The Homestead Restaurant

It's That Time of Year Again

2010-10-20T12:16:00.000-05:00

TRY OUR NEW SPECIALS

2010-04-08T10:09:00.000-05:00

MAKE SUNDAY A FAMILY DAY

2010-04-08T09:44:00.002-05:00

HAPPY EASTER

2010-03-25T10:58:00.000-05:00

NEW MENU AT THE HOMESTEAD

2010-02-24T08:58:00.002-06:00

FRIDAY FISH FRY - EVERY FRIDAY!

2010-02-18T10:08:00.000-06:00

Join The Homestead for Valentines Day!

2010-01-28T09:44:00.002-06:00

2010-01-07T10:58:00.002-06:00

ISABELLE BLOOM

2009-12-01T11:15:00.002-06:00

It's That Time of Year Again

2009-11-28T09:12:00.002-06:00

2009-11-12T09:50:00.005-06:00

Get The Family Together

2009-10-29T10:11:00.006-05:00

Now Available: Stone Cliff Winery

2009-02-11T16:28:00.001-06:00

Stone Cliff Winery and vineyard is owned and operated by Bob and Nan Smith and is currently located in the beautiful rolling hills outside of Dubuque in Eastern Iowa. The first vineyard was planted in 1998 and each year after a new vineyard was added. Today Stone Cliff has 10 acres of vines it uses to blend with California varietals which gives the flavor of the great wines the consumer has come to recognize and appreciate.

The winery started selling in 2001 and four of their six wines have received a variety of awards from the Indiana State competition. All 6 of their wines are top sellers in the Dubuqueland area.

Stop in the Cider House Lounge and try a glass of Stone Cliff Wine. Bottles are also available for sale in our gift shop.

A Stress Free Thanksgiving

2008-11-19T21:39:00.001-06:00

We know you're busy planning

Thanksgiving...

Are you worried about your oven accomodating a turkey, vegetables, rolls and pies???

Here's a stress-reliever... place your pie order with us early and we'll have it ready for you when YOU need it!

Problem solved ~ no worries!

There's one thing off your list, giving you more time to enjoy the holiday!!
CALL US TODAY... we'll be happy to help!

Check out our new Bar Menu!

2008-09-15T12:31:00.001-05:00

Try our new martini Rasp-tini! It is made with CLearheart Vodka made right here in Iowa.

Enjoy an Iowa by the glass or by the bottle. We also sell bottles in our gift shop!

Family Style Sundays

2008-07-01T14:35:00.005-05:00

~Join Us Every Sunday for our Family Style Breakfast~

Family Style Breakfast includes:

* Fruit

*Cinnamon Rolls

*Pancakes

*Fried Potatoes

* Eggs

*Sausage

*Ham

*Toast

*Orange juice and Coffee

$7.95 for Adults

$3.95 for children 6-12

Kids 5 and under are free

Our family Style Breakfast is served from 9:00 AM til 11:30 AM every Sunday.

~Join Us Every Sunday for Family Style Dinners~

Family Style Dinners begin at 11:30 AM til 2:30 PM at which time the dinner menu will begin.

Just like being at Grandma's, our family style dinners are served to the table.

Family style dinner includes:

* one or two meats of the following:

- Pot Roast

- Pork Roast

- Ham Steak

- Apricot Chicken

*Rolls and butter

*Mashed potatoes with gravey

*Hot Vegetable

*Applesauce

*Coleslaw

1 Meat Family Style $8.95

2 Meat Family Style $10.95

12 years and under are half price and 5 years and under are free

(Meat choices apple to the entire table, not individually. If groups would like to have 3 meats there is an additional charge (13.95 per person) Sorry no carryouts allowed during our family style meals.)

ALL FAMILY STYLE MEALS ARE ALL YOU CAN EAT

A Piece of History

2008-05-12T08:50:00.008-05:00

When we built The Homestead we wanted it to reflect the history of an Iowa farmstead. We knew that to take a new building and create history would be a challenge, but we incorporated several details to accomplish this.
One of the details is in our Cider House lounge. Hanging on the large stone wall you see an oil painting of a red barn. To most, this is just a picture, but to the King family and those that remember the King family farm, this is a treasure.

