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To say I am an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes would be an understatement. I bleed Black and Gold. There’s something special about Saturdays in Iowa City during the Fall.  The tailgating atmosphere in Iowa City is truly one of a kind, and that’s where you can find me during Hawkeye home games.

Over the years, as our weekly tailgating shin dig got bigger and bigger, and the spreads of food expanded, the need for tables and chairs became a necessity.  However, as a true U of I Die Hard, only Hawkeye-themed furniture would suffice.  Because many of the products (tables, chairs and general Hawkeye-themed furniture) were overpriced, poorly constructed and with inferior materials, I decided to use my own expertise.

Utilizing the capabilities of my company, Custom Wood Products (which manufactures products for the RV and Marine Industries), I began designing and manufacturing Hawkeye tables, cabinets, bars, bar stools, and more, using MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard).

At first, I made these types of Hawkeye-themed products exclusively for myself, family and friends. However, after people kept stating how great they were and that they were of much higher quality than similar types of products in the marketplace, I decided to create Custom Hawkeye Products – a new division of Custom Wood Products.

The Next Phase of the Hawkeye Man Cave Project

As Iowans are well aware,  as Fall approaches Winter, temperatures begin to drop quickly, so we began searching for a tailgating location that would offer some protection from the unpredictable weather elements. We came across a garage unit for rent, located just 2 blocks from Kinnick Stadium. Soon after, the unit next to it became available, and our original “one-stall party pad” expanded to a two-stall Mega Party Pad that allowed us to tailgate in style with fellow Iowa Hawkeye Die Hards on Saturdays.

Using a wide variety of products from Custom Hawkeye Products, we worked to create a unique atmosphere to spend time with friends and family, before and after Hawkeye games. With a huge bar, stand-up pub tables, wall decorations, custom cabinetry and flat screen TVs, this two-stall garage took on the look and feel of a Sports Bar (minus the high drink prices).

The products used in this garage will soon be available to purchase on our site as stand-alone products, or potentially, as a complete “custom” Hawkeye Garage, transforming your garage into your very own Hawkeye Man Cave.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this project, and if you are interested in finding out more information, we would love for you to contact us.