This post is in honor of all you dads out there. The ones whose past, present, and future have (or will, at some point) been marked by late-night feedings, cracker crumbs, and Saturdays sacrificed for soccer games; or, perhaps, by eye rolling, back talk, and disputes over curfews; by first grandchildren, empty nests, and full hearts.
This one goes out to the fathers who wouldn’t trade a single sleepless night for anything in the world — or so they say. Because who would really choose diaper duty over a private putting green, a game room, a home theater, an outdoor kitchen, a motocross track, or any of the other father-friendly amenities of these supercharged man caves, which are strategically placed in locales from Lawn, TX, to McCaysville, GA? We’re betting the answer is probably no one — even including Mom.
A creek runs through it: $238,297, 727 Indian Trail, McCaysville, GA 30555
Tell Dad to replenish his tackle box: This rustic log cabin is perched right on the edge of Georgia’s Fightingtown Creek, a mountain stream near the Tennessee state line that’s renowned for its trout fishing. The rush of the whitewater serves as a soundtrack to leisurely afternoons on the wraparound deck, playing cards or cleaning the day’s catch. The crackle of the wood-burning fireplace, on the other hand, sets the tone for cozy evenings indoors. Nota bene: At just 1,260 square feet with two loft-style bedrooms, the cabin doesn’t have much room for Dad to bring along the entire clan — but that’s precisely the draw of this secluded getaway in the woods.
Lakefront living in Wisconsin: $549,900, W12806 Pleasant Drive, Lodi, WI 53555
How’s this for a front yard? This recently remodeled log cabin comes with a 50-foot stretch of Lake Wisconsin’s 52-mile-long shoreline. Easily accessed from a nearby boat launch, the placid, southern Wisconsin waters are ideal for boating, fishing, and swimming, but there’s plenty for landlubbers here too. Just outside the 1,752-square-foot, four-bedroom home’s doorstep is a stone patio complete with a hammock and in-ground fire pit (s’mores, anyone?), while the second-floor deck provides a comfortable perch for taking in the sunset.
Tee and teatime in the Beehive State: $1,639,700, 1882 View Point Drive, St. George, UT 84790
Fore! This custom home comes equipped with its own putting green. An outdoor bar and kitchen makes it easy to sip an Arnold Palmer between putts, while the adjacent outdoor pool and patio area promises R&R with a view. The 5,783-square-foot home rises from a desert landscape of majestic cliffs and red Navajo sandstone; come nightfall, the city lights of downtown St. George twinkle in the valley below. Inside, the home features three bedrooms, four two-sided fireplaces, and a theater room.
Frontier chic for the aviator: $2,550,000, 454 Flywater Trail, Freedom, WY 83120
Old meets new in this 1,880-square-foot custom cabin in Freedom, WY, a town on the Idaho-Wyoming state line. Built in 2014, the cabin was constructed using centuries-old logs and timbers, while the interior’s modern-farmhouse vibe is defined by vaulted ceilings, antique sconces, designer finishes, and a stacked-stone fireplace. What should really pique Dad’s interest, however, is the 7.3-acre property’s location near Salt River and the 3 million-acre Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Did we mention the home’s private airstrip and hangar? It has those too — along with its own skeet range and in-home theater.
Nothing but net: $2,995,000, 2117 Winterton Circle #10, Heber City, UT 84032
This 12,500-square-foot residence in Utah’s Heber Valley is less than a 30-minute drive from famed mountain resorts Sundance and Deer Valley, but outdoor recreation can be found much closer to home — as in, just outside the door. The 6-acre property features a regulation-sized baseball field, dirt-bike tracks, and easy access to local horse trails. Inside the seven-bedroom mansion-meets-rec-center, dad-thletes can discover two places to practice their slam-dunks: on the indoor basketball court or in the enclosed swimming pool, complete with a hoop on the pool deck. Swish!
Adventure is bigger in Texas: $2,995,000, 5742 US Highway 84, Lawn, TX 79530
Located in the west-central Texas town of Lawn, about a three-hour drive west from Dallas, this luxury mansion slash functioning cattle ranch comprises a home theater, a game room (complete with tabletop shuffleboard court), an enormous kitchen, and six bedrooms across 9,398 square feet of living space. More notable, however, is what’s outside: 341 acres of Texas terrain ready for adventure. There are the expected pool and lighted tennis court, of course, but this massive property also features a motocross track, a horse arena, equestrian trails, and a hangar-style garage for Dad to store his boat, bikes, and other toys.
