When Ryan Eldridge first appeared on Maine Cabin Masters, viewers quickly recognized something special. Here was a carpenter who brought not just technical skill to every project, but a calm, methodical approach that kept chaotic builds on track.
Born on November 7, 1974, in Gardiner, Maine, Ryan’s journey from local carpenter to national TV personality is grounded in craftsmanship, community values, and a creative partnership with his wife, Ashley Morrill.
His path to television success wasn’t planned. Ryan Eldridge became a carpenter by chance. In his early 20s, Ryan found himself traveling from the mountains in the winter to the ocean in the summer following seasonal employment opportunities. His inability to sit still and his desire for more stability led him on a path to the job site.
What started as a practical choice evolved into genuine passion. Over time, he discovered his love for the physical labor of carpentry, the satisfaction of building things with his hands, and the creative outlet it provided.
Growing Up in Central Maine
He is the son of Mike Eldridge and Paula (Bellavance) Thomas, and also has a stepfather, Kyle Thomas. Ryan is one of three siblings, with a brother named Rhett Eldridge and a sister named Kali McKinney.
His father Mike has become well known among fans for managing the “Friends Who Like Maine Cabin Masters” Facebook group, while his mother Paula works as a government official for the Maine State Legislature.
Growing up in Gardiner, Ryan developed connections that would later become the foundation of Maine Cabin Masters. Chase attended the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, where he earned a degree in community planning, while Ryan Eldridge studied English, and Dixie pursued a degree related to the ski industry.
His love for jam bands like Phish and the Grateful Dead also began during these formative years, a passion that continues to be a defining part of his offscreen personality.
On the Maine Cabin Masters official website, Ryan lists his theme song as “Phish Tweezer Reprise” and notes that music inspires him.
The Voice of Reason
On Maine Cabin Masters, Ryan has earned a specific reputation. Ryan Eldridge, known as the “voice of reason” on the show, contributes his carpentry expertise to transform rundown cabins into inviting holiday homes.
This nickname isn’t just marketing. It reflects how Ryan actually operates on job sites.
When projects threaten to spiral, when budgets get tight, when the crew faces unexpected challenges (which happens in nearly every episode), Ryan is the one who steps back, assesses the situation practically, and helps guide the team toward solutions.
His approach balances the creative vision Ashley brings with the structural realities Chase manages. He’s the bridge between design and execution, the person who figures out how to make ambitious ideas work within real-world constraints.
On his official Maine Cabin Masters profile, Ryan admits one of his flaws with characteristic humor. My wife would say constantly talking in the early morning. The guys would say changing the plan because I have overthought it too much.
That tendency to overthink, to constantly refine the approach, is precisely what makes him valuable.
His pet peeve? People who drive screws too deep into wood, making it impossible for the next guy to take it out. It’s the kind of detail-oriented concern that separates good carpenters from great ones.
Meeting Ashley and Building a Life Together
Ryan and Ashley’s story goes back to their teenage years. They knew each other long before Maine Cabin Masters became a possibility, building a friendship that eventually grew into something more.
After a journey of knowing each other for a substantial period, they decided to take the plunge and exchanged vows in July 2014.
The proposal itself has become a charming piece of Maine Cabin Masters lore. The proposal happened right after a Willie Nelson show, adding a unique and memorable touch to their love story.
Willie Nelson is Ashley’s favorite musician, and Ryan’s timing showed he understood what mattered to her.
During an interview with Dan Patrick, Ryan spoke about Ashley with genuine admiration. He expressed how Morrill was actually “one of a kind” and felt fortunate to have her in his life.
He added his wife had an amazing sense of humor. Likewise, he also commended her ability to stand her ground and excel in every attribute she was required to.
The couple has not had children, but they share a home filled with pets they consider family. Their relationship works both personally and professionally, a balance many couples struggle to achieve.
Co-Founding Kennebec Cabin Company
When the opportunity arose to turn their carpentry work into a television show, Ryan was part of the foundational team. He and Ashley co-founded the Kennebec Cabin Company in Manchester, Maine, a home base for their TV projects, a store filled with rustic charm, and a gathering spot for fans and locals alike.
The company operates out of the historic 1850s homestead the team purchased in 2019, the same building that belonged to the Daggett family featured in the show’s first episode.
It’s both functional headquarters and tourist destination, embodying the Maine Cabin Masters ethos of preserving history while creating something new.
Ryan is also a co-owner of The Woodshed, the bar and restaurant located behind Kennebec Cabin Company. The venue hosts live music through their “Rock the Dock” series, community events, and has become a genuine gathering place for both fans and locals.
