Featured - Adirondack White Pine Cabins

featured
A Cabin
IN THE
Woods
by Carolee Smith
B
ill Plumb spent more than 20
years in the health care industry as CEO of North Country
Home Services in the Saranac Lake area.
But in 2001, in his early 50s, he decided it
was time for a change and he began looking around to discover what he wanted to
do for the rest of his life.
“I knew I wanted to stay in the Adirondacks and I was looking for something
26 sbmonthly.com
where I could use some of my construction
skills to work in a way that would take me
through to retirement,” he said.
He found it in the mountains of Tennessee.
‘It’ was a group of little wooden
cabins in a campground. “Each was unique,
but they were similar to each other in
some ways,” he recalled. “I was smitten by
the idea of these cabins. They were made
of Adirondack white pine and I thought
they’d be great for our area. They looked
like they really belonged in the Adirondacks.”
Looking closer, he found a real surprise underneath the cabins ņ wheels.
“They were actually recreational
vehicles (RVs),” Plumb said, “although
you would never know it from looking at
them.”
Plumb met the owner who was manufacturing the cabins on a limited basis and
thought he might like to distribute them in
the North Country. But the idea soon went
further than that.
To make a long story short, Plumb
decided to get into the manufacturing
end (joined the Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association (RPTIA), the
Georgia-based trade association that rep-
As printed in the December 2007 issue of Strictly Business magazine
resents recreational park trailer manufacturers and ensures their compliance
with federally approved construction
codes) studied how to build them and wrote
a business plan. His son, Joe, who has a
business degree from SUNY Oswego,
joined him in the business. They hired a
third person, put up a building on Route
3 just outside Saranac Lake, and went to
work.
Today Adirondack White Pine Cabins
is a young, but ourishing business and
Bill Plumb, in his own words, is “having
a great time!”
These small cabins, rated as recreational park trailers, evolved in the 1970s,
Plumb explained, as a result of the rst big
energy crisis. At that time, lots of people
were hauling their RVs all over the country
behind large vehicles. As the prices of gas
December 2007 27
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4338 Route 22
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
0LATTSBURGH.9
518-561-6266
Some people want
a little retreat
or second home. “One
family I know,”
1-800-827-2346
Plumb said, “has
three, one in Boon-
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been very successful, with sales for this
year 35 percent ahead of last year.
“We recognized there was a void for
this type of thing here,” he said.
One of the things Dave, Jennifer and
Judy said they enjoy most about working in Lake Placid is being able to bring
the newest technologies and merchandise
to people in a rural area, while educating
Evan Durfee, Joe and Bill Plumb
them at the same time. Dave said he has
encountered
rose,
the costssome
of moving
business
regularly
ownersfrom,
who
offer
for
instance,
what hethe
calls
North
“B-grade
Country
merchandise”
to Florida
because
and
backofevery
their presumption
year, or just that
fromAdironcampdack customers
ground
to campground
don’t want
during
or can’t
the afford
sumtop-quality,
mer,
were skyrocketing.
high-grade items.
“Just because
“People
beganwe
trying
are up
to here
nd ainresort
rural
New
York,and
doesn’t
mean we
can’t have the
they liked
negotiating
a year-round
fee
same
things
to leave
theirthat
RVsareonavailable
that site inonManhata more
tan,”
Dave said.
permanent
basis,” Plumb said. “As a result,
“We’ve
beennoreally
happy
to let
people
since they were
longer
towing
their
RVs
know
about
something
they
never
knew
regularly, the limits on what an RV could
existed,”
added.
look like Jennifer
began changing.”
Eye
Peek
also
offers
the basics
that
RVs are regulated
by federal
policies,
you
would
expect
to

nd
at
the
eye
doctor’s
according to Plumb, and the cabins conof
ce They
like exams,
lens tting
and
form.
cannot,contact
for instance,
measure
tests
for
glaucoma.
Jennifer,
who
gradumore than 400 square feet in oor space. In
ated
frombuilding,
the Pennsylvania
College
of Ophis new
Plumb and
his staff
can
tometry
in 1996,
said an of
unexpected
work on the
construction
two cabinsperk
at a
of
time
practicing
and eachintypically
a small, rural
takessetting
six to is
seven
that
she
weeks
getstothe
build.
opportunity to utilize her full
rangeThe
of cabins
skills and
are knowledge
built on a heavy
more duty
than
chassis
which
has four axles and eight
she
did in
the city.
wheels.
buy
theto chassis,”
he said,
“You“We
really
have
be a primary
care
“then
do
all
the
rest
of
the
construction.
physician,” she said. “It’s not easy to refer
And, he
stressed,
“this the
is challenge
not a mobile
people
here.
