Exploring Life & Business with Shane Riggs of Timber Ridge Vacation Rentals

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shane Riggs.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
We didn’t start Timber Ridge as some big planned business—it really began with a piece of family land in the hills of southern Ohio, an opportunity, and a lot of hard work. As a family, we’ve always enjoyed building and creating things, and over time that turned into something much bigger than we ever expected.

What really sparked everything was a neighboring property that joined ours. It had been abandoned for years and was completely overgrown, with trash scattered throughout and several old mobile homes left behind. Most people would’ve walked away from it, but we saw potential. We were able to reach out to the owner, purchase the property, and took on the challenge of cleaning it up.

That cleanup process alone took about a year. It was a lot of work, but once it was finished, we had this beautiful piece of land in the Appalachian foothills that felt like a fresh start. From there, we decided to build a small cabin—just something simple to enjoy and make use of the space.

We built that first cabin as a family, learning as we went and putting a lot of care into every detail. Once it was finished, we realized how much people truly loved it. What started as just a small idea quickly turned into something more, and we decided to offer it as a cabin rental—not fully knowing what it would grow into.

Today, Timber Ridge cabins have expanded into multiple unique cabin rentals in southern Ohio, with more on the way. Each one is thoughtfully designed and built by us, with a strong focus on creating a peaceful and private romantic getaway experience for couples looking to unplug and reconnect.

This has truly been a family-driven journey. Between myself, my wife Stacey, and my parents, we’ve all poured time, effort, and care into building Timber Ridge. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been incredibly rewarding. Seeing guests come here, slow down, and make memories together is what keeps us motivated to keep growing and continue building something we’re proud of.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. In a lot of ways, the biggest challenge has simply been figuring everything out from the ground up.

After we cleaned up the property, that was really just the beginning. There wasn’t a guide or anyone walking us through how to develop land into cabin rentals in southern Ohio—we had to learn it all ourselves through trial and error. From laying out driveways and utilities to designing and building the cabins, there were a lot of decisions we had to figure out along the way, and plenty of things we’ve gone back and improved as we learned what works best.

What really surprised us was that building the cabins is only half the battle. The other half is everything behind the scenes—setting up listings, managing bookings across platforms, handling guest communication, and making sure every detail is dialed in. That side of the business is just as demanding as the construction side.

Then there’s the responsibility of being a host. Maintaining a consistent five-star experience for every guest takes constant attention. From cleaning and laundry to inspections, maintenance, and preparation between each stay, there’s a lot that goes into making sure everything is perfect. It’s definitely not something that runs itself, and that was something we didn’t fully realize at the beginning.

At times, it can feel like multiple full-time jobs between building, managing, and hosting—but we’ve learned to adapt and improve along the way. Every challenge has taught us something, and those lessons have helped us continue to raise the standard of what we offer at Timber Ridge.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Timber Ridge Vacation Rentals is focused on creating a one-of-a-kind experience centered around romantic, couples-only cabin getaways in the hills of southern Ohio. Our goal is to provide a place where couples can truly unplug, slow down, and spend quality time together in a peaceful, private setting.

What sets us apart is that every cabin is designed, built, and maintained by our family. We take a hands-on approach to everything, with a strong focus on quality, detail, and the overall guest experience. We don’t cut corners, and we’re constantly improving and adding to the property to make sure every stay feels special and consistent at a high level.

Our niche is simple—we are intentionally designed for couples. Everything about the experience is built around that, from the privacy and layout of each cabin to the quiet, nature-driven atmosphere. It’s not just a place to stay, it’s a place to reconnect.

Another thing that makes Timber Ridge unique is the location. While the cabins feel secluded and surrounded by nature in the Appalachian foothills, guests are still just minutes from the small river town of Portsmouth, Ohio, with access to great local restaurants, shops, and essentials. It offers the perfect balance of privacy and convenience.

As we continue to grow, our vision is to build Timber Ridge into a recognizable name for couples getaways, not only in southern Ohio but potentially in other locations as well. We want to continue raising the standard and creating experiences that people remember and come back to.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
We’ve definitely taken risks along the way, but I wouldn’t say they were blind risks—they were calculated and backed by a willingness to put in the work.

One of the biggest risks was purchasing and investing in property that most people would’ve passed on. It was overgrown, filled with debris, and needed a complete transformation before we could even begin building. On top of that, we were stepping into something we had never done before—developing land into cabin rentals without a clear roadmap.

Another major risk was doing this in an area that wasn’t really known for vacation rentals. Southern Ohio, especially this part of the Appalachian foothills—often called the “Little Smokies”—is incredibly beautiful, but it hasn’t traditionally been marketed as a destination the way other areas have. We saw the potential in that and believed people would come if it was done the right way.

At the time, we didn’t know what it would turn into. Our mindset was simple—if it didn’t take off as a rental, we would still have something our family could enjoy. But it was still a big risk to invest the time, money, and effort without knowing how it would be received.

What’s been rewarding is seeing people travel from all over the country to stay here. We’ve had guests from places like New York, Massachusetts, Georgia, and even as far as South Dakota. That’s been a big confirmation that the vision was right—that this area is something worth sharing.

Our approach to risk is pretty simple—if we believe in something and we’re willing to put in the effort to do it right, we’re willing to take the chance. We don’t rush decisions, but we also don’t let uncertainty hold us back. Most of what we’ve built has come from stepping into the unknown and figuring it out as we go.

At the end of the day, every step forward has involved some level of risk, but those risks are what allowed Timber Ridge to grow into what it is today. Staying comfortable would’ve been the bigger risk.

Pricing:

• pricing varies based on dates

Contact Info:

• Website: https://visittimberridge.com/
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