Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Brewington.
Hi Steven, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My grandfather, “Big George,” originally bought our property in 2001 and maintained it as a working cattle farm. Growing up spending summers on the farm, I quickly developed a love for the land. Shortly after graduating from the University of Tennessee, I took over managing operations in May 2014 and began converting farmland and pasture into native wildlife habitat. We began offering guided upland quail hunts in 2018 and developed modest food and lodging offerings. With a desire to build on that foundation and provide year-round lodging and activities, we began the development of a boutique hunting lodge and resort in 2020 and opened officially in July 2022.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Every day is a learning process when you work with nature, especially in East Tennessee. We made a lot of research and trial and error in the initial wildlife habitat development. Some things worked; some things didn’t, but we learned from that, too, and saw the challenges as opportunities. Quail, indigenous to East Tennessee, had almost been eliminated here. We’re now seeing a reintroduction of the species on our farm and hope it will spread. As far as building a high-end hunting lodge that offered year-round activities, we were charting new territory there too. So there needed to be a guide to follow. Now melding the worlds of hunting and leisure is the focus, and we’re excited to tackle that as well.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Windy Hill Farm and Preserve is a boutique hunting lodge and leisure resort in Loudon, Tenn. Situated on 650 acres and surrounded by two miles of frontage along the Tennessee River; we offer year-round outdoor activities, traditional upland hunting, 18 luxurious accommodations, and farm-to-table food in our on-property restaurant, Wilder. What makes us unique is the opportunity to experience nature in a way you seldom will elsewhere. Whether viewing our bald eagle’s nest just footsteps from your private cabin, striding through fields of warm-season grasses, or suiting up to collect fresh honey from our apiary, endless opportunities abound to explore the world around you.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Adaptability: We started this project at the beginning of Covid. Trying to construct and staff a small leisure resort with supply chain issues and worker shortages meant we had to alter our timeline and expectations. As we have progressed in our startup, it’s the one theme that remains constant. Priorities shift. What may have felt important suddenly becomes less so. You learn to match the people you have, the skills they bring, and your needs, so job descriptions are fluid. While our values for conservation and hospitality constantly guide us, how we reach our goals changes based on the situations in front of us. We hope to get a little better every day than the one before.
Pricing:
- Cabins starting at $700/night
- Lodge rooms starting at $475/night
- Gourmet meals and unguided activities included
Contact Info:
- Website: www.windyhillfarmtn.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/windyhillfarmtn
- Facebook: facebook.com/windyhillfarmtn
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/windyhillfarmtn
Image Credits
Ben Finch Photography
