature has not been needed; but just in case.

All interior and exterior lighting was custom designed to accent features of the home and ensure proper lighting for everyday tasks.

Outdoor living spaces also were carefully designed. A large, uniquely shaped back yard patio surrounds a fire pit. Alongside the patio is an outdoor shower with hot and cold water, concealed by a vertical cedar log. The large 12-foot rock used as a sitting area, nestled into the curve of the patio, was excavated from the property. Established landscaping and gardens surround the home, including a rock garden water feature with flowing creek and pond.

To view an extensive virtual tour of the home, go to virtual tour link: www.visualtour.com/show.asp?t=3265166&prt=10003&sk=202.

To schedule an appointment to view this home, contact Allen Wise with United Country Heart of America Real Estate & Auction at 785-863-3322 (office), 785-224-8570 (cell) or 877-310-4663 (toll free) or send an email to bigalwise@gmail.com.

This story was originally published December 13, 2014 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Majestic hilltop log home estate in Kansas."