OUR CLIENT REVIEWS
Mark S.
We made our first trip out to the Heritage lodge just after Thanksgiving - when a crazy 17" snow storm also visited - and we still had an AMAZING time. All of the hosts and guide were incredible at their knowledge of the area, birds, and life in general. They were patient with us as some of us in the group were new to pheasant hunting, and the unusual snow storm made for an unforgettable trip as we limited out on birds for the trip. Very well done lodge and overall experience - highly recommend!
Tom F.
This last weekend was my 2nd time @ Heritage. It is phenomenal! I have been on upland bird farms twice in SE Kansas, once south of the twin cities & 2 other places in Iowa & all pale in comparison to Heritage. The guides are 1st rate, the food is excellent & the dogs are off the hook! We were actually joking about distracting Travis & throwing one of his dogs in our truck & heading home yesterday. I cannot say enough about the level of service and the amount of detail that is all taken care of so well. We also saw lots of turkeys & a big buck while field hunting. The rooms are homey & the Lodge is beautiful. They also have a gorgeous new special events/venue building on site. I cannot wait to go back again!
Shawn S.
I would like to write a special thank you to the Heritage 1865 family. For the past two years you have provided us a wonderful lifetime experience in upland game bird hunting. Your passion for this tradition shows in many ways from providing awesome cover for the game birds, great dog work from the pointers and labs and your companionship on the hunts. Back at the lodge we have enjoyed the companionship of the Heritage family, the fine cooking and facility that you provide. You have provided me and my hunting friends many years of great stories to tell our families and to pass on this great tradition. We look forward to this fall's hunt and the opportunity to add more memories. God willing, we will continue this great adventure.
Jim P.
We’re a group of 4 to 8 (depending on the year) who have been getting together once a year for the past 12 years for a two-day bird hunt. We are all life-long hunters ranging in age from mid-50’s to mid-70’s with much experience hunting wild birds. Our primary interest is in a quality hunting experience (good dog-work, knowledgeable guides, abundant strong-flying birds, and managed mixed cover of crop fields and woodland edges capable of sustaining a wild-bird population). In addition, we also expect comfortable accommodations and home-cooked meals. When we find a lodge that meets these criteria, and with staff and guides who we like, we typically return multiple years in succession. This was our first visit to Heritage 1865. Heritage 1865 as advertised is a fifth (or sixth?) generation family farm managed by Travis Ewing (who also guides) and his wife Abby; and with advice, help, and encouragement from Dad, Mom, Grandpa and Grandma. The Ewing family are down-to-earth folks who were gracious hosts. There are 2,500 acres of huntable land. The lodge is a small operation with accommodations for eight in double rooms. Our accommodations were clean, comfortable, and spacious. Local restauranteur, Tim Holmes, prepared our group preferences in the lodge kitchen and served family style in the great room. Tim cooks like my mother cooked…a high compliment. Travis and Abby are eager to please and it’s clear that they want to make Heritage 1865 well known for providing a high-quality hunting experience. Speaking for myself and judging the opinion of my companions from our last evening’s dinner table conversation, we will return next year.
Corey T.
Turkey hunt at Heritage: I've known Travis and his family for quite a few years having taught and coached him while he was in high school. Travis has been gracious enough to allow myself and my family the opportunity to come to Heritage and turkey hunt the last few years. Each year we have managed to harvest at least one turkey. There is definitely no shortage of turkeys on the Ewing farms. On a morning hunt this spring my son and I heard at least 8 different birds gobbling. We ended up seeing 3 toms and we were lucky enough to harvest one of them using archery gear. If you are looking for a great place to come and do a spring turkey hunt, Heritage is a great choice. The lodge is amazing, birds are plentiful, and Travis will treat you right.
Brian V.
We were down to the wire finding a spot for a family get-away before school started, and luckily I found Heritage 1865! This is perfect for one or more families. With four bedrooms, it's easy to segregate the adults and the kids so everyone has plenty of space and privacy. We spent the bulk of our time swimming in the small lake, just a hundred feet from the back door. The lake was clean, with a sand beach area and a nice dock. The kids loved the kayaks & paddle boats too. Evenings were spent sitting around the fire pit making s'mores. The lodge is absolutely gorgeous. The front porch is very welcoming, and as you enter and look down to the large open area below, it takes your breath away. Tons of room to lounge around and watch TV, eat meals, play pool, or just visit. Bathrooms are very nice, with three showers/sinks and plenty of room for everyone to get ready for the day. This is so much more relaxing than fighting the crowds at the typical family vacation destinations, and the kids still had a blast. The owners were absolutely gracious, helpful and welcoming. Travis met us on our arrival and stopped by multiple times while we were there to help us with things, or just check to make sure everything was ok. Shawna was great to work with trying to squeeze our trip in between existing reservations. Met most of the family on the day we checked out, and they are all wonderful people. We will definitely be back, probably with more friends and family!