The King family farm is located just south of Fairbank, IA. In fact the city limits borders the farm. The barn was built in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s and was a place of work and play.

In 1984, the entire barn was torn down except for the tile silo. The silo to this day remains as a reminder to where the barn once stood. It was and still is the target for many walnuts that are thrown every time family visits.

A family friend, Lois Maricle painted the picture the year the barn was torn down. While painting the picture she realized that the foreground of the picture needed “something”. So you will see a furry dog standing in front of the hay wagon. Taffy, Tom’s dog, was just the “something” that was needed. Taffy was your typical farm dog who everyone loved.

Boards from this barn can be found on the walls of the Country Junction Restaurant in Dyersville, IA.

The next time you visit The Homestead, make sure you stop in the Cider House and see a little of our family history.

The Swans have arrived!!

2008-04-17T17:50:00.006-05:00

Spring is truly here! Marked by the arrival of the swans on Swan Lake, we all are hopeful that warmer days are ahead. A nesting pair were placed on the lake on Tuesday and despite a couple of windy days they have started to nest in the same location as last year.

Around the end of May we hope to see cygnets (baby swans). After the cygnets hatch the parents and the cygnets will be removed from the lake and replaced with two other pairs. If left on the lake the cygnets are in danger of being attacked by the area wildlife.

With the swans arrival the back dining rooms are once again the most requested seating choice. Hopefully, it will soon be warm enough for customers to enjoy the back porch as well. The rocking chairs and benches have been put out and are just waiting for the warmer weather.

The Cider House Lounge

2008-04-11T17:35:00.005-05:00

Spring is almost here! Right? Our bar manager, Sarah, took what mother nature has handed us and created a couple of new Martini's to help us all get through this damp and cold Spring. Stop in and try one soon!

We are LIVE!!!

2008-04-06T17:51:00.003-05:00

Greetings!!

I am happy to announce that The Homestead Restaurant website is up and running. There are a few more changes to be made, but for the most part it is complete. Please check it out. http://www.homestead-restaurant.com/

Along with the website we are returning to our blog to keep our customers informed of all the happenings at the Homestead. Unfortunately, we have not updated the blog since we opened. It seems like we opened the doors and have been running ever since. We will now be posting on the blog on a regular basis so please check in often.

Installations begin!

2007-05-20T21:38:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone!

The wood floor has been installed, stained and 3 coats of tung oil applied. We need one more coat on Monday and then it is ready to go. The floors in the kitchen, back bar, coolers and bathrooms will begin installation tomorrow. Once the kitchen is finished Martin Bros. is ready to start delivering the equiptment. Things are really starting to happen fast.

We held our job fair this past Saturday and had a great turnout. Looks like most positions are filled. We can use a few more servers and we have a few more weeks to hire before the big opening. Thanks for checking in and enjoy the pictures.

A glimpse of the wood floor in the bar.
The floor in the giftshop after the 3rd coat of tung oil. It is still wet in this photo so that is why it is so shiny.

A photo does not do the floor or rock justice. It is so much better in person.

Help Wanted!!

2007-05-02T22:21:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to post that we are now in search of employees to fill all positions. Our management team of : Jeremy Smith - Kitchen Manager, Patrick White - Manager, and Vicki Marlow- Manager, are looking for people to become part of our Homestead family. Full and Part time positions are available with flexible scheduling.

Applications can be picked up at the Heartland Acres offices or at Country Junction Restaurant in Dyersville. If you have any questions about the positions please feel free to e-mail Tom at tking@countryjunctionrestaurant.com or call toll free 1-800-598-9466.

We have color!

2007-05-02T21:18:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the long delay in my updates. We have been very busy with all the last minute decisions and a family wedding. In the past weeks all the painting has been completed. I am attaching pictures, but I must warn you that I am not a fan of white walls. I think that will be clear once you see the pictures. Main Dining room.

