Built by a family
that calls this place home.
Cumberland Forge Builders was founded in 2009 by Ethan Whitley, a third-generation Wayne County builder. We're a family-owned, family-staffed Kentucky contractor — and after sixteen years, every home we build is still on land we know by name.
A Kentucky builder, by Kentucky people.
Ethan grew up swinging a hammer alongside his father on remodels across Wayne County. He started Cumberland Forge in 2009 with one helper, one truck, and a stubborn belief that a builder ought to live in the community he builds for.
Sixteen years on, we're still based in Monticello. Our crew is full-time, salaried, and largely from these same hills. We turn down work every year — because we'd rather build twenty homes the right way than fifty homes we'd be embarrassed by.
When you hire Cumberland Forge, you get the same crew Ethan would put on his own house. That's the only standard we know.
The hand on the work, every day.
From rough framing to finish trim, every detail passes through a Cumberland Forge tradesman before it gets called done.
"Our name's on every home we put up. If it's not built the way we'd want our own family living in it, it doesn't leave our hands."
From one truck on Main Street to the Lake Cumberland builder of choice.
- 2009
A two-man crew in Monticello
Ethan Whitley founds Cumberland Forge Builders with one truck, one helper, and a renovation on Main Street.
- 2012
First custom home built
A 2,400 SF craftsman in Wayne County — the first ground-up home, finished on time and on budget.
- 2015
Moved to Lake Cumberland
Took on our first lakefront build. Learned the hard lessons of steep-grade foundations and shoreline engineering.
- 2018
Full-time crew of twelve
Brought our framers, finishers, and project managers in-house. No more chasing subcontractors who don't show up.
- 2021
Featured in Kentucky Living
Our Pinecrest Bluff lakefront residence featured as a project of the year. Phone hasn't stopped ringing since.
- 2024
180+ homes and counting
Crossed 180 completed projects across Wayne, Russell, McCreary, and Pulaski Counties — and we're still booking the next year fresh.
The folks who'll be on your job.
No middlemen, no faceless subs. When you hire us, you meet the people who'll be on your site every day.
Ethan Whitley
Wayne County native, third-generation builder. Founded Cumberland Forge in 2009 after a decade framing custom homes across central Kentucky.
Caleb Mercer
Twelve years on Lake Cumberland builds. Specializes in steep-grade foundations and shoreline construction logistics.
Jacob Rourke
Heads our finish crew — trim, cabinetry, stair builds. If it's wood and it's visible, Jacob's hand is on it.