A house located in a former gravel pit and quarry might not seem like a perfect fit for a stop on the annual Home Tour put on by the Northport Women's Club.

REFLECTIONS OF Greg and Shirley Hodge’s “quarry” home and garage are seen in the pond at the former gravel pit (above). Shirley and Greg Hodge, shown on the steps to their front porch, are delighted with how their “quarry” home turned out (right).

But then, most people haven’t been to Greg and Shirley Hodge’s “quarry” home, either. If they did come to the property, said Sue Landes of Northport, one of the club members who planned the July 18 Home Tour, they would likely have a different view.

“The reason why we wanted it to be part of the tour is we like homes that are unique, and Greg and Shirley’s place is definitely that,” said Landes.

Besides the fact that the home is built in a former quarry, perhaps the most unique characteristic is that it resembles a beach house – even though it’s not located on Northport Bay or Lake Michigan.

It is, however, nearly surrounded by a pond, and instead of a grassy front lawn Greg Hodge had 200 cubic yards of sand trucked in to create a beachfront paradise that’s popular with the Hodge’s grandchildren. They swim and raft on the pond and look out for several turtles who have their names painted on top of their shells.

The home’s cedar siding, and the pine siding that defines the large garage, make the house more representative of a seaside getaway than a northern Michigan retreat.

The Hodges say the home is enough of a novelty that it’s not unusual to have strangers pull in their driveway to snap a few pictures.

“We get two questions all the time,” said Shirley Hodge. “Who would build a home in a quarry is one, and the other is why would you build a home in a quarry.”

As for the who, the Hodges are from Okemos but also own a home on South Shore Drive in Suttons Bay. Shirley works in the child care field in Okemos, but has summers off. A few years ago, Greg moved his downstate building and excavating business to Suttons Bay. He’s also involved in property management. The couple has been married for nearly 40 years and has two daughters and five grandchildren.

As for the why question, the answer is much longer, and the Hodges admit that building a home in a quarry was not originally a part of their master plan.

Greg Hodge’s first plan was to build on a 5-acre wooded parcel near Lake Leelanau some seven years ago.

“My intentions were to build a barn with an apartment above so we had a place to stay and have storage space for my equipment,” he said.

He put a $13,000 deposit down with an Ohio company for a “shell” that included framing materials, windows and doors, and he created the structure’s design. He often camped in a tent on the property while preparing for the building project, but he encountered issues involving building codes. Eventually he gave up on his plan.

Hodge hopped on his motorcycle and went looking for new property. He found a “for sale by owner” sign in an abandoned gravel pit about a mile north of Woolsey Memorial Airport With his excavating expertise, he saw potential where others might see an eyesore. He preferred a secluded location, enjoys fishing, and saw the property as a unique challenge.

“I looked at this as an excavator’s fixer-upper dream,” he said. “I love ponds, and with all the sand and gravel, the water is so clear you can see all the fish and turtles and clear down to the bottom. I was hooked.”

The project was far from moving forward, however, after Greg learned it would be impossible to build on the hill looking down on the pond. That realization came when surveyors found a 120-year-old government road easement.

The only solution: plunk the house and garage in the old quarry, less than 30 feet from the pond’s edge. Since Hodge still had his $13,000 shell, and it was possible to install a septic system and receive a drainfield permit, he went to work. Two years after the project began in 2002, the “quarry house” had earned its name.

The 3-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath home features a cathedral ceiling in the living room, an island kitchen, and khaki and off-white interior colors to give the home an open and airy feel. In the living room sits a display of Petoskey stones that were all collected on the two-acre quarry property.

Outside, a large front porch overlooks the pond, providing a perfect spot to watch grandchildren frolic in the water. Hodge also installed a pump to flow water through a rocky bed, under the breezeway that connects the home and garage, and into the pond. The pond is lined with landscaping that Hodges added, including giant red slabs of rock from a quarry some three hours north of Toronto.

The Hodges said they’re very satisfied with the home, and are eager to open it to Home Tour visitors.

“Before, it was like, ‘Who are the nuts that are building that house down in the quarry?’ But as it progressed, people started saying it’s not so bad,’ Shirley Hodge said. “I think it turned out perfect, and I give so much credit to Greg for creating a vision and sticking with it despite all the problems he encountered.”

Though the Hodges shut the home down each winter, it does have a furnace and insulation. They plan to eventually move to Leelanau County after Shirley retires, reside in their Suttons Bay home and use the quarry home for a weekend retreat and family gatherings.

In the meantime, they’ll continue to enjoy the home and the notoriety it receives.

“I just love the fact that so many people recognize this house all over northern Michigan,” Shirley said. “It’s amazing how many people have noticed this place.”