When we set out on our 1,545 mile summer road trip to Crater Lake National Park, Redwood National and State Parks, and Humboldt Redwoods State Park, I had a list of 100 things to do along our route. Brian said there’s no way we could squeeze in all of the stops I wanted to make. But eight days, seven nights, five state parks, four hotels, two national parks, and many roadside attractions later, we did them all!
Two redwood-themed roadside attractions were right next to each other in Piercy, California — The Grandfather Tree and the One Log House. After visiting the Grandfather Tree and poking around the gift shop, we walked over to check out the original tiny house…
One Log House is a tiny home built inside a gigantic hollowed out 2,100 year old redwood tree. Built in 1946, the home is bigger than it appears with a seating area, dining table, kitchen, and bedroom.
It took eight months of hard labor for owner Art Schmock and a helper to hollow out the 42-ton section of coastal redwood into a room measuring 7 feet wide by 32 feet long. Once it was completely hollowed out, an entire home was built inside.
At first, the One Log House was actually a traveling home. Schmock had it loaded onto a giant trailer so he could take it on tour across the United States, but due to its size, he had to abandon the idea. Instead, One Log House sat at Clam Beach for a while, before sitting 25 years in Cummings, and 23 years in Phillipsville. It was moved to it’s current location at One Log House Espresso & Gifts near Richardson Grove State Park in 1999 and remains attached to its original trailer.
We first stopped in the Espresso and Gift Shop to check out old-time redwood logging relics like an antique drag saw, small logging tools, and a collection of logging photos, unique redwood carvings, and of course the pressed penny machine!
After paying the $1.00 per person entry fee, we headed over to the One Log House to go inside. It felt like being in a darker (no windows) travel trailer, RV, or motor home! As you walked through the hollowed out tree trunk, there was a living room area, a kitchen and dining room, and even a bedroom!
This roadside attraction is definitely unique and worth the quick stop! Up next, we were headed for Confusion Hill, the World Famous Tree House, and the Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree at Drive-Thru Tree Park, which rounded out our road trip!
Know Before You Go
- The One Log House is located at 705 US Highway 101, Piercy, California 95542 in Humboldt County. It is ten miles south of Garberville next to Richardson Grove State Park and 17 miles south of the southern entrance to Avenue of the Giants.
- It is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm during the winter and 9:00 am to 7:00 pm in the summer.
- It costs $1.00 per person to enter the One Log House.
- One Log House Espresso & Gifts features unique redwood gifts, bowls, clocks, chainsaw carvings, toys, apparel, jewelry, and souvenirs, as well as a variety of hot and cold espresso drinks, smoothies, milk shakes, sandwiches, hot dogs, and ice cream.
- Restrooms are clean!
- One Log House is next door to the Grandfather Tree. Both roadside attractions have their own parking areas and stores, but you can park at one and walk to the other.
QUICK NOTE: Apparently since we visited this roadside attraction in the summer of 2017, they have added a marijuana dispensary to the property.
