It's 6:30 in the morning, and as you look out the expansive windows of your cabin at Windy Hill Farm and Preserve, the site is breathtaking. A pastel sunrise streaks across the sky as fog lifts over the Tennessee River. Deer graze in the fields below. You throw on your clothes, grab a jacket, hop in a golf cart — complimentary for all guests — and head toward breakfast.
That's a typical morning at this boutique resort in the backcountry just outside Loudon, Tenn., where in late fall through winter, it's one of only a handful of resorts in the South specializing in quail hunts.
But in the off-season (late March through October), Windy Hill opens its gates to a whirlwind of activities that take guests on adventures across the 650-acre expanse of the resort's fields and woodlands as well as on the water, too.
The resort first opened as a place to re-establish quail populations — a successful venture for owner Steven Brewington, who worked with a team of specialists from the University of Tennessee School of Agriculture to bring the land back to life, planting the correct grasses to sustain a healthy quail population. Then, in 2018, he began welcoming hunters but soon realized that he needed to offer them, along with non-hunters, something else to do, particularly at the close of hunting season.
Cabins were built and opened in 2021, a bunkhouse was added and the hunting lodge was expanded to include Wilder, a gourmet-level restaurant that feeds guests (three meals a day are included with overnight reservations) as well as folks from around the area who want to experience Chef Ben Warwick's creative take on Southern favorites.
"Our goal was to have culinary experiences in the Tennessee Valley with an international player, and Ben has jumped in headfirst with us," Brewington says.
Beyond the Hunt
For non-hunters or hunters looking to step out of the field for a while, the resort offers a wide range of activities, some, such as hiking, biking, yard games and s'mores around the campfire, are included in the price of a stay at Windy Hill, while others are offered at an added cost.
One of the favorites is a wine hike through the woods. This is an experience like none other for oenophiles and nature lovers, giving guests a unique opportunity to sample five different wines and learn about the geography and topography of the earth beneath your feet along a mile-long route.
Wine "stations" are set up in strategic places along an easy winding path, and as guests sip and stroll, a guide talks about the wines and the woodlands. Wear sturdy shoes and get ready for an experience like none other. The 90-minute hike with generous pours is $125.
The sport of archery has exploded in popularity in recent years, and Windy Hill offers a chance to test your skills under the direction of a trained guide for $45 per one-hour session.
Or, sip and savor your way through a flight of bourbons with an afternoon bourbon tasting under the tutelage of a member of the food and beverage team for $95 per person.
Other add-ons include:
- A beekeeping and honey-tasting experience at the farm's apiary
- Sporting clays at the five stand
- Fishing in the farm ponds for bass and catfish — poles and boat included
- With its position on the Tennessee River, kayaking and paddleboarding are a wonderful way to cool off and shed some of the calories you may have consumed at Wilder.
- Enjoy a cooking class led by Chef Ben Warwick.
- Take to the trails on a mountain bike.
- In-room massages, especially good after a day spent hiking, biking and hunting, are a relaxing way to escape from the busyness of everyday life.
- Music is also a big deal at Windy Hill, where free concerts with local musicians are very popular during the summer months.
The staff at Windy Hill will also curate your stay and accommodate guests' whims and wishes as best they can.