American Prairie Homes Information

American Prairie Homes founder John Hilla is a 4th generation home builder who had strong work ethics instilled into him from an early age. He began his career drafting homes for a family business at age 16. He went on to study Architecture at the University of Minnesota; however his academics were cut short when he started his own family. In 1989, John founded Hans Fredrick, Inc., a custom cabinetry workshop based in Burnsville, MN. John's exceptional talent in woodworking, charismatic personality and quality craftsmanship led the company to great success. In 2000, John Hilla founded American Prairie Homes to begin building homes which would showcase his woodwork. He expanded his workshop capabilities to offer not only cabinets and millwork, but also custom interior and exterior doors and handcrafted furniture. He also was committed to building homes that utilized advanced building techniques to ensure higher energy efficiency and lower maintenance. This unique combination of artistry and performance is what defines American Prairie Homes. John Hilla died tragically in a vehicle accident on September 10th, 2010 on his way to work. Many of the relationships John formed from his early days at Hans Fredrick continued over the span of his career. Whether it was homeowners, subcontractors, employees or fans, John had many admirers that were in awe of his talent and honored to be a part of his work.