Think of "log cabins" and you likely imagine winter wonderland fairytale villages in the Swiss Alps. Or, perhaps you think of the cozy chalets and horse-drawn carriages of a classic Swiss town.

Craig Kovacs is building a log house in Lehigh Township typical of those found in upscale mountain resorts such as Jackson Hole, Wyo. The 12,000-square-foot house will be home for his family of five ...