Coteau des Prairies Lodge

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Location & Directions

We’d be lying if we said the lodge is an easy place to find. That might even be one of our strengths, because if you are trying to get away you won’t have to worry about anyone finding you here! Given our location near the border between North and South Dakota in a very rural community it seems most folks don’t often make their way out here. We’d bet we might even have some visitors on our website who are wondering where in the world this ‘Coteau des Prairies Lodge’ place even is! The wondering is over. We have posted our whereabouts on a nifty ‘Location’ page. You can find the link on the top right corner of the website. And we have also added some handy directions for those who will venture out across the prairie to find our out-of-the-way destination. We think they will sure be glad when they do!

For more info about this interesting map and other fascinating tidbits, click on the ‘Location’ link in the top right corner of the website.

May 20, 2012 | Categories: Construction | Leave A Comment »

Roof Construction

Coteau des Prairies Lodge

From pine to shingle and everything in between…we bring you the photographic tale of our brand new roof!

These photos cover the span of time between December 23rd and May 3rd. During this time we completed work on other aspects of the lodge, but for this post we will focus on the roof construction.

We went around and around with roofing options but we settled on a dark colored asphalt shingle. We think it looks great. What do you think?

: Corey Arnold fastens pine boards to the purlins to give the underside of the roof a great looking finish.

: Nate Rude discovered a fun slide on top of the lodge. Yes, the basket was at the bottom to catch him.

: Phillip and Joe Breker use the extra larger ‘timber’ saw to saw through eight 1″ pine roof boards with one pass.

: Maria Breker takes a turn with the stapler. It is almost a shame to cover those pretty purlins, but at least we will see them from below.

: Phillip Breker uses a large air stapler to attach 1″ shiplap pine to the purlins. Remember to put the pretty side down!

: The structural and insulation properties of the roof will be provided by these Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). The large panels measure 8′x30′ and they are 10″ thick.

: The 1st SIP is hoisted into place by a large boom lift. We also used heavy straps attached to removable plates which were fastened to the SIP.

: Onlookers watch in amazement as Jeff Richards performs a sort of rare ceremonial contractor’s dance to celebrate the placement of the 1st SIP.

: Another enormous SIP sails overhead to its final resting place atop Coteau des Prairies Lodge!

: Nate Rude rides the SIP like a giant surf board. Being a log builder, you know Nate doesn’t do small.

: Even as winter’s snow finally arrives, Coteau des Prairies Lodge sits patiently upon the hill as it waits for the rest of its roof to be completed.

: Beautiful pine boards and purlins appear under the roof. What a treat it will be to stay in one of the loft rooms!

: The log wall inside the main entryway shivers under a frosty mantle of snow as it waits its turn to have a roof installed overhead.

: For scale, Joe Breker stands next to a large stack of SIPs. Incredible but true, these styrofoam sandwiches provide amazing strength and insulation properties for a structure like ours.

: Jerry Sapa and Justin Phillips work to prepare the north window and surrounding walls for roof installation.

: Notice the pine under the eaves of the roof? We stained these rough sawn pine boards using the same product we will use on the log wall.

: The entryway header log is weathering the elements of a North Dakota winter, mild as it is. Soon, this log won’t have to worry about such matters.

: Installing the last large SIP on the south end of the roof. The lodge remained like this for a couple weeks before the north window was ready to be covered.

: We did get a little snow this winter. But thankfully we didn’t get much because we wouldn’t want to be doing this job in heavy snow!

: The crew installing one of the last large SIP panels. What a great feeling to be all covered up!

: Justin Phillips screws long screws through the SIPs into the purlins which serve many important structural purposes. Not to mention aesthetic purposes!

: Phillip Breker drives screws near seams to stengthen the SIP splines which are used to seal and fasten the SIPs to each other.

: Many pieces of high tensile hardware are used to fasten the gigantic SIPs to the purlins below.

: It is beginning to look like something now that the main SIPs are installed. Now the long awaited dormers are beginning to appear to give the roof some character.

: Benaiah Breker helps ‘Papa’ Joe fasten an attachment plate to a SIP. The ring in the plate attaches to a strap which is used to lift the SIP.

: The crew lifts SIP panels into place and fastens them together to construct the dormers. Even the walls of the dormers are SIPs.

: Gideon Breker helps Jerry Sapa build a dormer. Gideon likes to work with people who know how to have fun.

