T
OUR TEAM
Travis Ewing
OWNER
Travis Ewing grew up hunting and fishing on this land. Other than his wife, there’s nothing he loves more than to share his knowledge of the Heritage 1865 history and bring others along for the hunt. Travis likes to boast that he knows every single inch of this land better than anyone else. Growing up, most of his childhood days were spent wandering the fields, hunting the timber, fishing the ponds, and tending to the farm just as his family has done for over 150 years. Travis Ewing received his Business Management Degree and found his wife Abby at St. Ambrose University.
Abby Ewing
OWNER
Abby Ewing is married to Owner, Travis Ewing. Abby received her Marketing & Management degree from St. Ambrose University. Although Abby is not a hunter, she comes from a family of outdoors men and truth be told she enjoyed fishing with her daddy as a little girl. She really enjoys being with Travis as he trains the dogs, or sitting with him in the quiet of a deer stand. Abby has a passion for the outdoors and loves these grounds as much as Travis. Abby finds giving oversight to all of the marketing and advertising as an exciting task. She loves telling and sharing the story of Heritage 1865.
Guides
Whether upland bird, turkey or whitetail deer hunting, our trained guides offer guests insights to the land and best practices for an unforgettable experience. Our guides are passionate about hunting, nature and very knowledgeable about the wildlife in the area. Our guides are simply some of the best and you will not be disappointed.
SHANE JANSEN
TRAE REED
BROCK MOORE
BOB MURPHY
AUSTIN WESTERCAMP
MATT ROSENBERGER
DREW PRINGLE
BILL REED
JEFF EWING
JAKE VAN WYK
Tim Holmes
HEAD CHEF
At Heritage 1865, we pride ourselves on the family hospitality that our guests receive. We believe that home-cooked meals are an essential part of that authentic experience. Our in-house Head Chef, Tim Holmes, creates decadent meals for our guests using Grandma Judy’s recipes with his own gourmet twist.
Chef Tim has 35 years of culinary experience. His journey started at a young age growing up in a family-owned meat market with specialized processing and custom orders. Tim’s vast and varied resumé includes owning and operating five restaurants, catering corporate events and currently owning Louie’s Lakeside Bistro BBQ, which is just five miles from our lodge.
Tim specializes in “down home comfort food with flair” featuring creative flavors that are a little outside of what you would normally expect. By using locally sourced Iowa meats and produce, Chef Tim is able to create everything from classic favorites like eggs benedict and smoked sausage and grits to fine dining specialties like 18-hour sous vide beef and Steak de Burgo- which was highlighted in Bon Appétit magazine. His craftsmanship is highlighted in his house made sauces and dressings, house smoked meats and freshly made soups, salads and desserts. And of course, you can expect hearty meals featuring your favorite fish and wild game.
Our guests are able to tailor their experience with custom food, beverage, wine and liquor offerings specially created for you by Chef Tim, and he can accommodate special requests for just about any occasion, including anniversaries, birthdays and holidays. It’s all part of the Heritage 1865 experience.
Jeff and Tina Ewing
MANAGERS
Jeff Ewing is the proud son of Ted and Judy Ewing. Jeff and his wife Tina take pride in the Heritage 1865 land and the family history that comes with it. Travis Ewing is the owner of Heritage 1865, but this is and always will be a family business. Both Jeff and Tina assists with day-to-day operations and events that take place at the lodge. You may see them at night after a day hunt as they enjoy getting to know the guests. Stopping by the lodge is what they do to ensure every need and want is met for all of the guests. Of course, the memories made during their visits with the guests are priceless.
Ted and Judy Ewing
GRANDMA AND GRANDPA
Ted and Judy, also known to all as Grandpa & Grandma, live right down the road from the lodge. Grandpa & Grandma love to interact with our guests that come through the lodge. It is never a surprise catching Grandpa checking in on the guests to make sure they have everything they need. Ted and Judy love to hangout at a good campfire, telling stories, and making new friends.
When it comes to good food, there isn't much better than Grandma's cooking and recipes. All of the meals that are served not only come from food harvested on the land, but they also come from Grandma Judy's recipe book. Her recipes are a masterpiece! They have been well perfected generation after generation of preparing regular meals on the farm. She has fed many children, grandchildren and their friends after hunts or long days working in the fields with these very recipes. Some of the guests even have the rare treat of having Grandma Judy prepare and serve one of the meals herself!