Dad's Passion
Alan grew up with a dad that, in his mind, could build anything! His whole life, Alan has watched his dad shape gun stocks — dad's true passion. Walnut and maple blocks, rough and square, slowly becoming something that fit a man's hands like it was always meant to be there.
Nobody in the shop talked about "passion for woodworking." His dad just did it. And Alan paid attention. That first coat of finish was Most Impressive!
That stuck with him. Over the years he found his own way to the workbench, building household pieces and hauling them to craft shows. He got pretty good at reading people's faces when they picked up something he'd made. They'd slow down. Run their hand across the grain. Then always the same question: "Where did you get this wood?"
Good question. Eventually it became the business.
Alan teamed up with Matt, a close friend and mentor who knew how to take a big idea and actually make it work. Together they built Hardwood Haven of Idaho around a straightforward problem: if you're a woodworker or contractor in the Intermountain West, getting quality hardwood has always been a pain. Long drives, high freight, or just settling for whatever your local yard happened to stock.
We fixed that. Black walnut from the heartland. Cherry and maple from Appalachia. Over thirty species, many of them rarely seen west of the Mississippi, now available right here in Idaho.
Every slab we sell started as a tree with its own history. Our job is to make sure that history continues in your kitchen, your living room, your shop, or your client's dream home.
From tree to table. That's what we do.
From Tree to Table: Our Process
Every slab in our inventory has a journey behind it. Here's how a tree in the Southeast becomes the centerpiece of a project out West.
1. Sourcing
It starts in the South. Hardwood trees that spent decades growing in the rich soil of the southeastern United States are salvaged and milled by our partners on the ground. We hand-select the logs worth sending west, choosing each one for its grain, figure, and character. Not everything makes the cut. If it's not worth building with, we don't ship it.
2. Milling
Each log is milled into slabs that preserve the natural live edge, maximizing the width and beauty of the wood the way nature grew it. Need something different? We also mill to your specifications. Dimensional lumber, rough-cut stock, whatever fits your project. Just tell us what you're building.
3. Drying
This is where patience pays off. Trees are air-dried first, letting the wood release moisture gradually and naturally. From there, they're milled into slabs and moved to our kiln to reach the proper moisture content before shipping. The result is a stable, workable slab that won't surprise you six months after you've finished your project.
4. Delivery
Once your slab order is ready, you've got options. Pick it up at our warehouse in Pocatello, or we'll ship directly to you, wherever your shop is. Give Alan a call and we'll figure out what makes the most sense for your project and timeline.
30+ Species. And Counting.
The southern United States grows more varieties of hardwood than anywhere else in the country. Rich soils, long growing seasons, and decades of maturity produce wood with grain, figure, and character you simply can't find out West. Hardwood Haven brings that wood to the Intermountain West.
We keep select slabs in stock at our Pocatello warehouse, but our real strength is access. Through our sawmill partners in the Southeast, we can source over thirty species and have them milled to your specifications. If it grows in the eastern half of the country, there's a good chance we can get it.
Domestic Hardwoods
American Elm, American Sycamore, American Beech, Alder, Ambrosia Maple, Black Cherry, Black Walnut, Butternut Hickory, Carolina Hickory, Chestnut, Flaming Box Elder, Flowering Dogwood, Green Ash, Live Oak, Red Oak, Pecan, Post Oak, Red Maple, Shagbark Hickory, Shellbark Hickory, Sugar Maple (Hard Maple), White Oak, Water Oak, Rainbow Poplar, White Ash, Yellow Poplar
Softwoods
Western Red Cedar, Eastern Red Cedar, Cypress, Eastern Hemlock
Don't see what you need? Call us. We source directly from sawmill partners in the Southeast and can often find specific species, sizes, or figure types on request.
Serving the Intermountain West
We set up shop in Pocatello, Idaho because this part of the country has always been underserved when it comes to quality hardwood. Plenty of pine and fir around here. Not much walnut. We're here to change that.
We work with woodworkers, contractors, furniture makers, and homeowners throughout:
- Eastern Idaho: Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Twin Falls, Rexburg
- Wyoming: Jackson Hole and beyond
- Northern Utah: Logan, Ogden, Salt Lake area
- Southwest Montana: Bozeman corridor
Local pickup is available from our Pocatello location. We also ship anywhere in the continental US. Call Alan at (208) 680-2616 to arrange shipping at cost. No markup, no surprises.