Tom was born in Charles City, Iowa, and graduated from Wartburg College with a BSBA before beginning a 32 career in multi unit franchise operations management with various restaurant chains. Tom lived in Minneapolis, West Lafayette, Los Angeles, Albuquerque,Richmond, Sacramento and Phoenix before embarking on year long quest to develop the Red Cedar Lodge. The Winterink family moved to Charles City 2008.

Lorraine was born in Pittsburgh, Pa and grew up in Poland, Ohio. Lorraine earned a BSBA at Youngstown State University before joining International Dairy Queen in multi unit management management. Lorraine lived in Denver before marrying Tom in 1988 and will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in June and joined him in Albuquerque. Together, they followed Tom's career track, welcomed a daughter in 1996 and moved to Iowa in 2008.

Gale O'Flattery owns Gale's Country Cleaning and helped Tom & Lorraine clean the cabins as they each completed construction in 2009. Gale is very loyal, hard working and an important team member aiding in our to provide clean, well maintained cabins to our guests.