Neighborhood of the week: The Rocking R

Strolling along the winding streets of the Rocking R, past beautiful lodge-style homes nestled against the evergreen-covered hills that surround Hayden Lake, it's hard to imagine that not so long ago, this same land was occupied by cattle. Lots and lots of cattle.

Ron Rosenberger is a premier North Idaho custom home builder. His family bought the property where the Rocking R sits - 65 acres of farm and pasture land - in the early 1950s. But they had a history with it even earlier; his parents owned Hayden Lake Stables in 1940 and operated trail rides and dude strings on the property long before it was a cattle ranch.

Rosenberger is one of a rare breed - a Coeur d'Alene native - who was born and raised on this land. It produced hay for his family's dairy and pasture for their horses until he leased it from his parents and continued running cattle. That's where the name of the subdivision comes from - the Rocking R is their family brand.

As Hayden grew, and more and more homes popped up around the ranch, he realized that people had begun to outnumber his cattle, and decided it was time to repurpose the land.

He divided the property into 156 lots. At first, he considered selling all of the lots, but then decided he would create a subdivision filled with custom homes instead. So he sold 35, and built on the rest. There are still 11 lots available for sale, but they're going fast.

The homestead where he lived most of his life has since been torn down, but the ranch is still going strong.

"We still have a cattle ranch," Rosenberger said. "We just moved it out a little."

They have approximately 200 head of cattle, 150 of which will be calving this winter. Which means a lot of late nights and early mornings for Rosenberger over the next few weeks, checking for newborn calves. He wears two hats: rancher and developer. "When my morning and night job gets to be too much, I go to the other one," he said.

Rosenberger Construction broke ground and built the first homes in the Rocking R in September of 2002. "We wanted to build something you can be proud of," he said.

Developing relationships and building beautiful custom homes is Rosenberger's passion. He and his team at Rosenberger Construction are recognized for building architecturally elegant custom homes that suit this unique location.

Rocking R is the largest community in the city of Hayden. But as with most subdivisions, there are smaller, more intimate neighborhoods within the community.

As you tour the Rocking R, you'll notice that it's not a neighborhood of tract homes. Each house is custom-built. Buyers can be assured that the house next door will look nothing like theirs.

"We've developed a portfolio of our plans," Rosenberger said.

"There never really are two the same because they're truly custom homes, designed according to the wants and needs of the owners."

The majority of homes are owner-occupied; in fact, most of the original owners still live in the neighborhood. It's a place where folks truly feel at home, and can't imagine living anywhere else. Once you've seen these homes, you'll understand why.

Houses in the Rocking R can be described as lodge-style - a design that people from other states expect when they picture a North Idaho home, Rosenberger said. Featuring large timbers, masonry, cedar fascia, solid core wood entry doors, and shingle roofing, it's indeed a style that suits the picturesque scenery of Hayden Lake.

Due to the quality of the materials used in these homes and the pride their owners take in maintaining them, it's difficult to tell which are the first houses that were built and which are brand-new.

The lots vary in size from 1/3 of an acre and larger, so there's plenty of room for both a house and an outbuilding. The shops match the design and color scheme of the homes, so they don't stick out.

"There's room for nice landscaping, a home, a shop - whatever people want," Rosenberger said.

There are five water features scattered throughout the area, and over two miles of 8-foot wide well-lit asphalt walking trails that are maintained year-round. They were built with asphalt instead of concrete because when the sun comes out, asphalt thaws quicker and thus is safer to walk on, whereas concrete stays frozen longer.

The homes start in the mid-$300,000s and increase based on the amount of customization. HOA fees are $236/year, which cover maintenance of the walking trails and the community landscaping. There's a nice blend of young families with children and more mature couples living in the Rocking R.

"Our oldest resident was 89 when he moved here from the coast," Rosenberger said. "It just shows that it's never too late to build a new home."

Mike DeLong of Century 21 Beutler & Associates is the exclusive new construction sales agent for the Rocking R. He entered the real estate sales business in 2005, when Duane Hagadone asked him to represent him selling The Terraces on Lake Coeur d'Alene. DeLong found real estate sales to be a rewarding challenge, so after 22 years as a golf professional, he decided to change careers and in 2009, obtained his real estate license.

"The Rocking R has a unique mix of high quality homes on large lots, located very close to two golf courses and public access to Hayden Lake," DeLong said.

The city of Hayden requires that the street names in each neighborhood follow a specific theme. "My family had fun sitting around thinking up names," Rosenberger said. Fittingly, the names they came up with are ranch-related: Cattle Drive, Drover Drive, Laredo Loop.

The Rocking R isn't on the beaten path, so there's not much traffic. If you're in this neighborhood, it's because you want to be there.

"These roads aren't roads that go anywhere," DeLong said. "If you're here, you're heading home."

A Rosenberger home is an investment in enduring quality and value, combining high-quality materials and the latest technologies with the talents of the most experienced craftsmen. The company's signature look features interior and exterior spaces that merge with imagination, providing warm, comfortable environments that appeal to all ages and lifestyles.

If you're looking for a neighborhood that's conveniently located, yet off the beaten path, with a stable population that appreciates the comfort of a lodge-style home, the Rocking R is for you.

And as you stroll along the walkways late at night, listen carefully - you might hear the lowing of the former residents, welcoming you home.

If you'd like to learn more about the Rocking R, contact Mike DeLong at (208) 661-3734.