The Smith family homesteaded these 600 acres in Nakina when Henry Cannon Smith first put down roots. Six generations later, the land remains in the family, and we’re honored to carry its legacy forward as the Vaughan family.
Iron Horn is deeply rooted in family history. The Smith family has called Nakina, North Carolina home since the mid-1800s, when Henry Cannon Smith first established his homestead in 1868. The land — now transformed into the venue and the sportsman’s grounds — carries generations of stories, hard work, and a passion for bringing people together.
Robert grew up hunting and exploring this very land, creating countless memories tied to his family’s legacy. His great-grandmother, Emma Wright Smith, was known for her love of hosting friends and family — a tradition we’re proud to continue.
When the opportunity arose to leave Raleigh, we knew it was time to move closer to where the family’s roots began — and to honor this land’s history in a meaningful way.
Long before there was a wedding venue, there was hunting. Robert grew up working this land for waterfowl in flooded timber, upland birds in pine-edge cover, and deer in the seasons that allowed it. The same instincts that led to a deep connection with the property eventually led to a thoughtfully developed sporting operation.
Iron Horn Sportsman’s Grounds is built around experience, tradition, and doing things the right way. Strategically managed impoundments. Refuge feeding systems. Elite bird sourcing for waterfowl. Strong dog work and bird presentation on the upland side. A 5-Stand range polished enough to shoot before dinner. All of it on family land, run by people who hunt the property themselves.
Browse ExperiencesWait, what?
Owning a wedding and event venue was never part of the original plan. As we restored the property and brought our vision for Iron Horn Farms to life, several couples discovered our recently acquired farm, fell in love with it, and asked if we’d consider hosting their weddings.
While weddings were new to us, building something exceptional wasn’t. We recognized that although we didn’t have deep knowledge of the wedding industry then, we did have a unique team of talented people, ideally suited for making Iron Horn Farms what it has become today.
We host weddings and private events because we love sharing our farm with couples who love it too.
Since opening to the public in the fall of 2024, Iron Horn Farms has grown and evolved with every season. We’ve listened to our couples and worked every day to make the venue even better. From clearing and cleaning to designing and renovating, restoring ponds and landscaping, repainting, and thoughtfully designing each interior space, every decision has been made with one of the biggest days of your life in mind.
Three things we believe, on both sides of the property.
On the wedding side, we host one event per day — ever. On the hunting side, the property is yours for the duration of your stay. Privacy is the headline.
Strong dog work and consistent bird flights come from year-round habitat management, not a release truck on the morning of the hunt.
No outside investors, no quotas. Robert and Rachel run both sides of the operation with a small team of people who care about this land the way we do.