Gift shop. The back wall is cedar paneling.

The Gathering room looking into the smaller dining room.

Looking from the Gathering Room into the smaller dining room.

Masons working on the Cider House stone wall. After seeing how well the fireplace turned out we couldn't resist adding more stone to the decor.

This picture is looking into the actual bar in the Cider House. Have I scared you with all the color? I hope not. As tables and chairs are added it will really start coming together. Every room should have a focal point and the maining dining room is no exception. We finally saw the completed fireplace. It has been covered in plastic til the painting was finished.

A picture does not do this fireplace justice. The mantel is a rough hewn chunk of walnut adding an old age feel.

A side view showing the limestone slants and you can see where the men's bathroom door is located.

The Cider House stone wall is complete and the stone is being put on the front of the bar. It is hard to see in this picture, but the metal is on the south wall as well.

The back porch railings are installed. It has really added personality to the back of the building.

That should give everyone a pretty good idea of where we are at now. The parking lot crew began preperations today so hopefully it won't be long before we have concrete to park on. With every change we are pinching ourselves that we are this far in the buillding process. It won't be long before the front door is open for business.

April!

2007-04-07T22:54:00.000-05:00

Things are starting to move pretty fast at the construction site. It only took the installers for the dry wall two days to get the walls up. It is really taking shape. The stone masons started on the fireplace on Friday and I love how it is looking. It is definitely going to be a focal point of the whole restaurant. I have attached a picture below.

Below is a picture of the back dining rooms with the dry wall up.

Our logo has also been completed. We wanted a logo that represented the style of signs designed in the late 1800's. I think we were able to get that with a twist by adding a little color.

We have completed the design of the tables and the booths. Both, along with the chairs, have been ordered. Tom completed the last of the kitchen equipment orders as well. The color palate has been selected and the window treatments have been ordered. Flooring orders are complete as well. It will become very exciting as all of the fixtures start to arrive. We will say our prayers that everything arrives on time.

We have started the hiring process. Our management team has been assembled and I will introduce them in my next posting.

As we come to the final phases the pictures will become less frequent as I want to leave a little element of surprise for everyone. :)

Update

2007-03-10T21:41:00.000-06:00

Hello!

Tom and I spent a good part of last Wednesday at the site. We met with electricians, plumbers, and the contractor. I think we got most of the electrical planned out. It was hard to guess at how many lights and outlets we will need. We also were able to pick out the stone for the fireplace. The green metal roof was being put on while we were there. That should be completed by this next week. I took just a few pictures as not much on the outside has changed.

View of the green roof over the kitchen side.

I took this picture to show that the front door is now installed.

Southeast corner.
The green roof on the south side. The back porch doors are also installed.

We have Windows!

2007-02-25T20:31:00.000-06:00

Tom and I haven't been to the site for a couple weeks as the cold weather brought some of the progress to a hault. We met with Steve this past Wednesday, 2-21-07, to look over the progress made. We were happy to see the windows. I was relieved as I am the one who made the final decision on the panes and they turned out just like I had pictured in my head. Whew!!

As you can see the siding is going up and the green metal roof will be next. We were able to walk around in the building despite the layer of ice that had formed over the floors. The fireplace frame is built and it is huge. I love it!! We corrected a few things but for the most part it looked great. I can't wait for everyone to see the view of the lake from the back dining rooms.

I hope you enjoy the pictures below.

The front of the building.

The front porch.

The gift shop!

This is the loft space that is created with ceiling over the bathrooms. We will fill it with antiques.

South end of main dining room. This is opposite the loft from the previous picture. Gives you an idea how tall the ceilings will be in the main dining room.

A view of back dining with all the windows.

The front of the building. Starting to look like a farmhouse don't you think?

Another view of the front.

A view of the side and back of the building. Lots of windows.

I hope that gives a glimpse at our progress. Til next time......