: Nate Rude and Joe Breker confer in the future location of the observation tower in the middle of the roof. It’s unanimous, the view is spectacular!

: SIPs are installed! We begin seeing fewer signs of the great outdoors inside the lodge, such as snow for instance.

: Guests will be greeted with the view of this incredible great room ceiling and humungous north window when they first walk through the main entryway.

: View of the entire length of the roof system. Picture taken from outside the north window.

: After the roofing underlayment was installed, we all felt a lot better knowing we wouldn’t have to worry about water leaking through and warping or discoloring the pine underneath.

: The roofing crew shingled the whole east side and most of the west side in one day! They were fast!

: The roofers are no chickens. And they also can’t fly. We were just hoping they wouldn’t need that ability.

: We selected a heavy asphalt shingle which will hopefully weather well on the exposed peak of the Coteau des Prairies where gusty winds occasionally turn violent.

: Coteau des Prairies Lodge

May 11, 2012 | Categories: Construction | 1 Comment »

Mystery Log Cap Giveaway! (Winners Announced)

: Phillip and Gideon Breker peel a very interesting looking scotch pine.

UPDATE: Congratulations to Regina Jochim and Aaron Cavanaugh, the winners of the mystery log contest! Regina and Aaron each guessed the log will be used as the bar rail. That is absolutely correct! We will have a small beverage serving area on the second floor balcony and we will use this beautiful log to rim the front edge. Aaron said, “Belly up to the bar, me boys!” Great line! Imagine bellying up to this beauty.

An odd shaped log has appeared on the construction site at Coteau des Prairie Lodge. We harvested this interesting scotch pine from a large evergreen planting in the pasture where the lodge is located. As you can see, the log has all kinds of great character!

We know what we are going to do with this spectacular log. But you don’t. So why not take a guess? How do you envision this log being used at Coteau des Prairies Lodge?? Heck, you might even come up with a better idea than ours!

As a prize, the person who has the closest or correct guess will win one of our fashionable brown waxed canvas logo caps! If you win, your wardrobe will thank you. Don’t dilly dally, this contest will end Thursday, May 10th! Leave a comment below to make your guess and enter the contest.

May 4, 2012 | Categories: Branding & Marketing, Construction | 13 Comments »

Log Roof Truss Construction

Nate Rude from Horizon Custom Contracting explains the process used to build and install the magnificent Ponderosa log trusses used in the roof system of Coteau des Prairies Lodge.

April 30, 2012 | Categories: Construction, Video | 2 Comments »

The Facebook Construction Album

If you like these photos you will enjoy our Facebook construction album. It is an ongoing album. It’s like a pair of leather work boots…it just gets better with time. Click here to check it out. And while you are there, don’t forget to ‘like’ us!

March 20, 2012 | Categories: Construction | Comments Off

Trusses & Purlins – Part 2

Alright, so you’ve seen how they are built and what they look like on the ground, but how will our unique log trusses and purlins transform the look and feel of Coteau des Prairies Lodge once they are set in place? Well…see for yourself!

: It is truss setting day! The crew prepares the first truss for installation. It is almost time for lift off! 10…9…8…7…

: The anticipation of this day has been building and building for weeks. Finally, the first truss is lifted into place as the crew watches in amazement.

: Jeff Richards attaches a log truss to the wall with long screws. Notice the wall is reinforced with extra 2x6s to support the weight of the truss.

: Kirk Ivankovich waits for his turn and watches as the massive boom of the crane moves a truss into place.

: Noah Breker watches intently from his quaint hiding place as an enormous ponderosa pine log truss passes overhead.

: Jeff Richards tightens a large ratchet strap which is used to secure the truss in place until the purlins and roof are installed.

: Truss #4 is making its way to its new home which will be over the second floor balcony.

: The crew works to secure truss #4 onto the lodge. Look at the cool ‘Y’ logs in the truss, aren’t they great?

: Reuben Hoeffer, the crane operator watches as the truss he lifted is being fastend to the lodge walls and secured with racket straps.

: Truss #6 is being hoisted over the lodge on its journey to its final resting place. Lucky #6 will enjoy a lovely view as it sits next the north window of the great room!

: The crane places the very last truss on the lodge. We were blessed with great weather on the day of the truss setting, it was about as nice as it can get in December!

: The trusses are on and boy do they look great! Hats off to the crew for a safe, productive and exciting day of work at Coteau des Prairies Lodge!

: Kirk Ivankovich drives an extra long and extra strong screw through the log purlin into the truss to fasten it securely.