Beyond these ventures, Ryan co-hosts the “From the Woodshed” podcast with Chase Morrill. The podcast answers fan questions, offers construction advice through their “Project Pointers” segments, and gives listeners behind-the-scenes insights into the show.
On Camera and Off
Maine Cabin Masters premiered on January 2, 2017, and Ryan has been there from the beginning. Since its debut in 2016, “Maine Cabin Masters” has achieved remarkable success, becoming the highest-rated show on the DIY Network for its initial three seasons and maintaining its popularity five years later.
The show moved to the Magnolia Network in 2022 and continues strong, now in its 11th season with over 160 episodes. Ryan has appeared in every single one, bringing consistency and reliability that fans have come to expect.
This family dynamic is central to the show’s appeal. Viewers watch real relationships play out, real disagreements get resolved, genuine affection shine through even during stressful moments.
When asked what inspires him, Ryan’s answer reveals his values. Music inspires me. I want to travel Europe for a few months, hitting all the countries.
His advice to others? Find your niche and go with it.
Community Involvement
Ryan also became a familiar face in the community, hosting environmental awareness events like milfoil removal initiatives, mentoring young tradespeople, and encouraging kids to consider careers in carpentry.
His commitment extends beyond environmental causes. In 2021, Ryan and the Cabin Masters team also partnered with the Village Clubhouse to raise money for adults living with mental illness, supporting programs that provide employment, education, and social opportunities, causes deeply meaningful to the Morrill family.
These aren’t publicity stunts. They reflect genuine engagement with the Maine communities where the crew lives and works.
Ryan uses his platform to encourage young people to consider the trades as viable career paths, sharing his own journey from uncertain 20-something to successful craftsman.
During speaking engagements, like his appearance at the Great Falls Forum, Eldridge will discuss how the Maine Cabin Masters television show began and the opportunities it provided the group to create The Woodshed restaurant, bar, and event venue and expand their other businesses.
The Man Behind the Beard
At 5 feet 11 inches tall, Ryan has become recognizable for his long hair, narrow eyes, and the French-cut beard that’s started to grey. It’s become part of his signature look, along with the flannel shirts and work boots that are standard issue for Maine carpenters.
Watching sports, being outside, puttering on my property, annoying my wife is how Ryan describes his free time activities.
He spends summers on Cobbossee Lake and remains deeply connected to Central Maine, the place that shaped him.
His favorite tool? According to his Maine Cabin Masters profile, it’s “The Ashley Rae” (a playful reference to his wife). His favorite movie is The Goonies.
If he could be any animal, a bird. How amazing it would be to fly.
When asked about his best investment, Ryan mentions the last house he bought and flipped. His worst? Entry into my brother’s “Nascar Pyramid Scheme” when I was in my 20s.
It’s this honesty, this willingness to laugh at himself, that makes him relatable.
Financial Success
Ryan’s estimated net worth ranges between $400,000 and $860,000, depending on sources, with some estimates placing it as high as $1.5 million to $2.5 million as of 2025. The variation comes from different ways of calculating his various income streams.
His earnings come from multiple sources. The television show remains his primary income, where he’s appeared in every episode across 11 seasons.
He earns revenue from his co-ownership of The Woodshed, income from Kennebec Cabin Company operations, and compensation from the podcast and speaking engagements.
Combined with Ashley’s estimated net worth of $250,000 to $460,000, the couple has built financial stability through their various ventures while maintaining the modest Maine lifestyle they’ve always known.
The Heart of the Operation
What sets Ryan apart isn’t just his carpentry skills or business acumen. It’s his ability to remain grounded despite fame, to keep projects moving forward despite obstacles, to balance multiple roles without losing sight of what matters.
He’s the voice of reason not because he’s unemotional, but because he cares enough to think things through. He overthinks the plan because he wants it to work.
He talks too much in the early morning (according to Ashley) because he’s already mentally working through the day ahead.
On a show about preserving Maine’s cabin heritage, Ryan represents the Maine work ethic, the value of doing things right, the importance of community.
He’s proof that you can find your calling by accident, that studying English can lead to carpentry, that the path isn’t always straight but it can still get you where you need to be.
For viewers who’ve followed Maine Cabin Masters from the beginning, Ryan Eldridge has become more than just “the voice of reason.” He’s the steady hand on projects that could easily go sideways, the partner who makes Ashley’s designs buildable, the co-founder who helped turn a carpentry crew into a thriving business, and the Maine native who never forgot where he came from even as his fame grew.
And on those Saturday mornings up at camp, when the crew gathers for another challenging renovation, you can be certain Ryan’s already thought through three different approaches to every problem they’re likely to face.
Because that’s what he does. That’s who he is.