Taking Shape

2007-01-29T22:33:00.000-06:00

1-24-07 we visited the site to see that the roof trusses were all in place. I am just posting a couple pictures as it is hard to tell what everything is. Looks more like a bunch of matchsticks then walls.

A view of the front of the building.

This picture shows the vaulted ceiling to the main dining room.

A picture of the front of the building. We will be returning this week to check on progress. Stay tuned!

Walls

2007-01-17T16:35:00.000-06:00

Tom and I ran to Independence today to check on progress. We had heard from several customers that there were walls up. We were happy to see today that this was true. Steve (our contractor), Jason and Chris were all braving the bitter cold getting prepared for roof trusses to arrive this week. I do not know how they can stay warm enough in weather like this. We froze in the short time that we were on site.

We met with Ed at Spahn & Rose to finalize the window design so that windows can be ordered. Next week we hope to see the roof come together along with more of the inside walls.

This is a view looking East into the smaller dining room off the porch.

This is the larger dining room looking west. You can see Country Inn & Suites peeking over the top. You would walk to your left to go out onto the back porchBathrooms, the windows are to the front side of the building.

Ok, this is looking northeast at the gift shop area. Everything to the left of the outside door is the gift shop. You can see the office walls laying on the ground.

Standing at the front door looking to the left. The office goes in the back corner and the bar goes in the middle.

Standing at front door looking right into the main dining room. I am standing about where the fireplace will go.
Do I have you totally confused yet? This is taken from the back dining room looking through the main dining windows towards the front door. Once all the walls are up you won't be able to see all the way through. The three front windows are the gift shop area again.

Standing in the office looking towards the main dining room.

Not my better side, but this is the kitchen. To the left you can see the stairway leading to the basement.

Front of building.

View from the road. The back two doors are the dining room doors that will come out to the back porch.

THE END!

January 4th 2007

2007-01-06T21:08:00.000-06:00

Hello!

This is our first view of the restaurant in the New Year! We made a quick stop to snap a couple of pictures. The large metal support beam had been installed the day before with a crane. When we arrived they were just finishing the kitchen floor. The forms were off of the foundation walls and the tarps were covering the area that would have concrete poured over it.

Kitchen floor!

The tarped area is the area that has yet to have concrete poured.

We were able to get a shot from across the lake of the site.
Zoomed in on the site. We were told be a little bird that the concrete pump truck was at the site yesterday. We are hoping that it is all poured and we are set to start building. We hopefully, will not need the concrete trucks til Spring when the parking lot is poured. We will be heading to the site once again next week. Til then, enjoy!!

December 27th

2007-01-06T20:57:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone!

Not much changed over the Christmas Holiday. There was rain and it delayed the concrete work a little. There was a basement floor when we arrived and the foundation walls around the rest of the building were poured. I have attached the pictures.

The basement floor.

The view of the foundation.

Back filling around the basement walls.

Progress!

2006-12-23T22:48:00.000-06:00

Tom & I were able to take these pictures on December 20th. There are basement walls and footings for the slab part of the building. We continue to keep our fingers crossed that the weather stays mild so that the rest of the concrete work can be completed. We realize that it doesn't look like alot at this point, but you would be amazed how many decisions had to be made to get this far! :)

This is the latest drawing of the front of the restaurant.

The above picture is looking northwest. This would be the basement which is under the kitchen.

Looking west, the footings for the back dining rooms.

At this angle we are looking at the footings for the front of the building. The location for the restrooms.

Looking south, the guys are digging the footings for the front porch.

Looking to the North, this is the back dining, the office and last but not least the gift shop!

Looking west on the south side. The "grave" like holes are actually where the footings for the back porch are located.

The plumbers have arrived! We will return this next week to see if any progress was made after we left. It started to sprinkle after we left so we are guessing that everything came to a hault. Feel free to send us comments by clicking on the "comment" tab at the bottom of the post.

Press Release

2006-12-09T20:54:00.000-06:00

New Resturant to Open by Heartland Acres Agribition Center
Independence, Iowa – December 04, 2006 – Tom and Kay King, owners of the Country Junction Restaurant in Dyersville, officially announced plans to expand their operations by building a new restaurant in Independence.

