A Year-Round Destination for Luxury, Quail, & Hospitality
By Jackie Edmondson
Manager of Marketing and Member Services
An English pointer locks into place, its rigid stance signaling what lies hidden in the tall native grasses. At the guide’s command, an energetic field-bred English cocker spaniel charges forward, flushing a covey of quail into flight. The sudden roar of wings sends hunters instinctively raising their shotguns, creating the kind of unforgettable moment that has drawn sportsmen from across the country and around the world to Otter Creek Farmstead.
Frank Brown and his wife, Jane, purchased 80 acres in rural Ohatchee 17 years ago, and they have expanded it throughout the years by acquiring neighboring land. In 2011, a tornado flattened about 2,200 hardwood trees, leaving behind a clear-cut landscape that proved ideal for quail habitat.
“The tornado wiped us out, but it also gave us a fresh start to rebuild,” Brown said. While hunting the property with his cocker spaniel, Merlin, Brown envisioned creating a luxury wingshooting destination. Construction began in 2013, and Otter Creek Farmstead welcomed its first quail hunters in 2015.
Developing the property has been a labor of love since Brown sold his tax credit counseling company in 2013 and suddenly found himself with time on his hands.
“Jane told me she married me for better or worse, but not for lunch at home every day,” he said. “I needed to find something to do.”
What started as a hunting lodge has steadily evolved into a full-service resort on 1,000 acres. The Browns’ original home now serves as the game room, while their newer residence became the main lodge. There’s the Grand Room, featuring a full catering kitchen, a chef’s table with a wood-fired oven, spacious gathering areas, a dining room, and a custom bar. The Wine Room offers an intimate setting for smaller gatherings and features striking floor-to-ceiling glass wine displays, while the Table by the Lake provides lakeside dining with beautiful scenery.
“I wish I could say we had a master plan, but we didn’t,” Brown said. “We have hunted all over the world, and we have seen really cool things at other hunting lodges that have helped us develop good ideas. The property has taken on a life of its own.”
Weddings, corporate retreats, and special events fill the calendar from spring through early fall.
That willingness to grow has made Otter Creek Farmstead a year-round destination. Hunting season runs from Oct. 1 through March 30, followed by turkey hunts in April. Weddings, corporate retreats, and special events fill the calendar from spring through early fall.
“We wanted to create something that operated outside of hunting season,” he said. “Keeping people employed and creating new jobs has always been important to us, so we expanded into other experiences. We have been fortunate.”
A typical hunting day begins with a southern breakfast prepared by Executive Chef Rebecca Wyatt and Sous Chef Robert Hunt. Guided morning hunts are followed by a gourmet lunch, afternoon hunt, cocktails, and a multi-course dinner. Before departing, hunters receive a bag of cleaned, processed birds.
Groups of up to 3 hunters are paired with experienced guides working behind English pointers, English setters, German shorthaired pointers, or Brittany spaniels and 1 or 2 of the farmstead’s signature field-bred English cocker spaniels. The hunts offer the opportunity to pursue quail, chukar, and pheasants. Up to 6 hunting parties, or 18 hunters, can be accommodated at 1 time.
Otter Creek Kennels has become 1 of the country’s premier English cocker breeding programs. Brown began importing field-bred bloodlines from the United Kingdom in 2017 and breeding them with proven hunting stock. Today, Otter Creek Kennels houses 30 flushing dogs and 18 pointing dogs.
“Our dogs are just as beautiful to watch as they are effective in the field,” said Brittany Formby, the kennel director. “Their intelligence, drive, and eagerness to please make them exceptional hunting companions.”
Since joining Otter Creek in 2023, Formby has expanded the program’s success and is producing award-winning hunting, field trial, and hunt test dogs. The dogs are in high demand due to their upbringing, training, and performance. Monte, 1 of the English cockers trained at Otter Creek Kennel, was the field champion at the National Cocker Championships and earned High Point titles at the North American Championship and Western International Club Championship.
“We’re focused on producing dogs that perform at the highest level while also being wonderful companions to their owners,” she said. “Seeing our dogs succeed in competition and then become part of someone’s hunting tradition is incredibly rewarding.”
In addition to the hunts and dogs, Otter Creek Farmstead has become renowned for being a beautiful wedding venue. They host about a dozen weddings each year and offer on-site lodging, catering, and coordination. The Green House provides space for bridal showers, tea parties, baby showers, and painting events. The Stables, Hill Cottage, Big Oak Lodge and Otter Creek Lodge can host 41 overnight guests with double occupancy.
Guests who aren’t interested in hunting can spend the day fishing, hiking, biking, shooting sporting clays, relaxing by the infinity pool and hot tub, riding ATVs, or enjoying cooking classes, wine and cheese tastings, and massages. 7 stocked ponds offer anglers opportunities to catch warmouth, bluegill, hybrid bream, perch, rock bass, rainbow trout, and both northern and southern largemouth bass. Stay-and-Play weekends combine luxury accommodations, gourmet meals, craft cocktails, and a round of golf at Silver Lakes on Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.
“We’ve created a place where anyone who loves the outdoors can find something to enjoy,” said Formby, who also serves as the director of client services. “Some guests come for the hunting, others never pick up a shotgun, but they all leave with experiences they can’t wait to come back for.”
That commitment to creating memorable experiences extends to the farmstead's food and drink offerings. Last fall, Otter Creek opened its own distillery, producing Otter Creek Double Wood whisky at a rate of about 30 gallons each week in 110- and 125-proof varieties. The Alabama whiskey is aged in five-gallon barrels with additional oak spirals to enhance flavor. Guests can purchase it by the glass, bottle, or barrel, and tastings are available by reservation.
In August, Otter Creek Farmstead started hosting weekly themed dinners featuring artisan pizzas, steaks, and other specialties that are open to the public.
“It’s a way for us to introduce local people to Otter Creek,” Formby said. “A lot of folks don’t realize we’re here. We want them to experience the property, get to know us, and become part of what we’re building.”
Otter Creek Farmstead has attracted national attention, earning features in magazines Covert Rise and Garden & Gun, which named it 1 of the Top 25 Dream Destinations for the Traveling Sportsman as well as on the Best of the Sporting South list.
“Our focus has always been on 3 things: exceptional hunting, outstanding food and genuine hospitality,” Brown said. “If guests leave feeling like family and can’t wait to come back, we’ve done our job.”
Supporting that level of hospitality requires dependable infrastructure. Brown said reliable utility service has been essential as the farmstead has grown. The property is powered by Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative, connected by Coosa Valley Technologies and fueled by Coosa Valley Propane.
“Coosa Valley has always provided top-notch service,” he said. “After the 2011 tornado, they had power restored in just 2 or 3 days, which was incredible considering the damage.”
He recalled another occasion when an overloaded transformer failed during an event with out-of-state guests.
“Within 4 hours, new transformers were installed, and we were back up and running,” Brown said. “That’s the kind of service you don’t see from larger utilities. CVEC genuinely cares about the small communities and the people they serve.”