For Steven Brewington, Windy Hill Farm and Preserve has always been a place to learn from.
Our Founder
Summers spent on the family farm formed an early connection to the land, where a respect for its rhythms and a curiosity for its care began to take hold. After graduating from the University of Tennessee, Steven returned with a sense that the property could be improved over time, while still honoring the work that came before it.
In May of 2014, he stepped into managing daily operations when Windy Hill was still a working cattle farm. Rather than making immediate changes, the approach was gradual. Time was spent observing the land, understanding its condition, and identifying where restoration could begin.
Much of the early focus centered on rebuilding native habitat. Across Tennessee, the loss of native warm-season grasses has significantly impacted wildlife, particularly species like the northern bobwhite quail, which depend on a specific mix of grasses, seed-producing plants, and open ground to survive. Over time, much of this landscape had been replaced by fescue and other non-native grasses that offer little nutritional or ecological value.
At Windy Hill, former pastures were slowly transitioned back to native warm-season grasses such as big bluestem, indiangrass, and switchgrass. These grasses grow in clumps rather than dense mats, allowing space at ground level for movement, nesting, and feeding.
This kind of restoration does not happen quickly. It requires seasons of adjustment, controlled burns, careful management, and a willingness to adapt. Some efforts worked as intended, others required change. Over time, the land began to respond.
With that response came signs of return.
The northern bobwhite quail, once nearly absent from this part of East Tennessee, began to reappear. What started as small, managed populations has grown into something more established, a reflection of habitat that is once again capable of supporting them. While still fragile, the progress is meaningful, and part of a larger effort across the region to restore native species through responsible land management.
As the landscape improved, so did the opportunity to share it.
In 2018, Windy Hill welcomed its first guests through guided upland quail hunts. What began as a natural extension of the land’s restoration introduced a new way for others to experience the work taking place. Early lodging and meals were simple, centered around the Farmhouse, but they reflected a genuine approach to hospitality rooted in place.
In 2020, development began on a more complete expression of Windy Hill, one that could support year-round stays while remaining connected to the land itself. The addition of the Watchhouse, Wilder restaurant, Water Tower Cabins, and Guest Lodge marked this next phase, and Windy Hill Farm and Preserve officially opened as a year-round destination in July 2022.
Today, the property continues to evolve. Native grasses deepen their roots across former fields. Wildlife populations continue to strengthen. Guests are welcomed into an experience that reflects both the land and the work behind it, from seasonal meals at Wilder to time spent moving through the property at a slower pace.
Steven often speaks of the process as ongoing. Each season brings new lessons, and no two years are the same.
As a third-generation caretaker of this land along the Tennessee River, his role remains steady, to pay attention, to make careful decisions, and to leave the property better than he found it.