John Meng, 46, a Maysville native, looks over the Maysville downtown and the Ohio River from The Headmaster’s House on Fourth Street, a 192-year-old Federalist-style home he and his wife are restoring. He comes to the house in the mornings to fill up bottles with drinking water from their water reservoir. Together with his wife, Christie Toffan, they fell in love with the hilltop location.
John Meng, 46, a Maysville native, works from his home office as a security compliance professional, a job he has had for the past 23 years. After being "glued to the screen," he seeks to rejuvenate by connecting with nature and engaging in sports.
John Meng, 46, closes the door of the old train trestle in the Maysville flood wall, which he converted into a storage space for his watersports venture, Hole in the Wall Kayaking. Meng had to clean 4 feet of decades' worth of mud from the area to begin preparing the storage space.
John Meng, 46, a Maysville native, kayaks on the Ohio River during a lunch break from his work as a security compliance professional. Meng is developing a kayak rental venture, Hole in the Wall Kayaking, to share his passion for water sports.
John Meng, 46, picks tomatoes from the garden attached to The Headmaster's House on Fourth Street in Maysville. The quarter-acre garden is a big part of the couple's nature-loving lifestyle, focusing on longevity and well-being.
Christie Toffan, 47, smells a pomelo fruit while shopping with her husband, John Meng, 46. The couple's nature-loving lifestyle extends to their focus on fresh produce and overall well-being.
Maysville native John Meng, 46, smiles as he carries his bicycle from his home to get ready for a group ride on Wednesday evening—a last outdoor ride as the temperatures dropped. Meng says only those willing to embrace human-powered sports will understand the true wonders our natural world has to offer.
John Meng (right) rides along a scenic backroad in Mason County at sunset together with his friends Marc Pawsat (59), and Kyle Pitakis (36), both from Maysville, who have been riding together for about 7 or 8 years. Meng is passionate about the local cycling community and group rides.
John Meng, 46, and Christie Toffan, 47, embrace while looking toward the Ohio River and the Simon Kenton Memorial Bridge at night near Capronis Restaurant, where they attend a community event of the Rotary Club of Maysville. The couple is passionate about the town and its preservation.
Passion for sports and preservation
⠀When John Meng steps away from his desk as a security compliance professional, he dives into his two great passions: connecting with nature and preserving local history. His love for sports includes kayaking on the Ohio River, cycling the backroads of Mason County, or hiking with his wife, Christie Toffan.
⠀Several years ago, John conceived the idea of starting a water sports venture, “Hole in the Wall Kayaking.” The name came from the entrance to the storage space—the old train trestle in the city’s flood wall. After receiving permission from city officials to enter the area, which hadn’t been opened for 60 years, John found decades’ worth of river mud inside to clean up. “I would like to see Maysville become a destination point on the river and share the joy of water’s magical rhythm with others,” John says.⠀
⠀John’s love for this land and historic buildings runs deep. As a Maysville native, he recalls being curious about the stories behind the building facades as he peered out the school bus window. It started in 2018 with his first urban townhouse renovation, Old Kentucky Home. A few years later, he and Christie bought an adjacent building, passionately renovated it, and opened a hair salon, which she now runs.
⠀⠀The couple is currently tackling their biggest project yet: The Headmaster’s House, a 192-year-old Federalist-style building, after falling in love with its character and scenic hilltop view. Despite needing extensive renovation, the house still features high ceilings, original hardwood floors, and a curved stairway. A quarter-acre garden attached to the house is a big part of their nature-loving lifestyle. John works on renovations every weekend and most weekday afternoons, driven by his energy and connection to the land. The ultimate goal? To inspire others to see the promise hidden beneath the chipped paint and broken windows of Maysville’s old buildings, and to make The Headmaster’s House a home for their family.
Publication on Mountain Workshop page
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Coaches: Eric Seals (photo), Jack Brammer (writing)
Picture editing team: Connor Marchant, Keshab Raj Thoker