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Our Staff and Mission
Owners Kim & Ginny Billings Lewis founded Main Street Tours / Reservations / Concierge in 2005 as an extension of decades of love and appreciation for the rare quality of life we all share who are able to call the Southern Oregon region 'home'.
Our mission is to provide the best quality services that revolve around a person's vist to our region. Whether it is unique lodging, dining, theatre, outdoor activities and tours, we work with families, alumni groups, corporate and association retreats, couples and even single retirees looking to find adventure in the Pacific Northwest.
Ginny's family were original Ashland, Oregon homesteaders who still 150 years later live on and run the Billings Farm & Ranch on the north side of Ashland. Ginny's Great Grandfather co-founded the Ashland Chataqua Movement and building which later was built upon for the current walls of the Elizabethan Outdoor Theatre of the Oregon Shakespeare Theatre. Her father John Billings at 97 years old just recently passed away at Billings Farm where he was raised-leaving a well respected legend of community service.
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M. Kim Lewis:
Co-owner & occasional guide decided after graduation from University of the South, Sewanee, TN where he learned to explore and study amidst the Appalachian Mountain Range campus of 10, 000 acres of native timber, streams and waterfalls. From the East Coast he decided he would "Go West Young Man", where he met his Ashland,Oregon bride and is " still living happily ever after ". Kim is a published national travel writer having been a contributing writer to the San Francisco Chronicle - So. Oregon Travel Treasures, Ottaway Newspapers - ' O' - Cirque Du Soleil , Attitude DIgest- Chicago, Il.
His first job out of college was matre d' and wine steward at Washington State's largest capitol restaurant in Olympia , WA.
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Ginny Billings Lewis:
Co-owner, is a legal assistant by trade, yet gave into Kim's wild, entrepreneurial side and keeps tabs on the books and staff to make sure the boat still floats for the company. She and Kim have raised two children. Their Simpson University graduate daughter, Leah, serves in Romania in Christian Children's Relief work for Youth With a Mission. Her blog can be seen at leahinromainia.blogspot.com. Their son, Chris, recently completed studies in business and communications at Oregon State University.
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Michael Steele:
Tour Guide, is a three decade member of Ashland who teaches at Head Start, loves to wind surf, snow board and mountain bike. Michael is one of our primary guides for mountain biking, winery tours and Crater Lake National Park.
His claim to fame is having played tennis in LA with the John Wayne family. He won't tell us who won.
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Larry Brewster: Wine Tour Guide
He learned winemaking and viticulture from his father and grandfather. Since the 1970s, Larry's been tasting, exploring and lecturing about wine throughout California. He has been a wine ship owner and winemaker in his past.
Larry loves to review for our clients a diverse selection of wines while discussing the intricacies of tasting, identificaton of flavor components, and the rich history of various varietals from France, Italy, Spain and of course Washington, (especially Southern ) Oregon and California.
Chris Wagenet : Tour Guide
Chris likes to be called ' The Weather Man', as he is a registered meteorologist who is on call for KOBI-TV. He also teaches math at Crater High School .
Every day off he prefers to be ' in the woods hiking , biking or guiding our trips'. He plays a pretty
tune or two on the piano as well.
Ask for him as a guide and you'll have one of the best !
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Charlie Neumann:
Tour Guide, grew up in Ashland and returned after a corporate career in California. He and his wife raise Doberman pinscher dogs because he says, "they are so sweet." Charlie's claim to fame was playing the trombone and French horn as a high schooler in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival orchestral band. Charlie is one of our most popular guides.
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B J. Matzen:
Our Professional Birding Guide lives in Klamath Falls and as a native Oregonian got his B. S. degree at OSU in Animal Science , Fish and Game, then went to Willamatte University for his Law Degree. He's been past president of Klamath Wingwatchers, Inc and Klamath Basin Audibon Society/. He practices law for Klamath County towns as well as water rights properties and has a vast understanding of the regions natural resources. Says B. J., " I work so I can bird". We appreciate him being on our team.
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Reilly Lewis:
Company Mascot and Guard, virtually 'lives the Life of Reilly' across from the Billings Farm, where he visits his cousin animals regularly. He chases balls voraciously, and we tell him he's helping bring in water birds that cannot swim yet...
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