From Barn to Lodge: The Iowa Farm Story Behind Taylor Hill Lodge

Some places are more than a destination. They just feel like coming home.

Long before Taylor Hill Lodge welcomed weekend retreats, weddings, and family reunions to Audubon County, this specific hill was simply a working family farm.

For Charles “Chuck” Manatt, Taylor Hill Farm was where everything started. Growing up four miles north of Audubon, Chuck’s childhood was shaped by the daily rhythms of rural Iowa – 4-H meetings, FFA projects, and scouting. It was a life built on hard work, deep family roots, and a love for the land.

At the heart of the property stood a classic red English barn, raised at the turn of the century. For three generations, beginning with Chuck’s grandfather, Charlie Taylor, that barn was the backbone of the farm. It sheltered livestock, stored feed, and stood watch over the changing Iowa landscape as agriculture evolved through the decades.

Life eventually took Chuck and his wife, Kathy, far from Audubon. After graduating from Iowa State, their path led them to Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles for military service, law school, and a demanding career. But no matter how far they traveled, western Iowa never lost its pull.

Every summer, they made their way back to the family farm with their own children. They often brought friends with them during harvest season to hunt, introducing outsiders to the quiet beauty of the countryside, the warmth of small-town hospitality, and the distinct peace that comes from sitting on a hill looking out over the fields.

Over time, those visits sparked an idea.

Chuck and Kathy wanted to build a space where families could gather and connect the same way they did. At the same time, they couldn’t bear to watch Grandpa Taylor’s aging barn slowly fade into history.

Instead of letting the building disappear, they decided to give it a second life.

Partnering with local farmers Donna and Ted Bauer and contractor Tom Testroet, the Manatts took on the massive project of transforming the historic barn into a modern lodge, without stripping away its agricultural soul.

Within a year, the old barn was reborn as Taylor Hill Lodge, opening its doors to guests in 2002.

Named for Grandpa Taylor and the high hill it sits on, the lodge became a true community effort. Local artist Clint Hansen crafted a custom stained-glass window for the space, depicting cornfields, a pheasant, and a hunting dog, a visual tribute to the rural Iowa spirit.

Today, when you step inside, the lower level where livestock once rested is now a space centered around a cozy fireplace, furnished with comfortable leather sofas and warm earth tones. But look closely, and the building’s history is still right there in the original beams and the stories shared around the table.

Over the years, Taylor Hill Lodge has hosted everything from quilting retreats and hunting groups to holiday celebrations and weddings. What started as one family’s mission to save a beloved barn has grown into a place where hundreds of other families come to make their own history.

That’s the real beauty of Taylor Hill Lodge. It isn’t just a restored building. It’s proof that certain places can keep bringing people together, generation after generation.

Some places are worth visiting because of what they offer. Others are worth visiting because of how they make you feel.

At Taylor Hill Lodge, you’ll find wide-open views, a beautifully restored barn, and plenty of space to gather, but you’ll also find something harder to describe. It’s the feeling of being connected to the land, to history, and to the people around you.

If your travels bring you to Audubon area, consider spending a little time on this hill. You just might leave with a few stories of your own.