Peter C.
Thank you for the amazing experience that we recently had at Ewing Lodge. From the moment we arrived we were treated as a family member. The hospitality, lodging, food, and the pheasant hunting are second to none. I have been an avid hunter my entire life, and Ewing Lodge has been the greatest experience that me and my brothers have had upland bird hunting to date. Ewing Lodge has first class fields, Guides, dogs, and the quantity and quality of birds was superb. Please place us on your “lifetime guest” list, as we look forward to returning to Ewing Lodge every year going forward. We all had an amazing experience, and have great memories to last a lifetime.
Andrew R.
I first learned about Heritage through a family friend. They had nothing but great things to say about the lodge. Being from Atlanta, I was hesitant to make the trek to Iowa, but gave it a shot. In the end, I couldn't imagine having a better trip. Immediately when my father and I got to the lodge, both Travis and Abby made us feel right at home. The lodge and amenities make for a cozy and comfortable atmosphere. As for the hunts, I couldn't have asked for a better turnout. Travis' hunting dogs were some of the most well trained and hardworking dogs I have seen in action, and my father and I were able to harvest far more birds than I had expected going into the trip. All in all, the trip was just the get away I needed, and I will remember my time there forever.
Thomas R.
After taking time to reflect about our trip to Heritage 1865, I would like to say what an amazing experience we had. I want to try and cover each and every aspect of our trip. My friend Harry, a disabled veteran, and I booked this trip in Harrisburg, PA. Travis and his grandpa went out of their way to make Harry feel welcome and special. I can't thank them enough. Harry went there feeling like a disabled person and came home feeling, as he put it, handi-able. With the help of Travis and his grandpa, Harry was able to harvest 9 pheasants and a quail, well above our expectations. To see the smile on his face was the most rewarding feeling a person could feel. AGAIN, THANK YOU. The lodge was everything you could ask for, easy to get around and very relaxing after the hunt. The bedrooms and bathrooms were also excellent. The bar was also very nice. If you don't see what you want, ask and they do everything they can to accommodate you. Now the hunting...I can't put into words the experience that we had. I brought my two German Shorthair Pointers with me. My dogs and their dogs worked in perfect harmony from day one. They have excellent dogs if you don't have your own. If you have your own, they are more than welcome by Heritage 1865 staff. We also had another guide named Jared who brought his pointing labs. We had great success with them as well and they worked great with both of my dogs. All in all it was one of the most enjoyable hunts that either one of us has been on. There were more birds than I could ever have imagined, the fields were awesome, and most of all, the staff was absolutely the best. If you want A GREAT HUNT, DO NOT HESITATE to go to Heritage 1865. You won't regret it . Again, thank you to the staff for making Harry and I feel so welcome and part of your family.
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Clint W.
My Uncle and I met Heritage and Travis last year at the The Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, PA Having never hunted upland in Iowa before, we went with our gut after speaking for sometime with Travis. I'm sure glad we did, as we had an amazing time. We hunted the premium package in late October/November 2016. The weather was perfect, as was everything else we experienced. I am 39 and my uncle 72. His friend also came with us who is 75. John (75) had trouble walking for as much as we did, but this was not even an issue. Travis and his grandfather brought a Polaris Ranger for John to hunt out of so he could experience the hunt with us without missing a beat. I don't think it was ever a question as to what they would do, they just did it to make our experience that much better. We hunted mostly behind Travis' GSP's, but also hunted with pointing labs which were Jared's, a second guide's dogs. Both were great, though I prefer the GSP's myself. Both Travis and Jared made every effort to make sure we capitalized on our hunts. They have everything down pat. Extra shells (you'll need them as we shot over 100 pheasant and quail) as well as water, etc. I would be remiss if i didn't mention Tim (camp Cook). Tim and Grandma Judy made amazing meals, all three squares. No lie, the food was $$$ quality as Tim owns his own restaurant too we found out. You like coconut? Grandma will make your favorite coconut treats for you too, whatever you fancy. We already are planning dates for next year and bringing a few more buddies to share in the experience. Feel free to ask Abby for my number if you want to know more.
Matt Van Maanen
We had the opportunity to host a group of customers at Heritage for a premium upland bird hunt. WHAT A BLAST! Our customers had an experience they will never forget. Travis and his team did a fantastic job guiding our hunts, interacting with our customers and making sure every last detail was taken care of. Tim and Tammi prepared some of the best meals I've had in a long time and the lodge is nothing short of a luxurious experience. I can't wait for another opportunity to use the team at Heritage for another customer event. If you are looking for a professionally done hunt, comfortable space and great group of people, Heritage 1865 is the place to be!