In less than 20 years, Zook Cabins has grown from a small startup with a handful of employees to making the Financial Times’ 2024 list of the Fastest-Growing Companies in America. Coming in at #100 out of 500, the Pennsylvania-based builder showed an exceptional 483 percent growth rate in just a few years, from 2019 to 2022.
“There was a demand for livable spaces within sheds,” says Chief Marketing Officer Matt Esh of the company’s early success. Starting off building hunting cabins and storage sheds in 2006, Zook’s founders recognized potential growth opportunities in partnering with home manufacturers—specifically of modular log cabins—with Zook being a retail face for product lines. Several key hires were made, including current CEO and partner Allan Fisher, who started as a sales rep at time. “He is a large part of the reason the company has grown to where it is at now,” states Esh.
Under Fisher, the company began building out its log cabin products throughout the U.S., and began producing some modern-style homes, finished with LP® SmartSide®, a treated engineered wood siding.
Styles for all tastes and budgets
Today, Zook is behind a diverse range of products, including log cabins, park models, modern cabins, A-frame styles, luxury mobile homes, log garages, and even glamping pods. A portmanteau of ‘glamorous’ and ‘camping,’ glamping has grown in popularity for those wanting to be in nature while still having the comforts of home, with amenities like electricity and Wi-Fi. The market for small but comfortable products like the Vista Glamping Pod and Park Models took off about three and a half years ago.
Falling under the tiny home category, these units are certified with the RV Industry Association (RVIA). While codes vary from state to state, these units are often found in campgrounds and RV parks such as those in Florida. Measuring a maximum of 400 square feet, they are built on trailer chassis with axles attached. There is no foundation, and, like cars and trucks, these models receive a 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN). Since all municipalities have different zoning rules, Zook educates its customers on where models can be placed on their properties.
Starting off with traditional log and wood finishes, many models are now designed with a more modern look and feel. “Over the last three years, Park Models have really taken off, getting us into new markets and working with a clientele we’d never worked with before,” says Esh. All come with bathrooms, and depending on the model, feature one or two bedrooms and measure from 204 square feet (in the case of the Nook Studio) to 400 square feet, like the A-Frame Studio, The Aspen, The Pinecrest, and some other designs.
The demand for these small yet highly functional cabins skyrocketed during the pandemic with social distancing requirements amidst many people still wanting to be outdoors. For generations, campground owners have been fairly traditional, Esh explains; as they age, many are selling their campground to younger investors, who are re-imagining and changing the campground scene.
“Younger couples want to go glamping, and a modern Park Model is a cool getaway for people,” he says. “There’s a crowd of people who are still tent camping—and probably always will be—but there’s definitely a generation looking for that cool, sexy, unique stay they can post on Instagram. So, we feel like we are just getting our feet wet in that market, and there are a lot of good things to come.”
Zook Cabins provide plenty of different styles and sizes to meet the needs of all customers. Working with multiple manufacturers makes for faster lead times—approximately 10 to 12 months for larger homes. On the modular side, the company’s larger models are two-story homes, measuring 30 by 56 feet, at 2,500 square feet. Unlike smaller models, these are installed on permanent foundations. These single-family dwellings are sometime purchased as second homes, or by clients who are retiring. Depending on client needs, larger models can have up to four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
Full range of services
Unlike some other companies who simply sell product, Zook Cabins has always taken pride in working with clients from initial design to completion. “The unique thing about us is we handle everything,” states Esh. On the modular side of the business, customers provide foundations, final utility hook-ups, and free-standing furniture and appliances. Zook works with them, using engineered drawings. “When you purchase a home from us, our team is going to deliver it, set it on the foundation, and do all the finished trim-out. When we are done with it, on the exterior you’re going to have a fully finished home. On the interior, you’re also going to have a fully finished home. Sometimes, on the second floor, there are certain spaces we don’t do; but for the most part, your home is ready to move into. We do offer that turnkey package, which makes us a one-stop shop.”
Homes from Zook Cabins are built in modules in one of the company’s manufacturing facilities under strict quality control. Modules are delivered on a flatbed to site, then craned from the flatbed onto a foundation.
Historically, some modular construction has had a bad reputation, but this is not at all the case with Zook Cabins. “When you deal with us, you’re getting a superior building that has been built in a controlled environment,” says Esh. This is especially important in America today, where there is a shortage of available skilled trades, such as carpenters. “In places like Colorado, you are going to be hard-pressed to get homes built within that spring/summer/fall cycle before your hard winters hit,” he explains. “And when a hard winter hits in Colorado—if your building is not climate-controlled at that point—you are asking for trouble, because you are very exposed to the elements.”
Amish values
Zook Cabins is in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County, an area long known for its strong Amish craftsmanship. This Amish culture permeates throughout the company’s value system and is reflected in the outstanding quality of its buildings. “We have Pennsylvania Amish culture running pretty thick in our organization and in our construction practices,” says Esh. “We feel very strongly that we are building a stick-built home in our manufacturing facility and delivering it to your site. You get the same quality you would if you had a contractor doing the building.”
One of the greatest advantages of purchasing from Zook is the company’s commitment to providing structures that will last a lifetime. This is exemplified in many areas, including Zook’s warranty department. If a window breaks six months after the customer moves into a new home, there is always a staff member willing and able to provide help. “We err on the side of working with you past our said warranty date,” states Esh. On the modular side, the company provides a one-year warranty on everything in addition to any manufacturer warranties for metal roof, shingles and more. “We pride ourselves on answering the phone and finding solutions for our clients. We create friendships with our clients, and pride ourselves on the fact that we build a superior product and stand behind it.”
Unafraid to enter new markets, Zook Cabins is open to taking on even bigger, more complex homes and introducing more designs to the marketplace in the years to come. “It all plays together with the labor shortage,” says Esh. “People aren’t able to buy their dream home for the price they think they should be able to, and our latest model is a prime example of this. Maybe people have always dreamed of an A-frame style home; that’s hard to come by, because you need to have a really good builder to stick-build it for you. Well, we offer it, the first of its kind, in a modular capacity. We’re going to continue offering new styles—and solutions—to the market and keep leading in innovation.”
