By Jack Houvouras
HQ 76 | WINTER 2011
Comedian Diana Jordan once quipped, “Men are simple things. They can survive a whole weekend with only three things: beer, boxer shorts and batteries for the remote control.” While that may be true, today’s more sophisticated man needs a special, dedicated room in the home to survive in style. Enter the man cave.
What exactly is a man cave? Well, according to Wikipedia, the Internet’s most famous dictionary, a man cave is “a male sanctuary, such as a specially equipped garage, spare bedroom, media room, den, attic or basement. It is not a cave but rather a metaphor describing a room where men can do as they please without fear of upsetting any female sensibility about house décor or design.”
Armed with this knowledge, we set out to find the Top 10 Man Caves in Huntington. In part one of a two-part series, we take a look inside five man caves that offer up some of the essentials to hibernating in style. From wine cellars to pool tables to miniature movie theaters, these man caves are some of the best around.
Gibson Cave
If you really want a man cave that you can call your own, look no further than the home of Jim and Verna Gibson near Ritter Park. Jim counts himself fortunate to have his very own building where he created his man cave. Directly behind the Gibson home and separated by the backyard is a detached building, perhaps once used as a garage, where Jim has created a little slice of Herd Heaven. Outside the door to the man cave is a sign that reads “Shawkey Student Union,” which Jim acquired from his friends at Marshall University. Inside the theme continues with Marshall memorabilia everywhere. That only seems fitting since the Gibsons are two of the university’s greatest supporters.
“It’s the ideal place to watch a football game, including all the amenities,” Jim explains. “Food, liquid refreshments, you name it. We even have a pool table for halftime breaks.”
Jim notes that at his home the building is not called a man cave; instead, it has become known as “The Men’s Room.” He does add that women are welcome, but only if they bring a “game-day attitude.”
Sheils Cave
While Geoff Sheils may lay claim to the man cave that he and his wife Melinda designed in the basement of their Park Hills home, it is often overtaken by their children – Sam, 14, Maddie, 13, and Natalie, 8. But that suits the Sheils family just fine.
“The thing that I like most about this man cave is that it has evolved into a kids’ cave,” says Geoff, president & CEO of First Sentry Bank. “It is enjoyed by our children and their friends on a regular basis. Whether they are shooting hoops, playing video games or watching movies, I love the fact that they want to be here and have fun in this space.”
On those rare occasions when he has the cave all to himself, Geoff says he enjoys watching sports.
“It’s hard to beat sitting in the recliner and watching a Herd, Bengals or Reds game on the big screen.”
As for the overall design of the space, Geoff says he wanted to be surrounded by the sports and sports teams that have been a big part of his life.
“I wanted to create an isolated, entertaining and comfortable living space that would be completely filled by things that represent my various sports passions, which are Marshall University, the NFL, the Cincinnati Reds and golf.”
The walls are adorned with an array of photographs, posters and other sports memorabilia, including signed jerseys by Randy Moss, Chad Pennington and Byron Leftwich, as well as dozens of flags from some of the best golf courses in America.
Hardin Cave
The English Tudor home of Greg Hardin and his wife Terry Depner in Huntington’s southeast hills featured a basement that was perfect for creating a man cave based on an old English pub. To achieve that look, the entire basement was gutted with the notable exception of the ceiling’s rough-cut beams and a charming stone fireplace. Greg took on the task of building two bars himself, one of which stores his collection of rare whiskey and bourbon. The space also features a wine cellar that was designed by Greg and built by Lenny McCleary, who also built the wine racks at Rocco’s Ristorante. When his man cave was completed, Greg and Terry decided to name it “The Snooty Fox.”
“I love having an old English pub in my basement; I can have a great drink and serve my guests wonderful whiskey, wine and other liquors while enjoying a nice, warm fire,” Greg says. “It’s really nice to go a ‘pub’ without leaving the house.”
Greg said that when he’s alone in the man cave, he relaxes by watching a football game or a movie on the big TV, often with a glass of bourbon in one hand and the remote control in the other.
“I feel like I’m being transported away to a pub of my own making,” he says.
Tao Cave
When Dr. Stan Tao and his wife Ann bought their dream home in Barboursville, the basement was a sprawling, blank canvas. So Stan went to work designing a man cave that would serve several purposes: the space would feature a miniature movie theater, bar, home office and exercise room. It would also house his vast collection of sports memorabilia obtained through the years in his work as an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports injuries.
The Taos enjoy having friends over to watch movies in their mini-theater, which features stadium seating, a drop-down movie screen and a state-of-the-art sound system. But Stan also enjoys his time alone in the man cave, where he can work, work out or watch some sports.
“There’s nothing better than watching eight live NFL games at once on the big screen,” Stan says. “That’s what having a man cave is all about.”
But the Taos also place a premium on the importance of family, and the man cave’s design was planned with their two children in mind.
“We wanted a place where the kids would want to hang out, and where their friends would want to come hang out, even when they get older,” says Stan. “I think this space will do that.”
Zambos Cave
For Dr. Phil Zambos, a radiologist who lives in the southwest hills of Huntington, a man cave is a retreat he sorely needs to relax after a long day at the office. A wine enthusiast, Phil designed
his space around a wine cellar in the basement of his home. The cellar, which holds some 700 bottles of his favorite wines, features a pair of French doors that keep the room climate-controlled to an ideal temperature of 60 degrees. Just outside the wine cellar is a sitting room that features a chaise lounge and fireplace where Phil can read and enjoy a glass of his favorite wine – a Silver Oak cabernet sauvignon.
The Zambos man cave also houses some of the many golf trophies he has won over the years as one of the state’s top amateur golfers. A graduate of Wake Forest, Phil played for the Demon Deacons alongside such PGA legends as Curtis Strange, Lanny Wadkins, Scott Hoch and Jay Haas.
“My only regret is that I don’t get to spend more time in my man cave,” Phil confesses. “Work keeps me very busy, but I can’t complain. When I do find time to unwind down here, it makes it all the more special.”