The new restaurant, called “The Homestead”, will feature a warm, family dining setting complete with a large field stone fireplace, three dining rooms with views of Swan Lake, a “back porch”, two private party rooms with seating for up to seventy-five, and the “Cider House” bar featuring Iowa Beer & Wines.

“Kay and I are excited to expand our business to a community like Independence”, stated Tom. The King’s were both born and raised in Northeast Iowa and contribute “small town” upbringing to the success of their business. “I grew up in Fairbank and to be able to still call Eastern Iowa home and meet and serve the hardworking people of the area is something we both cherish.”

Having owned and operated the Country Junction Restaurant for the past sixteen years, the King’s pride themselves in their country themed dining. “We feel that dining out is not just about receiving a great meal, but also about the atmosphere and the entire experience”, commented Tom. Complete with “home style cooking” that features family style dining and made from scratch pies, the King’s style of dining has awarded them recognition in several national publications including Restaurants USA and Midwest Living.

The Homestead will be reminiscent of a visit to grandma’s house and is complete with a farmhouse décor with wood flooring. Keeping with the country theme, The Homestead will offer an assortment of home-cooked meals including a family style breakfast served on Sunday’s. Other amenities include the “Cider House” where you can enjoy a beverage sitting at the bar or relax on one of the couches or walk out to the “back porch” to enjoy the view of Swan Lake. “We will also feature a unique gift shop that has an assortment of soy candles, specialty coffees, and teas to name a few”, mentioned Kay.

“The idea to expand just made sense to coincide with all of the agricultural endeavors that are happening in the area”, mentioned Tom. “With the development of Heartland Acres and their dedication to agricultural initiatives in the state, our endeavors will compliment each other well.”
Construction on “The Homestead Restaurant” began this week with plans to open in June. For more information, call 800-598-9466 or visit www.countryjunctionrestaurant.com or look for their blog http://thehomesteadrestaurant.blogspot.com/.

Let the digging begin!

2006-12-06T21:41:00.000-06:00

We arrived in Independence for a 9 AM radio interview at Brite 95.3. Arriving on the site we were greeted with progress! The sewer and water have been completed and the hole for the foundation has begun.

View from Iowa Avenue coming off of Hwy 20.

View from Swan Lake Blvd, looking towards the front door.

Looking north, this is a view of the basement in progress.

We welcome any comments from our viewers. A comment tab can be found at the end of every post.
Thank you for checking in!

Blueprints

2006-12-04T10:58:00.000-06:00

Here are the latest drawings of the restaurant. I hope they are large enough for everyone to read.

The above drawing is if the north & south side of the building. The top picture is the south side being the "back porch" The section in the middle is a wide stairway that walks down to the lawn.
The second picture is of the front of the building. the white square will be the location of the sign.

The above is the floor plan. Click on it to see a larger image.

This picture shows how the building will sit on the lot. It is angled so that we have the best possible view of the lake.

Welcome!

2006-12-03T14:17:00.000-06:00

We hope to keep everyone informed on the progress of The Homestead Restaurant. Our journey began clear back in March of 2006. We were approached to build and operate a restaurant in the town of Independence, IA. After a lot of thought, we made the decision and began the construction process.

The restaurant will sit along Hwy. 20 as a part of the Agribution complex, Heartland Acres, that is now being built. http://heartlandacresusa.com/ Big things are expected with this new tourist destination and we are excited about being a part of it.

We now have our final blueprints and the site is being prepared for the foundation. The following pictures are of the site before construction.

This is facing North on the south side of Independence. This will be the view from the front door.

This is the view from the back porch. The restaurant will over look Swan Lake. Which is home to two pair of swans. In the background you can see the Heartland Acres Barn.

View looking west. The restaurant will sit right next to a brand new Country Inn & Suites.

A view looking from a distance.

We will continue to post pictures as the building process continues.