Through Restoration & Careful Attention to Detail, the Howey Mansion is Restored to its Glory
Our Owners
Brothers Brad and Clay Cowherd are Florida natives, having grown up in Winter Park. Their father and grandfather were longtime participants in the Orlando real estate and development scene, making the brothers third-generation real estate investors. Frequents to their lake cottage in Yalaha, along with the bakery, Blue Bayou, and Mission Inn, the brothers had long been interested in the then-abandoned and decrepit Howey Mansion, fostering a desire to return it to its former glory and render it an asset to its community once more. It's been the Cowherd Family's privilege and honor to restore the Howey Mansion alongside many historical experts, talented partners, and skilled tradespeople.
Brad lives in Orlando with his wife Christina and their five children. Avid travelers, the family runs a faith-based nonprofit in Guatemala, providing wood-burning stoves to the rural Mayan population. Clay lives in Charleston with his wife Rachael, who is a faculty physician at the Medical University of South Carolina. They enjoy spending time with their two young children, Quinn and Stellan.
Brad lives in Orlando with his wife Christina and their five children. Avid travelers, the family runs a faith-based nonprofit in Guatemala, providing wood-burning stoves to the rural Mayan population. Clay lives in Charleston with his wife Rachael, who is a faculty physician at the Medical University of South Carolina. They enjoy spending time with their two young children, Quinn and Stellan.
Our Restoration Managers
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On July 14, 2017 we began an amazing adventure. Brad and Clay Cowherd, our nephews, had just closed on the purchase of the long-abandoned historic Howey Mansion. We were there to change the locks and begin the restoration of this magical home. We had been researching the history of the mansion for many months in anticipation of this very day but nothing could have prepared us for what lay ahead.
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We are semi-retired and, as a couple, we brought our unique work experiences and a love for all things old to this project. We, along with our beloved boxer Lucie, slept in the Mansion that first night with no air conditioning and boards still on the windows. For the next 9 months we lived in the Mansion and worked with our nephews to find and supervise the absolutely amazing craftsmen who lovingly worked their magic to bring this central Florida landmark back to life. It is they who deserve the credit for many of the beautiful details that were able to be saved.
We will be forever grateful for the opportunity we were given to be a part of this amazing transformation. It brings us such great joy to see this once abandoned and deteriorating beauty come roaring back to life and to know that the Howey Mansion will be filled with love, laughter and community for a very long time to come.
We will be forever grateful for the opportunity we were given to be a part of this amazing transformation. It brings us such great joy to see this once abandoned and deteriorating beauty come roaring back to life and to know that the Howey Mansion will be filled with love, laughter and community for a very long time to come.
Our Venue Manager
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Karen is the caretaker of this magnificent nearly 100-year-old mansion lovingly restored to its original glory by the Cowherd Family in 2017. She is the historic tour guide and host, utilizing her deep passion for "maximum client engagement" to provide a personal and memorable experience for her guests at the mansion. She is honored to be a champion for Arthur's Catering, our exclusive catering partner, and Central Florida's "best of the best." She is delighted to be an ambassador of the mansion on wedding and event days, to partner with her industry friends she cherishes within the Central Florida event community, and to provide a warm welcome to guests of the mansion. She plans to strategically look for ideas and partnerships to better her community and support local family and small businesses.
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On a personal note, Karen has 20 years of experience in the Hospitality Industry and has a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of South Florida. Her experience spans such organizations including The Ritz-Carlton, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club, Villa Parker an Event Venue in Colorado her home state, Mission Inn as the Associate Director of Catering and most recently Lake Nona Golf & Country Club as the Member Events Manager. She and her husband Doug moved to the charming Town of Howey-in-the-Hills in 2017 where they first saw the beautiful Howey Mansion still waiting to be rescued and lovingly restored. She is a proclaimed sushi addict, yoga and paddle board loving travel enthusiast, hopeless romantic, event guru and collector of experiences. She looks forward to being part of many memorable and unforgettable experiences at The Howey Mansion and looks forward to welcoming you and sharing its nostalgic Old Florida elegance, beauty and charm thanks to the Cowherd family.
