The Herald-News - News Story

From pirate playhouses to woodsheds... Barn Builders offers variety in Spring City

(Editor's Note: This is part of a new series profiling area businesses in Rhea County.)

Tennessee Mountain Barn Builders is building a reputation as solid as the products they sell.

The new Spring City business, which opened in the spring, won the commercial division in the Tennessee Strawberry Festival parade in May with their eye-catching boat float. The business has made other waves with its assortment of structures.

The company sells building in all shapes and sizes, from chicken pens to gazebos, even a children's playhouse shaped like a pirate ship.

The buildings range in cost from less than $2,000 to $7,500 for the pirate playhouse.

All the log buildings are built by residents of a Mennonite community in Clarkrange, Tenn., just north of Crossville.

Russell Lauderback, owner of the company, said the buildings are built to last.
Rebecca Dunn Anderson, an employee of Tennessee Mountain Barn Builders, agrees.

"If they take a lickin', they just keep tickin'," Anderson said.
Lauderback owns Tennessee Mountain Builders with his son Dillion, who will be a junior in high school next year.

In addition to log buildings, the company sells metal sheds by Eagle Carports.

The company owns two lots located on Rhea County Highway in Spring City.

Drivers can see a variety of buildings from the road. Customers who don't see exactly what they want can have a building custom made.

The company can order any size, shape and color of building.

"We really fit a need in Rhea County," Lauderback said.

The largest building available is 14 feet by 40 feet.

Lauderback said he has sold six of these buildings, and four of those buyers plan to use the building for housing. Some buyers use the buildings as a guest home, he said.

These large buildings include electric outlets, a window and a bathroom.

According to Lauderback, despite the economic hardship, Tennessee Mountain Barn Builders is doing well.

"God has really blessed us," he said.

Lauderback also attributes the company's success to Spring City's "pro-business attitude."

The company expects to have $1 million worth of inventory on their lot within the next month.

Kaity Kopeski can be reached at news@rheaheraldnews.com.