The Tale of Us

1940s

Gary's love of Hocking Hills began as a child, when he visited what would one day become The Preserve and Creekside property with his grandfather, Carl Weaver. Beginning in the mid-1940s, Carl had special access to the land and spent time hiking, hunting and camping throughout its beautiful, remote landscape.

1996

In 1996, Gary; his father, Calvin; his cousin, Allen; and Allen's father, Kenneth, purchased 72 acres and a cabin in Laurelville in southwest Hocking County as a weekend family retreat. The cabin had originally been constructed in Canada from locally harvested pine by its owner, Frank Gordon, then disassembled and relocated to Ohio.

1998

Gary's longtime dream of living in Hocking Hills and building a log cabin of his own took a major step forward in 1998, when he purchased a beautiful 10-acre parcel nestled between Saltpetre Cave and Sheick Hollow State Nature Preserves—the same land he had explored years earlier with his father and grandfather.

2006

Thrilled to own a piece of the Hocking Hills landscape he and his family had enjoyed for so many years, Gary began planning a log home and rental cabins on the property. In 2006, Gary and his new bride, Karen, began the exciting work of turning that dream into reality.

2007

After researching log home providers and plans, Gary and Karen selected Lincoln Logs International of North Carolina for the cabin's building materials, including its beautiful solid southern yellow pine logs. In 2007, ground was broken for their three-level log cabin retreat—The Preserve.

2008

Construction was led by Gary and master carpenter and friend Roger Smith, along with a hardworking crew of local tradespeople, friends and family. Before the log raising, Gary and his team built a pole barn to store the building materials. The Preserve was completed in 2008, fulfilling the first part of Gary and Karen's vision for Creek's Crossing Cabins.

2011

The family Laurelville cabin near Tar Hollow State Park had been renovated in 1998 to include an oversized covered front porch and two balconies. In 2011, Gary and Karen along with Roger and crew completely remodeled the interior, added a large picture window and introduced the secluded property as Elkins Pass Cabin—the second Creek's Crossing rental. For the next 15 years, Elkins Pass welcomed guests looking for a peaceful Hocking Hills getaway and became a special part of the Creek's Crossing story.

Also in 2011, Gary and Karen transformed the pole barn originally built to store The Preserve's building materials into their new home. The once-simple structure became a two-story retreat featuring an all-wood interior, hardwood floors, custom-crafted kitchen cabinets with bar seating by Roger Smith, a vaulted second-floor ceiling with exposed beams, a gas fireplace and beautiful views of Big Pine Creek.

2013

After living in the renovated pole barn for two years, Gary and Karen purchased another home nearby and transformed their former living space into Creekside Cabin—the third Creek's Crossing retreat. With its warm all-wood interior and peaceful setting beside Big Pine Creek, Creekside became a cozy year-round getaway for couples, families and guests traveling with their dogs.

2026

After 15 years as part of Creek's Crossing Cabins, Elkins Pass began a new chapter in April 2026 when we passed the cabin on to new owners who are making the property their own. We're grateful for the many guests, memories and years that made Elkins Pass such a special part of our story.