I’ve enjoyed
and
home
on
wheels.
It
is
stick-built
using my scope of practice. I endconstrucup mantion and
is custom
built to
theinpurchaser’s
aging
a lot
more things
than
D.C. Prospeci
cations.”
fessionally for me, it’s been really nice.”
Make nostaple
mistake,
the Peek
cabins
are
Another
of the Eye
experismall.is But
people
are Dave,
genuinely
ence
customer
service.
Judy surand
prised when
enterthat
onebuilding
for the relarst
Jennifer
havethey
learned
time. Typically
there and
is one
bedroom
tionships
with patients
customers
is
with built-in
dressers
and business
closet and
another
requirement
of doing
in
a queen-size bed. A full bath
aroom
smallfor
town.
can “There’s
accommodate
a jetted
or Dave
large
a smaller
patienttub
base,”
shower
stacked washer
andanonydryer,
said.
“Install,
D.C.,a everyone
is totally
plus a custom
andeverybody
mirror. Thealmost
kitchmous.
Here vanity
you see
en is generally fairly compact, but will
daily.”
include
“Youa have
full torefrigerator,
be here to take
four-burner
care of in sales of this type of unit. More than
stove with
people,”
Jennifer
oven, microwave
added. “If we
andaren’t
full sink.
here, 10,000 are produced in the United States
we aren’t
The rest
open.”
of the interior is taken up with each year and it’s estimated that well over
h7EEXISTTOBRINGOURCUSTOMERSTHEHIGHESTDEGREE
a living/dining
Dave said Eye
room,
Peek
which
makes
usually
a commithas a 100,000
units are currently in campgrounds ville, one in South Dakota, and one
slidingtoglass
ment
stay open
door that
the hours
opens ittoreads
a screenedon the inOFTECHNICALSERVICESANDPRODUCTSAVAILABLETODAYv
the United States and Canada.
in Arizona, all in campgrounds They
in porch.
door,
even(The
during
porch
theis“slow
optional.)
season,” to acWho buys them? It’s a wide open mar- have three homes in three parts of
-ONITORING3YSTEMS
commodate
The cabins
customers.
have numerous windows ket. Some
people put them on private prop- the country, but only have about $160,000
and are
So very
whilewell
Eyeinsulated.
Peek is about
“They two
havedean erty. “IGPS
have6EHICLE4RACKING
one in my backyard,” Plumb invested and don’t pay any property taxR21 envelope,”
cades
too late toPlumb
sparesaid,
me the
“andchildhood
are very laughed.
“MyData
89-year-old mother-in-law es!”
Mobile
comfortable
trauma
of being
rightbranded
here in the
a nerd
Adirondacks
with un- lives in%MERGENCY,IGHTING
it and loves it. It’s perfect for an
Plumb built and sold one cabin with
with glasses,
cool
our lowit’s
winter
nice temperatures.”
to know I can now
Ad- elderly 7IRELESS.ETWORKING
parent as an alternative to senior an interior customized to serve as a small
ditionally,
revel
in mythe
myopia
roofsand
are wear
pitched
my and
hip new
can housing.
They can maintain their indepen- commercial bakery. “They can be unique
2ADIO2ENTALS
handle the with
spectacles
Adirondack
pride. snow load.
dence, %QUIPMENT,EASING
but still be close to family.”
business properties,” he said.
If someone
“You
want people
wantstoahave
bit more
fun wearing
room,
!NTENNA3ITE,EASING
they can opt
glasses,”
Judy
forsaid.
a small
“If loft
youņhave
a small
to wear
lowMon.-Fri. 9am-8pm
3YSTEMS$ESIGNAND%NGINEERING
Sat. 9am-4:00pm
ceilingedyou
glasses,
area
might
withaswindows
well lookthat
nice.”
open ņ
“Your Prescription Specialists”
)NSTALLATION3ERVICEAND-AINTENANCE
Sun.
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
that can be used as an extra sleeping area
Sprint !UTHORIZED2EPRESENTATIVE
or storage space. “It’s not a big enough area
!UTHORIZED-OTOROLA3ERVICE3HOP
for adults,” Plumb said, “but kids just love
FOROVERYEARS
Pharmaceutical Compounding Natural Products
them!”