: Kirk Ivankovich and Jeff Richards must not mind heights as they works high above the floor attaching log purlins to the trusses.

: Kirk Ivankovich and Jeff Richards install purlins which as you can see firmly hold the trusses in place and will also be used to attach the roof.

: Nate Rude and Jeremy Hovde select purlins from the pile to be hoisted to the top of the lodge for installation.

: Bird’s eye view of the lodge on a foggy day. Log purlins are beginning to appear on the south end.

: Kirk Ivankovich demonstrates one of the very most important skills needed in rustic lodge construction: sawing logs!

: With the assistance of a large boom lift and a handy homemade lift basket the crew attaches purlins lickity split!

: Kirk Ivankovich and Jeff Richards work together to fasten 12.5′ native North Dakota ponderosa pine log purlins to the roof trusses.

: Using a super zoom lens across the coteau from a neighboring hilltop, Coteau des Prairies Lodge is shown here along with our newly constructed driveway.

: The lodge glows in the light of the setting sun. From the lodge, it is a treat to watch the prairie sun sink into the endless farmland of the northern great plains.

: Elevated view from the south with the wonderful unobstructed glow of the northern horizon many leagues from the lodge.

: From the great room you see the magnificent trusses and purlins overhead. Can you guess why we are hoping the snow will hold off just another month or so?

: This is the last lengthwise view of the loft level before the wall sheeting goes on the outside. It is a bit drafty up there without any walls or ceiling!

: The south gabled end of the lodge is framed in and supporting extra long purlins which extend out and will carry the roof.

: Coteau des Prairies Lodge is continuing to change the skyline of southern Sargent County. We have heard the lodge can be spotted on the horizon from all the way over by Cogswell.

February 11, 2012 | Categories: Construction | 1 Comment »

North Dakota Tourism

We are excited to announce our partnership with North Dakota Tourism. Along with other tourism businesses in the state, we will benefit from exposure in the annual North Dakota Legendary travel guide, a free publication which is circulated in the upper midwest as well as available upon request. We will be included in the 2013 edition. As the new kid on the block and in a quiet corner of the state (tourism wise), hopefully we will get a little extra attention!

We also now have a profile for Coteau des Prairies Lodge on the North Dakota Tourism website. When folks are making travel plans for a trip to southeast North Dakota they will quickly discover Coteau des Prairies Lodge using the slick ’where to stay’ tool, a handy way to find the perfect vacation accomodations. Check out the website and our profile here.

In addition, we applied for and were awarded an advertising and marketing grant through North Dakota Tourism. We are grateful to our state’s tourism department for believing in our vision and investing in our dream. The funds will be used for various promotional efforts over the course of the next year.

We think North Dakota Tourism has a powerful branding message in their familiar ‘North Dakota Legendary’ campaign. They recently launched another great ad campaign featuring the slogan: ‘Arrive a guest. Leave a legend.’ The video, web and print ads are being widely circulated in the upper midwest and beyond. It is also expected to reach over 1 million people in a number of foreign markets such as Norway, Germany, Australia and Japan. Over the next few years through the North Dakota Legendary campaign, Coteau des Prairies Lodge may be introduced to people all around the globe. Wow!

View the new video ads here and check it out for yourself.

At Coteau des Prairies Lodge, we are excited about these new opportunities to promote our unique experience. We will be working hard to live up to the ‘North Dakota Legendary’ reputation. We have a lot to offer guests who come to stay at our lodge on the edge of the Coteau des Prairies. After all, the area is rich with legend. Stay tuned, more on that soon.

January 31, 2012 | Categories: Branding & Marketing | Comments Off

Trusses & Purlins – Part 1

Have you ever stood in a great cavernous log lodge (or seen one on TV) and wondered how the enormous log roof system was constructed? Surely you wonder about this daily. Well…Coteau des Prairies Lodge will have that majestic Rocky Mountain lodge feel. And we have captured some interesting snapshots from the log truss and purlin assembly process. Enjoy!

: Doug Spieker and his helpers in the bolt making workshop. We used 1″ ready rod and square headed nuts to make the bolts.

: Just some of Doug’s handiwork, by the end he filled several more pallets with homemade bolts.

: A stack of custom made steel plates ready for use in truss assembly.

: A pile of beautiful ponderosa pine logs which will soon be fashioned and outfitted for a worthy purpose

: Nate Rude said: “Inside every log is a perfectly square timber, it’s my job to find it.”

