About Sunhillow Farm
Our “farm” started out back in 1978 when Bill Magee, while still in law school at LSU, purchased the first 22 acres where the log cabin, deer pens, and berry orchard are now located. Today, the farm is comprised of 220 acres, which also includes waterfront access to the Pearl River Canal, the lakes, beach, and hunting areas.
Bill and Karen Hokanson Magee met on the largest lake on the property, while she and her family were water skiing during the 4th of July weekend in 1987. They married in February 1989 and lived on the farm full time until 2000 with their four children, Jonathan, Katie, Becca, and Alex. In 1991, Bill and his dad planted the first blueberry bushes in the orchard, along with muscadine vines and mayhaw trees. There are now 600 blueberry bushes in the orchard providing picking opportunities for all the pickers who visit the farm.
In the summer of 2000, Bill and Karen and the kids moved to Abita Springs so the kids would be closer to schools and friends. They also built their “camp” on the 10-acre lake on the farm as the new “weekend home”. It is now referred to as the "Lake House".
In September of 2015, Bill started the deer farm. The farm has the deer farm permit #561 issued by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture. As of 2020, there are a total of three acres of pens situated next to the Log Cabin. The farm has a great mix of both Texas and Northern genetics which produces many sought-after bucks for stocking and does for breeding.
In May of 2018, Bill and Karen sold their house in Abita Springs and moved back to the farm to live in the lake house. In August 2018, they decided to dive into the short-term rental market and joined Airbnb and VRBO to promote their Log Cabin for rent. It has turned out to be a great move and allows them to meet some incredible guests from all over the world. A quick read of the reviews of those who have stayed at the Log Cabin, beginning in October of 2018, reveals how special a place the farm has become for others to come and enjoy. Bill and Karen have earned the coveted designation of “Superhost" with AirBnB and the “Premier Partner” listing status with VRBO in just 6 months.
Bill retired in 2019 and now spends most of his time with Karen taking care of the farm and all the animals. They also enjoy playing tennis and spending time traveling to see and be with the kids. They have 5 chickens, a herd of deer, 2 dogs, and 2 cats. Bill and Karen welcome all the guests to the farm and the Log Cabin to share their enjoyment of nature. The farm, as it now exists, is a 220 acre secluded estate that is waiting for you to explore and enjoy. Let us host you on your next getaway from all the distractions of the city. Reconnect with nature.