Along I-5, between Albany and Salem, sits this billboard:
And every time we pass this sign, my nine year old says,
“Let’s take the Factory Tour, Mom!”
“Let’s take the Factory Tour, Mom!”
This week – I finally obliged.
Palm Harbor Homes has a factory and sales center just off the freeway in Millersburg and offers free tours daily at 10am. These tours are designed for potential buyers, but we received a warm welcome when I explained our mission: to learn more about a business near our community.
We first started in the tour center/demo room. This space allowed us to learn about the materials used in construction. As our family has been in the midst of a basement remodel this past year, my boys knew all the lingo: insulation, drywall, tile, grout, cabinetry. Moving on from there, we donned out protective eyewear and stepped onto the factory floor where the systematic construction process of each home was explained. Vacation cabins, single-wides, double-wides, even quad-homes and houseboats are all custom made right here in the Valley. Customers can choose the floor plan, exterior and interior paint color, and can even designate accent walls.
Following our guide, our group walked to a raised viewing room in the middle of the factory. From our second story perch, we saw workers simultaneously laying linoleum flooring, building and installing walls, roofing, finishing counter tops, and welding the metal frames used for shipping the homes. The tour guide told us the details of the various stages of construction and answered any questions (How many factory-floor employees? 135. How many women? About a dozen. Salaried or hourly? Hourly with bonuses for customer satisfaction and tenure. Health care included. Bankers hours.)
Once back to the main lot, my boys and I crossed the road and toured the model homes. Beautifully furnished, I found the small Avantii III
to be a charming vacation cabin.
My youngest son preferred the 2,500 sq. ft. Mt. Shasta model, although he did admit, “I’m afraid I’ll get lost in here”.
We left the Palm Harbor parking lot just 90 minutes after we first arrived. Speeding by the Beaver home as made our way up the highway, my sons cheered: “We’ve been in there!” ---- Yep. One more corner of our world explored. One more bit of local knowledge gained.
I’m looking forward to our next adventure already.
to be a charming vacation cabin.
My youngest son preferred the 2,500 sq. ft. Mt. Shasta model, although he did admit, “I’m afraid I’ll get lost in here”.
We left the Palm Harbor parking lot just 90 minutes after we first arrived. Speeding by the Beaver home as made our way up the highway, my sons cheered: “We’ve been in there!” ---- Yep. One more corner of our world explored. One more bit of local knowledge gained.
I’m looking forward to our next adventure already.
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