Medical Equipment/Supplies
Owners frequently add decking after
Ostomy Supplies
the cabin is installed on a property.
Authorized Two-Way
Diabetic
Supplies
28 Montcalm Avenue
PRIDE
Radio Lift
Dealer Chairs
The cabins come with simple connecA
family
owned
business
since
1950.
Mastectomy Products
Plattsburgh, NY
tions to water, sewer and electrical service.
Sacketta site and
(518) 563-3400
Just as an RV owner Heather
pulls into
FREE DELIVERY
Contributing Writer
hooks up, so a cabin owner will connect in
the same way.
Built with white pine lumber milled at
Ward Lumber Company, Plumb stressed
that there is no paneling within the cabins.
As a result, there is no formaldehyde, no
* Commercial
paneling glue, or other potentially toxic
* Residential
materials.
“The customer gets to choose the
* Industrial
ooring ņ carpeting, vinyl or laminate
ņ and the colors of the stains used inside
and out,” Plumb said, “as well as the appliFully insured for all
ances. In fact, we nd that most customers
your roofing needs
choose high-end models.”
SINCE
1977
One of the nicest parts
about
having
a cabin built, Plumb suggested, is that it’s
Call us today!!
all done in a controlled atmosphere. “Since
we build them inside,” he said “nothing is
exposed to the elements.” Another positive
resulting from that is “our customers freLake inChamplain
Roofing,
LLC
Let Burnham
you explore new territory
the employee benefit
marketplace.
quently
stop in andFinancial
watch theirhelp
unit being
built.
It’s fun
for them.”
We’re
focused
on employee benefits and ready to help you find
the right
products
7631
Route
9 and services.
And what does an Adirondack White
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Pine Cabin cost? “The minimum is about
$55,000,” Plumb said, “but depending on
P. 518-562-9956 • F. 518-561-1246
what the customer wants to include, they
close Part
look
atcustomBurnham Financial
canTake
run up toa$65,000.”
of the
lcroffice@charterinternet.com
and
you’ll
discover
benefits
er’s overhead, he noted, is the mileage cost
www.lakechamplainroofing.com
of moving
to itsperspective
permanent site. — yours!
fromthe
a unit
new
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BROKERAGE
Plumb said that, in the last ten years,
there has been a 46 percent increase
TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT BURNHAM FINANCIAL.
IT’S ALL WE DO.
2038 Saranac Ave. Lake Placid, NY 12946
As printed in the December 2007 issue of Strictly Business magazine
•
Ph: (518) 523-8100
•
& CONSULTING SERVICES
Introducing
E-mail: bfs@burnhamsolutions.com
December 2007 29
25
featured
The Gateway Building
Office Space For Lease
Others use them for rental properties.
Private owners have ordered two for the
Broad Street.
Lake Placid area to replace deteriorating
rental cabins.
Who else? “Disney World actually uses this type of unit on part of their
property,” Plumb said. “Every four or ve
years, they auction them off and buy brand
INVESTORS CORPORATION OF VERMONT
new ones. It’s good business. They don’t
ICV CONSTRUCTION · ICV REAL ESTATE
have to do major renovations and the resale
market is strong. ”
Plumb said, “One strong selling point
is that they are, after all, mobile. They
give an owner the exibility to relocate.
If someone buys ten to rent and then the
market drops off in that area, they can be
Engineering • Planning • Environmental
packed up, moved to a new location and set
up again!”
Providing full service engineering services to serve our
How does Plumb see the future? Very
client's facility, environmental, and utility requirements.
optimistically, as it turns out. “These have
Visit our website at www.tjlpe.com
been very popular in the south and southwest,” he said, “but the ones built there
Civic Center Room 3-8
Phone (518) 834-7729
aren’t appropriate for a cold and snowy
1790 Rt. 22 (Main St.)
Fax (518) 834-9245
area like ours. I think there is terric marKeeseville, NY 12944
www.tjlpe.com
ket potential, both here and in Canada, for
the better insulated ones we’re building.”
Plumb commented that he buys as
many of his materials as possible from Adirondack-based businesses. “It’s important
to do business locally,” he said.
Plumb is considering doubling his
three person workforce in the near future.
But, he was quick to add, “I’ve learned not
to over-expand. So far, all of our units have
Eye Care for the Adirondacks
800-272-1003
been pre-sold. But I’d like to hook up with
450 Margaret St., Plattsburgh
Our Vision is Your Vision
a resort or campground in this area where
they, as developers, put in the cabins and
Dave and Judy Doebler with daughter Jennifer Small
sell them as a package. They would be
great for snowbirds who spend a lot of the
year in Florida, but would like to be here
for the summer months.”
