Second Glances with Arabella

The Bellisseria continent in Second Life continues to evolve as one of the most thoughtfully designed residential areas in the virtual world. Among its many themed housing communities, the Linden Log Homes stand out as a favorite for Residents seeking a cozy, rustic lifestyle and recently, four new models were added to the inventory of available styles for residents to choose from, bringing some desirable new features and addressing some concerns residents had voiced about them.

A Home Among the Pines

First introduced in 2020, the Log Homes were, I think, the fourth theme in the Linden Homes series under the Bellisseria initiative. Nestled within forested regions and rugged landscapes, these homes evoked the feeling of a peaceful mountain retreat or a wooded lakeside community. From winding dirt roads to picturesque streams and hidden campgrounds, the regions featuring Log Homes transported Residents into a world far removed from the bustle of mainland sprawl.

Developed by the Moles—Linden Lab’s content creation team—these homes were not just shells, but fully fleshed out homes. Each model featured a charming floor plan and options to customize wall colors, window and door trim and exterior colors, thanks to an inbuilt home controller system. The attention to detail is evident in the timber siding, stone chimneys, and wide porches—ideal for rocking chairs, potted plants, or a hot mug of pixelated coffee while enjoying the sounds of wildlife, rustling trees and trickling streams.

Originally, four styles were offered, including two with giant floor-to-ceiling windows, designed to bring the great outdoors indoors. Some features, however, were questionably quirky, including a lack of back doors on all but one model, as well as the occasional odd placement on parcels often being the least ideal for taking advantage of scenic vistas and water views. On the positive side, the landscaping used in the regions for log homes was rich and lush, depicting verdant forests, shimmering lakes, running streams, waterfalls, winding trails and distant mountains, giving a true sense of being away from it all.

Each parcel in the Log Home regions is 1024 sqm, and offers a generous (and recently expanded) 468 prims—ample for furniture, landscaping, and even your trusty ATV. The parcels are nestled in a variety of settings: some in small, woodsy enclaves surrounding ponds, others along rivers, lakes, or on gentle slopes forested by pine trees and teaming with wildlife. Even with all the more recent home options released for both Premium and Premium Plus members of SL, the Log Homes continue to hold their own in popularity, and recently a big change came along that made them all even more appealing.

As I mentioned earlier, four new models were added to the original four, bringing the total of available log homes up to eight. These latest models blend in perfectly with the existing homes, but bring a number of new layouts, expanded window availability, larger sizes and, in response to the community outcry, back doors!

They include the Pinecomb, with its wraparound porch and windows all around, and the large and spacious Oakridge, which is really a full sized house more than it is a cabin. The Bearstone is also large and reminds one of a mountain lodge, while my personal favorite, the Timberline has a built in fireplace and amazing window views for lakeside living at its finest.

More Than Just Homes: A Community

One of the key draws of Bellisseria—and particularly the Log Home regions—is the sense of community. Public spaces like campgrounds, log-style clubhouses, boat launches, and trail networks encourage social engagement and exploration. Residents often host neighborhood barbecues, fishing contests, and fireside events.

The community vibe is further enhanced by the connectivity of roads that join all of the regions together, along with an extensive rail line that meanders through many regions, running alongside lakes, crossing rivers and streams and climbing up the steep grade to Randelsham Forest, one of the highest points in Bellisseria. Many Residents of the Log Home areas also take part in the Bellisserian Bureau of Bureaucracy (BBB) passport system, which allows them to collect virtual stamps by visiting public places throughout Bellisseria and other connected continents. I have found a number of these scattered throughout the Linden Log Home regions, including a few at the bottom of lakes!

A Builder’s Delight

For those who enjoy customization, the Log Homes provide an excellent canvas. Interior designers in Second Life frequently release furniture sets tailored specifically to the this kind of aesthetic—think antler chandeliers, patchwork rugs, and cast-iron stoves. Builders also enjoy modifying their home with clever custom built additions as well as available modular add-ons, and seasonal decor.

It’s fun exploring these regions and seeing the many ways residents have come up with making their Log Home uniquely their own and expanding their interior spaces, as well as the creative ways they enhance their natural outdoor environments with plants, trees and outdoor furniture. It’s not uncommon to find cabins decked out for the holidays or transformed for the various seasons of the year.

How to Get One

Linden Log Homes are available to Premium and Premium Plus members of Second Life. Residents can claim a Linden Home from the Linden Homes portal, selecting their preferred theme and hoping for a region that suits their taste. For those with patience (and a keen eye on the auto-refresh button), finding the perfect lakeside or mountain-view cabin can be a deeply satisfying journey. Those with Premium Plus accounts also have the option of ticketing a desirable find and making it theirs, often waiting patiently for Wendi Linden to show up and hand them a virtual title to the house they’ve been dreaming of.

A Final Word

Whether you’re roasting marshmallows over a prim campfire or watching deer wander through the underbrush from your porch, Linden Log Homes offer a uniquely tranquil slice of Bellisserian life. They blend the warmth of cabin living with the imaginative potential of a virtual world—making them one of the most beloved themes in Second Life’s housing portfolio-and now, with newer and expanded home options, the time to try out a Linden Log Home has never been better!

See you around the campfire and be sure to bring the S’mores!

~ Arabella

Sideglances

For more information about the original Linden Log Homes, check out this 2020 archive article from Inara Pey.