Arkansas property

Howdy y’all!

I hope to break down my plans in detail so this might be a bit of a read, I’ve done a lot of thinking over the past 6 years and to see the pieces falling into place is making me really happy! 😃 

The land I’ve purchased is a 10.26 acre parcel, just about a perfect 660x660x660x660 square, 1/2 mile or so off a State highway on a dead end road(Stagecoach Rd, Oxley, Searcy County, Arkansas). A survey was done before closing, so that helped a lot. There is a power pole at the SW corner,city water and phone lines at Stagecoach Rd that’s about 1000 feet away from the property line. It’s gently sloping to the south/southeast and at 1500’ elevation. The bottom (south)property line is about 50’+/- lower then the high(north) end. It’s heavily covered in hardwoods and a few pine with thick underbrush of briers in most places. A few dozen or more  large rocks (2’x3’x 4’)are scattered on the lower 1/3 of the property. I was able to walk a majority of the property, the ground was firm with no swampy areas.  Seeing pictures taken from the summer to winter, there is a huge difference on the distance you can see across the property.  I plan to keep a 100’-150’ border boundary  around the entire property that will be left “wild” where the briars are left in place. The center 4-5 acres will keep all its living trees but the brush ,briers and saplings 6”or less will be cut down periodically. The only trees to be removed are the ones for the pads, travelers  cabin, storage building and eventually the main cabin.  I’d like to route the driveways around the healthy trees and large rocks but  any dread or dying trees in the path can be removed. 

The MASTER PLAN

Phase 1

Develop the lower 1/3 of the property as a travelers rest area ( working names are the Stage Stop or Bunkhouse)with 2 power/water accessible tent camping spots and a small cabin (20’x 30’ +/-)with kitchen, laundry, bathroom and a bed.  The bathroom will have its own entrance for the tent campers but an interior door can be locked to restrict access to the rest of the cabin. The cabin will also have an outdoor shower on the east side porch. Exterior would be a rock face front ( gathered from the property) and 1/4 round live edge siding that is basically scrap from a wood mill. The cabin will be built under a 40′ x 40′ “pole barn” that will serve as the roof and patio area for the cabin. I’ve been playing around with a 10×20, 14×22 and 18×25 cabins with the exact same floor plans trying to see what was most efficient for what I wanted them filled with. Once it gets put in the computer, that may change +/- an foot or so. The build will be simple, conventional stud walls, insulation and mini split HVAC. No drywall so open to “rustic”options like corrugated tin, cedar fence boards or ??? I’m open to on-demand or 50 gallon water heater too. It will have a “shed roof” that’s south facing with windows to let in the winter sun. Passive house principals can be added where possible and within a budget.  A budget I have yet to figure out.

(below are examples I’ve found on the web or worked on in a CAD program)

A 300’ long driveway needs to be cut in thats 130’-150’ from the lower property line to a 50’x50’ pad for the travelers cabin. Working around healthy trees and large rocks will keep it looking natural. The two tent spots will be north and south of the driveway. The tent spots should be kept small, for motorcycle, van, SUV and jeep campers. No travel trailers or medium-large RV’s will be allowed. 

A large enough septic system will need to be put in for both cabins? There isn’t much regulation or building code requirements in the area so a simple system is the most efficient.

Phase 2

Driveway uphill to storage containers/pole barn/shed and eventually the main cabin. Cut in a driveway to a 40’x60’ pad in the Northwest corner of the brush cleared area .  Either a 20×40 pole barn or 2, 40’ containers with a shared roof large enough to park the van to also be used as storage and possibly small tractor parking. The pad will have power and water.

Phase 3

Pad and main cabin

100’ x 100’ pad for the main 20’x30’ cabin as close to this one as possIble and within budget.

Phase 3+ Gun range…. 

100yd rifle range with action pistol shooting bay. Either packed earth old tires, used railroad ties, all the tree root balls as a safe backstop. Not sure of placement on the property just yet…. but I’ll have one! 

The reason for the 3 phases is I’d like to pay as I go where possible.  I’m not worried if phase 3 isn’t finished in 6-8 or even 10 years from now.  This is recreational property for the time being, I’d only be on the property 3-5 months a year as it is, but would like to build it in such a way that travelers can access it year around. It will not be “ open to the public”, security gates with locks and combinations given out to the travelers upon direct contact with only me,  free of charge. If it can become a paid campground in the future, I’m open to that prospect. So I’d want it built like someone would be paying for it. 

Well, that’s about it. It’s a work in progress and this post will be updated as I go ( currently Nov 21) and plans cchange so stay tuned!

Jan 2022 update:

Bunkhouse timeline:
(as of now, because budget and many other factors will adjust or push this back)
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March-August 2022
-Driveway and pad finished
-Yamaha “briefcase” generator for use until power is run
-Spray for tick control
-Water tank/heater for simple shower
-Rent port a potty
-Fire pit location set up
-Plant Green giant arbavita x 10-12 along driveway
-Take out 1 big oak, get to local miller to slab (4”&3”x8’) and start drying.
-Forester inspection of property to get a forestry plan
-Start forestry plan
-Mulch brush undergrowth per the foresters recommendations
-Cut/ haul cedar trees for bunkhouse roof supports
-Deer buffet planted to reseed area between bunkhouse pad and brush pile/backstop
-Start cutting & removing a couple dead/dying trees for firewood per forestry plan
-Spray for tick control

• Set base and pad for new 20’ shipping container
  -Motorcycle dirt route to/from TAT(Map and GPS tracks)

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May 2022
-Washington for summer
-Buy new or used 6’x12’ or 14’ single axle cargo trailer and load contents of old shipping container in Chehalis (Super Tenere , spin bike, power tools and other stuff)
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September 2022 back to Arkansas on freeway with trailer
-Get new 20’ shipping container delivered and set up
-Spray for tick control
-Work forestry plan
-Mark driveway and pad for future main cabin
-Take out a few more dead & dying trees for firewood per forestry plan
-Plant more trees per forestry plan
-Spray for tick control
-Work with builder on roof/pole barn plan and septic system
———————————
February -June 2023
-Spray for tick control
-Roof/pole barn built, dig septic system
-Power& Water lines trenched
-Fixed outdoor shower
-Host for primitive campers
-Work with builder for concrete slab and Bunkhouse plans
-Spray for tick control
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Short summer in Washington July-August, take cargo trailer

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September return to Arkansas with any remaining stuff from old shipping container in the cargo trailer

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February-May 2024 (or fall of 2024 )
Build Bunkhouse 🤞🤞🤞