Winter Lake Lumber Co., Inc. was started in 2001 by Michael F. Gardner, who runs the business with his Wife Sheila Gardner.

Mike Gardner grew up on the North Coast, and joined the US Marine Corps, where he learned computer programming.  Not wanting to be stuck in an office after his hitch was up he started in the Cedar Business in the early 1980’s.  He first started Cutting Bolts and delivering them to different Mills in the Salem and Lincoln City areas.  He then went into salvage logging and started his first Shingle Mill in Lincoln City.  After salvage logging he started doing Helicopter Logging on the Southern Oregon Coast.  In 1984 he moved his Shingle Mill to the Charleston Boat Basin where he continued to make Cedar Shakes & Shingles and Cedar Products.  While in Charleston he began building a new mill site in Coos Bay/East Side on the Bay.  When the mill was done he moved his production to the new site and continued doing business.  In 1995 he bought the site at the 7 Mile marker on Highway 42 and once again moved his mill to this new site, where it still sits today.

Mike met his wife Sheila at his CPA’s office in early 2000, they were married in April of 2006 and Sheila left her Business Manager/Staff Accountant position to work as CFO of Winter Lake Lumber. Mike & Sheila live right above the mill in the house pictured on the main page of the Web site which Mike designed and built himself. 

Mike & Sheila and their boys all enjoy family trips to Mexico and have all started circle track dirt racing in 2008.  Mike has raced for the past 20+ years but until the Speedway in Coos Bay was covered with dirt in 2007 his car sat in the shop for 5 years.  Now they have 4 race cars running around the track.  They also enjoy spending time at 10 Mile Lake in Lakeside, Oregon where they have a vacation home, boat access only, which Mike also designed and built.

Winter Lake Lumber Co., Inc. specializes in Red Cedar Shakes, Red Cedar Shingles, Farm Posts, custom cutting of Cedar lumber and all Cedar Products.  Winter Lake sells Shakes and Shingles all over the Southern Coast up to Portland and as far down as Southern California.   Winter Lakes focus remains on cedar, what Mike calls his “Addiction”. Winter Lake buys most of the logs used from local firms and individuals.  Winter Lake offers more than 100 different kinds of shakes and shingles; they come in 16”, 18” & 24” lengths, with four grades of quality.  There are specialty items such as ridge caps (again, in varying grades), as well as pressure-treated versions of every product.  Winter Lake also offers White Cedar shingles, and has done pressure treated Douglas Fir shingles as well.

In late 2005 the company expanded into supply & delivery of all roofing products; including Composition Roofing, Metal Roofing and all roofing materials.  A boom truck was purchased for delivery of roofing material. It is Winter Lake Lumber Co., Inc.’s goal to supply and deliver products up and down the Oregon Coast maintaining the highest level of customer service while keeping prices competitive with the local market.

Again in 2007 the company was expanded to include all building materials and started bidding house packages, while still manufacturing Shakes & Shingles and doing Supply and Delivery of all Roofing Materials. New staff had to be hired and a new office built to accommodate the growing business.

Winter Lake Lumber Co., Inc. was honored to have Mike Rowe and the crews of ‘Dirty Jobs’ come to the business and film an episode of ‘Dirty Jobs’ call ‘Buoy Cleaner’ that aired during the season opener in 2008.  This coverage got the Winter Lake name out there and since the show aired Winter Lake has sold its Shake & Shingle Cedar products as far away as Mississippi.

Please feel free to contact Winter Lake Lumber Co., Inc. for all your building needs.