: Nate’s choice of truss log shaping tool: A chainsaw, of course!

: Chainsawing with the grain results in large amounts of this wooden fettuccine looking stuff.

: We are enjoying an unusually beautiful late fall/early winter this year in southeast North Dakota.

: It looks like Nate is finding his timber! This one happens to be a ten incher.

: Nate Rude uses his monster timber saw to notch purlins. Purlins will be installed on the trusses to attach the roof.

: Jeff Richards uses a grinder to do a little more detailing on a purlin.

: A chainsaw is used to shape the purlins. The notched portion is 5″ thick and will rest on the top chord of a log truss.

: 12.5′ purlins cleaned, cut, shaped, stacked and ready to be installed.

: Visitors arrive as the log members for the first truss are in place and ready for holes, plates and bolts.

: Noah Breker mans the bolt pallet…making sure each bolt has its own washer.

: Olivia Stenvold and Jerry Sapa use a special jig to drill aligned guide holes.

: Eugene Breker designed this special jig and bushing device to get our holes and plates to line up.

: 7 year old, Noah Breker, watches from below as the ‘hole hawg’ bores out a hole.

: Truss number one of six being assembled. It is a good day and a half with a strong crew to put one together.

: The crew is at work aligning and drilling holes before attaching steel plates.

: Nate Rude shapes a log with a grinder and uses his face to collect the sawdust. He says that’s how you build up the calluses on your eyeballs.

: Tossed chainsaw salad with bits of real ponderosa pine and power tools.

: ‘Captain’ Kirk Ivankovich doing what he does best…looking cool and bossing Nate around.

: A crew tightens bolts on a bottom corner. Gee, are they working? Sure looks like fun!

: Square headed bolts help give the log and steel combo a classic industrial architecture look.

: Three down, three to go. Kirk and Joe fasten the trusses to large poles to keep them in place.

: As the days get shorter, work continues after sundown. It’s a race against winter to get the roof on!

: Log trusses assembled and waiting to be lifted and set on the lodge.

: Is your mouth watering? That’s OK, it’s a natural response to the site of Janny’s fresh baked cookies.

: Janny Kiefer treats the workers to a jar of her warm, fresh baked oatmeal raisin cookies.

January 10, 2012 | Categories: Construction | Comments Off

You Should ‘Like’ This Facebook Cap Giveaway! (Winner Announced)

UPDATE: Congratulations to our winner, Durand Jones of Minot, ND! Durand, you will now be one of the more fashionable folks in north central North Dakota. Wear your new headwear proudly as you begin rounding up friends for a getaway to the Coteau! We hope to see you soon. For everyone else who is jealous of Durand and his trendy new hat, thank you for participating. And stay tuned, because you will have more chances to win fun prizes!

It’s time again for another chance to win our coveted waxed canvas Coteau des Prairies Lodge cap! It’s a terrific accessory for work or play. And it is 100% guaranteed to cover up those pesky bald spots.

You see, Coteau des Prairies Lodge has made it to the big time because we have our very own free Facebook page. We are so excited about it we are going to give away a cap after 100 people ‘Like’ our page on Facebook. If you ‘Like’ Coteau des Prairies Lodge, you will be able to keep up with the latest updates right on Facebook and you will be the first to know about the next opportunity to win something cool!

We will draw a name from our first 100 fans. You could be the lucky winner! So click the Facebook ‘Like’ button in the right hand sidebar now! The sooner we reach 100 ‘Likes’, the sooner you could win! So…tell your friends about it!

In case you were wondering, the odds of you winning are exactly 100:1. Well, good luck!

January 4, 2012 | Categories: Branding & Marketing | 2 Comments »

Fall Construction Update

Joe Breker describes the construction events at the lodge which took place during October and November. The video covers the installation of the south end support pillars, 2nd level floor and walls, log wall caulking and the construction of the enormous north window.

January 3, 2012 | Categories: Construction, Video | 2 Comments »

Coteau des Prairies Lodge Your getaway to the hill on the prairie

Latest

Location & Directions

Roof Construction

Mystery Log Cap Giveaway! (Winners Announced)

Log Roof Truss Construction

The Facebook Construction Album

Trusses & Purlins – Part 2

North Dakota Tourism

Trusses & Purlins – Part 1

You Should ‘Like’ This Facebook Cap Giveaway! (Winner Announced)

Fall Construction Update

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