Honoring Native Stone

Honoring Native Stone

July 03, 2018

One of the unique features of the land on which Blue Vista sits are the incredible displays of rock. A giant boulder line (we’re talking car-sized boulders!) part way down the hillside runs all the way around the property. Building on this soaring rock outcropping has required us to let the land determine where buildings and roads and ponds go. As the large earth moving machines have worked to shape the land, piles of limestone rubble in diverse colors and textures have been left in their wake.

We felt this history beneath our feet deserved more than to simply be plowed under again. Luckily, skilled artisans Chris Thompson and Jake Morford had a vision.

Chris and his crew harvested limestone from these rubble piles to hand-chisel stone for the 30 ft. high, 11 foot wide stone fireplace that is the central feature of the Stone Lodge’s Hearth Room (and also the inspiration for the Lodge’s name).  The mantels are doubled 2x12 beams from an old barn complete with the square wood pegs that have held them together for over 100 years.

Native limestone fireplace in the Stone Lodge Hearth Room

On the other side of the property, we needed a way to help guests access the large green space that is separated from the Cedar Pavilion by a 10 ft. rock face. Jake saw another opportunity to use what our land provided and built a staircase entirely out of limestone he found in the rubble piles during construction. A limestone staircase was the perfect choice for accessing this large flat green space that is the remnants of an old limestone quarry used to build local bridges. We call this space the Rose Quarry for the amazing coloration of the exposed stone.

A view of the lake over the native limestone staircase to the Rose QuarryNative limestone staircase with Cedar Pavilion views

Want to see more of the ways Blue Vista helps you connect with nature and the people close to you?  Contact us today to schedule a tour!



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