Our History
In the early 1800s, this land was first cultivated by the Blair family, whose descendants remain part of the surrounding community today. Generations later, in 2001, the George W. Sampson family acquired the property as a working cattle farm and a place to gather, drawn by its open pastures, rolling hills, and riverfront setting.
George Sampson’s connection to land and hospitality began long before Windy Hill. He was raised in Wilder, a small coal town in southwest Virginia shaped by a blend of cultures and traditions. His father, who immigrated from Crete, Greece at the age of seventeen, opened a general store that became a central gathering place for the community. It was there, helping his parents serve others, that George developed a lifelong appreciation for welcoming people in.
With a vision of land ownership, George eventually made his way to Tennessee, where he first established Thunder Hollow Farm in Sweetwater, now part of Sweetwater Valley Farm and a valued culinary partner of Windy Hill. In 2001, he found his way to Loudon, where the land that would become Windy Hill offered both natural beauty and the space to build something lasting.
His granddaughter, Lauren, named the farm for the way the wind carries across the hill and water towers. His grandson, Steven Brewington, later added “Preserve,” reflecting a lasting commitment to the care and restoration of the land.
In 2014, Steven took over daily operations and began a thoughtful transition from traditional agriculture to conservation and habitat management. Former cattle pastures were restored to native warm-season grasses, and fields were reimagined to support wildlife and protect the integrity of the soil along the Tennessee River. What began as a working farm evolved into a landscape shaped with intention.
Windy Hill welcomed its first guests in 2018 through guided upland quail hunts, with early stays centered around the Farmhouse. As interest grew, so did the vision. The Watchhouse, Wilder restaurant, Water Tower Cabins, and Guest Lodge were introduced, expanding the experience while maintaining a strong sense of place.
On July 1, 2022, Windy Hill Farm and Preserve officially opened as a year-round, all-inclusive destination.
Today, the property continues to balance its agricultural roots with a more refined rhythm of hospitality, where time on the land, thoughtful dining, and meaningful experiences come together.
George, affectionately known as “Big George,” believed that nowhere was as beautiful as East Tennessee. That belief remains at the heart of Windy Hill, guiding how the land is cared for and how guests are welcomed.
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