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Jan 10, 2024

Building dreams: From treehouses to castles, this company offers unique twist to Southern Utah living

ST. GEORGE — From treehouses to backyard castles, this framer is building upon

ST. GEORGE — From treehouses to backyard castles, this framer is building upon his own dreams by helping others’ dreams come true.

Jose Martinez, owner of the framing company Proud Hammer, said they specialize in unique projects like liveable tipis, backyard castles, mansions and more.

"If you can draw it, we can build it," he said. "Even without engineering. Everything we frame, we do as if it were our home. We want that piece of mind that the house was built to the standards we would let our own kids live in."

But his company's success didn't happen overnight.

Born in Guanajuato, Mexico, Martinez said he was brought to California when he was 3 years old. In 2006, his wife petitioned for his citizenship, and he received a temporary work permit in 2010. His fight for legal immigration status in the U.S. included numerous court dates and money he said they couldn't afford to spend.

He received his permanent residency in 2014 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2021.

"It's been around a 16-year struggle, but I can definitely say that in this land of opportunity, dreams do come true with struggle and sacrifice," he said. "Now with our construction company and our recently bought home, I am truly living the American dream happily with my family, and I am able to provide for them a better opportunity for their futures."

When Martinez said he's been framing his whole life, he means it. To get him out of the house on his summer breaks as a child, his father – who was then framing California mansions – would take him to work and let him play on the home's private beaches and rolling hills.

Eventually, he became his father's helper by carrying wood on the job sites. As time went on, his dad taught him how to frame using the proper tools. In high school, he took night classes like blueprint reading at a junior college and said he knew exactly what he wanted to do by graduation.

"My dad was a big part of it, a big inspiration," Martinez said. "Not just the framing side of it but the work ethic to be proud of. That all came from him."

At the age of 19, he was framing a house as the lead foreman, and he hasn't stopped since. Six years ago, he and his family moved to St. George, where he worked for a framing company. When the pandemic struck and his employer was no longer able to pay him, he decided to take the leap into business ownership — something he’d always wanted to do.

Martinez said his previous employer was not only supportive but also gave him his first project at a new company. Other builders jumped at the chance to work with him when they found out he had branched out on his own.

"And they just had that faith in me, and we had that relationship where they knew they could talk to us," he said about the builders. "They knew they could call me and I’d answer and be there. They knew the quality of our work. They knew that whatever we did for them was going to be done right."

The business continued to grow and quickly became known for its more unique and "fancier" projects, such as the Tipis and Cliff Dwellings at the Zion White Bison Resort in Virgin.

"We had a lot of fun building those," he said about the glamping resort. "When I came out here I was asked to build things a lot of other framers couldn't do. I’d say, ‘Yes,’ and I’d do it. They started seeing that I could do all the fancy custom stuff that not everyone can do."

Martinez said the company has also been working on a "Rapunzel-like" castle in Bloomington Hills. The entire framework was completed from a sketch the homeowner drew, without engineering or real architecture. The project includes a Rapunzel tower, a bridge and a rock slide that lands in the pool. Inside, he built a winding staircase.

"We love the unique stuff," he said. "The more unique the better. I love projects that require me to figure out how to build it over receiving a specific plan with every single detail."

While getting the company started was a bit rocky, Martinez expressed his deep appreciation for his wife who he said has been his biggest supporter. She's stepped in to take care of everything from payroll to taxes and social media promotion. He's also thankful for his employees, especially his brother Isaac – one of Proud Hammer's longest employees and framers – who has stuck by his side through everything, even the loss of their father.

His mentor and father Hipólito Martinez worked with him all the way up until the day he passed away two years ago. He was his biggest supporter and member of the Proud Hammer team since its beginning. With the help of his father, his wife, his employees and the trusting community, Martinez said he pushed through the hard times to achieve his dream goals. And he's grateful to be in Southern Utah – a place that's allowed it all to happen.

As for future projects, Martinez said they will soon be framing tree houses for Zion White Bison Resort and looks forward to many more custom projects in the future.

"He's amazing," Joanna Martinez said about her husband. "He inspires me in everything he does. I feel like he's just one of a kind. He's very loyal. His work is quality work. I knew that if he really went for it that he was going to be very successful. And it happened."

For more information on Proud Hammer, visit their website or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Photo Gallery

A sketch for an outdoor castle will soon become a reality, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Jose Martinez, St. George News

An outdoor castle is framed by Proud Hammer based off a sketch a customer drew, St. George, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Jose Martinez, St. George News

Proud Hammer owner and founder Jose Martinez stands in front of his construction truck outside his home in St. George, Utah, May 31, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

Tipis built by Proud Hammer are seen at Zion White Bison Resort in Virgin, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Jose Martinez, St. George News

Cliff Dwellings built by Proud Hammer are seen at Zion White Bison Resort in Virgin, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Jose Martinez, St. George News

Cliff Dwellings built by Proud Hammer are seen at Zion White Bison Resort in Virgin, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Jose Martinez, St. George News

The Proud Hammer framers stand on top of a new construction build, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Jose Martinez, St. George News

A house framed by Proud Hammer is pictured, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Jose Martinez, St. George News

An outdoor castle is framed by Proud Hammer based off a sketch a customer drew, St. George, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Jose Martinez, St. George News

An outdoor castle is framed by Proud Hammer based off a sketch a customer drew, St. George, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Jose Martinez, St. George News

An outdoor castle is framed by Proud Hammer based off a sketch a customer drew, St. George, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Jose Martinez, St. George News

Proud Hammer owner and founder Jose Martinez stands outside his home with his wife Joanna Martinez and their daughter, St. George, Utah, May 31, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

Jessi Bang was born and raised in Utah and has a passion for nature and the great outdoors. She graduated from Kaplan University in California with a degree in criminal justice. She has extensive experience in marketing, content creation, photography and copywriting. You can find her showcasing outdoor adventures through her blog, "The Rambling Raccoon." In her free time, she enjoys climbing mountains, trail running, working out and cuddling her two lovable pups.

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