In the meantime, Plumb enjoys going
to work every day, especially when someby Heather Sackett
one sees his cabins next to Route 3, pulls
in and says, “Wow! I’d like to have a cabin
hen I was seven years old, elementary school, eyeglasses might have nac
like Avenue
that!” in Lake Placid and specialize
I experienced every kid’s been my opportunity to get ahead of the in helping customers select the perfect pair
worst nightmare. I was fashion curve instead of a social death- of glasses from an extensive collection of
told I needed glasses. The only thing more sentence.
trendy, yet sophisticated eyewear. Their
dreaded when you are in grade school is
“A lot of doctors’ ofces treat glasses daughter, Jennifer Small. is the optombeing told you need braces. For the next as a prosthetic device,” owner and optician etrist.
few years, until I was old enough to get of Eye Peek, David Doebler said. “We treat
Eye Peek offers a huge array of speccontact lenses, every day of my life I wore them as an accessory.”
tacles in cool colors and original designs to
glasses ņ glasses so ugly that looking back
Indeed, Eye Peek has made wearing t any face, shape or budget.
And you can
Carolee Smith
on school pictures makes me cringe. If only glasses cool again. Dave and Judy Doe- almost bet that whichever
Strictly Business
you pick
Editorfrom
Kjell Dahlen, M.D., Benjamin Vilbert, M.D., Dennis Lu, M.D., Gault Farrell, M.D., Phil Dafler, M.D.
Eye Peek had been around when I was in bler own and operate the ofce on Sara- the hundreds of choices, no one you know
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your business can afford:
will have a pair like them. You won’t nd
any plain old wire frames or basic hornrimmed glasses here. Better yet, the folks
at Eye Peek believe in the quality of the
product they are selling. Both Dave and
Judy sport a pair of chic, stylish eyeglasses
that seem selected to t their personalities.
“Most eyewear providers are catering
to the masses,” Dave said. “The inventory
selection is very conservative; it’s very
safe. They offer tons and tons and tons of
vanilla. We are pretty much a vanilla-free
or
zone.”
“Whenever anyone is wearing interesting-looking glasses people know they
got them here,” Jennifer added. “A perfect
stranger will say, ‘You got your glasses at
Eye Peek, didn’t you?’”
Word of the unique selection at Eye
Peek has spread throughout the entire
North Country region with people coming
from as far away as Watertown.
“There’s nowhere you can purchase
the product we have between Montreal and
Albany,” Dave said. “For what we have,
there’s very little competition here.”
The family works as a team, with Jennifer as the doctor, diagnosing and correcting ocular conditions, Dave as the optician,
who lls prescriptions and assists customers in choosing the right frame, and Judy
as the ofce manager, doing anything and
everything to make sure the business runs
smoothly. All three live in Saranac Lake,
Jennifer with her husband and three kids.
The three are originally from western New York, near Buffalo, but relocated
to the Adirondacks for the same reason
many people do ņ the quality of life. After
a few years running an optician business
in Washington D.C., the family decided to
move the business to Lake Placid.
One year we came home and our pool had imploded on itself.
“We vacationed here in the ‘70s,”
Agency set up appraisals and we were up and swimming right on
Dave said. “We’d come for the summer and
schedule. We were very happy. We have 2 cars, our house and
for skiing. We always wanted to live here,
our trailer park all insured with Agency. We bid them out every
but when you move up to the Adirondacks,
year to make sure we get the best deal and no one has done a
you need a plan.”
better job for us yet. I would always recommend the Agency.
That plan was to sell the business in
Joseph Johnson
D.C. in 2003
and open
a new
justIndividual
like
Douglass, NY
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on the
Q4one
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“We took
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Burnham
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Services
doing in an urban setting and moved it to a
2038 Saranac Avenue, Lake Placid, NY 12946
rural setting,” Jennifer said.
tCGT!CVSOIBNTPMVUJPOTDPN
Eye Peek
hasn’t even passed its twoyear anniversary of its opening in Lake
1-800-562-0228
Placid and yet Dave said the business has
TISH BIESEMEYER, RHU
MARK CRAWFORD, CLU
(518) 523-8100
Burnham Financial
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As printed in the December 2007 issue of Strictly Business magazine
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December 2007 23
31