Built From the
Mountains of
Gatlinburg, TN
Two neighbors. One mountain town. A shared belief that everyone deserves a home worth coming back to. That's where Modular Log Cabin began — and it's the spirit that still drives every cabin we build today.
The Smokies taught us what a home should feel like. Warm, honest, built to last — and worthy of the land it sits on. — Robert & Dale Ashwood, Co-Founders, Gatlinburg, TN
Two Brothers Who
Refused to Leave the
Mountains Behind
Robert and Dale Ashwood grew up on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in a small cedar-sided house their grandfather built by hand in the 1960s. That house — imperfect, warm, and enduring — shaped everything they would go on to build.
After years in construction, Robert wanted something better for the families who were getting priced out of owning real homes with character. Dale, a licensed real estate agent in Sevier County, saw it from the other side — the sheer number of buyers who dreamed of cabin life but couldn't make the numbers work.
In 2009, the brothers converted their grandfather's old barn in Gatlinburg, TN into a workshop and built their first modular log cabin for a neighbor. By the time it went up, three more people had already asked to be next.
What started on a dirt road in the Smokies has now delivered 500+ homes across 30 states. But every single one still carries the same standard Robert and Dale set in that barn on day one.
- Responsibly sourced, FSC-certified timber on every build
- Transparent, itemized pricing — always locked before you commit
- One dedicated specialist from consult to keys
- Industry-leading 10-year structural warranty
The Town That Taught
Us How to Build
Gatlinburg isn't just our hometown — it's the reason we understand cabin buyers better than anyone else. The Smoky Mountains draw over 12 million visitors a year, making this corridor the most active log cabin and short-term rental market in the United States.
We grew up watching which cabins held up through the seasons and which ones didn't. We learned what real families needed from a mountain home, and what details make a guest want to come back. That knowledge is baked into every floor plan we offer.
We still maintain our headquarters just outside Gatlinburg. When you work with us, you're working with people who live the cabin life — not just sell it.
Fifteen Years of
Building Something Real
The Grandfather's Barn
Robert and Dale convert their grandfather's old cedar barn in Gatlinburg into a workshop. Their first modular cabin goes up for a neighbor — and three more people get on a waiting list before the roof is on.
First Manufacturing Facility
Growing demand in the Smoky Mountain rental market pushes the brothers to open a dedicated precision facility in Sevier County. Build times drop from months to weeks.
Real Estate Division
Dale formalizes the real estate arm, offering full land acquisition and site selection services. Buyers can now get a cabin and the land it sits on — from one team.
FSC Certification & EcoFrame Line
All timber sourcing achieves FSC certification. The EcoFrame line launches — net-zero ready cabins with passive solar design, triple-glazed windows, and integrated solar infrastructure.
Cabin #500 — Delivered
We hand keys to our 500th homeowner — a retired schoolteacher from Knoxville who waited eight months for her lakeside cabin near Douglas Lake. She cried. So did Dale.
People Who Know
the Smokies
Every person on our team either grew up in Appalachia or chose to make it home. That shared sense of place shapes everything we build — and every conversation we have with a buyer.
Robert Ashwood
Master timber framer, born and raised in Gatlinburg. Built the first cabin in his grandfather's barn. Still walks every finished build before keys are handed over.
Dale Ashwood
Licensed in TN, NC, and VA. Has closed more Smoky Mountain cabin deals than he can count. Dale knows every holler, every creek lot, and every zoning quirk in Sevier County.
Sarah Kimura
Award-winning architect specializing in biophilic design. Moved from Nashville to Gatlinburg specifically to be closer to the landscapes she designs for.
Leanne Hartwell
Environmental engineer and lifelong East Tennessean. Leanne oversees FSC compliance and leads our EcoFrame net-zero cabin program.
Six Principles We've
Never Compromised On
Craftsmanship First
Every joint, every beam, every finish meets the standard Robert would apply to his own home. Quality is the foundation, not a feature.
Rooted in Place
We build cabins for people who care about the land they're on. Sustainability isn't a marketing word for us — it's how you build in the Smokies.
Radical Honesty
We quote every cost up front. We tell you when a site won't work. We've walked away from projects that didn't make sense for the buyer. That's how we sleep at night.
Community Roots
We hire from East Tennessee, source from regional suppliers, and reinvest in the communities that built us. Our growth is tied to theirs.
One Relationship
You get one point of contact from first call to final walkthrough. Not a handoff chain — a genuine relationship with someone who knows your project inside out.
Always Improving
We visit every completed cabin in year two to see how it's holding up. What we learn goes into the next build. We've never stopped getting better.
Let's Find You a
Piece of the Smokies
Whether you want to build from scratch, buy an existing property, or just understand what your land is worth — Robert and Dale's team gives straight answers, every time.