Historic Round Barn Now A Destination Wedding Venue

Historic Round Barn Now A Destination Wedding Venue Tucked amidst forested hillsides, grassy fields and limestone bluffs, the Round Barn Farm near Red Wing, Minn., has grown into one of the most popular wedding venues in the Midwest. Anchoring the location is a 111-year-old round barn and a large country manor home built according to plans drawn in 1861. Kirk and Wendy Stensrud bought the 35-acre property eight years ago “to open a new phase in our lives,” Wendy says. “Our youngest was in her final year of college, and we wanted a change from sales and nursing.” Since then, they’ve improved, expanded, revitalized and built more facilities to accommodate weddings and parties of up to 300 people. “We certainly didn’t have any experience running a business like this, but we were willing to think outside the box and move on from our careers,” Wendy says. “It was an abrupt change from a suburban home, but we’ve persevered and learned along the way.” The stately five-bedroom brick house was built 30 years ago as a bed and breakfast. It was formed around a huge two-sided fireplace that uses 18-in. thick limestone blocks from the foundation of the original farmhouse. The natural wood flooring and trim blend beautifully with modern decorating. The Stensruds picked up where the previous owners left off, adding a large bride’s room to the third floor of the house and a comfortable groom’s room in an outside building. In 2017, they built a 5,000 sq. ft. event center to seat 300 guests out of the weather for a gathering and dinner. A talented excavator carved two-level outdoor grass lawns for outside weddings or parties. The barn, however, is the centerpiece of special events. “When we acquired the property, the barn was partially remodeled and very unique,” Kirk says, “but it didn’t have restrooms and wasn’t handicap accessible. We replaced the main level floor with new concrete and embedded in-floor heat. The center of the floor, at one time an old silo, now has a circular graphic highlighted with twinkling white lights. It’s the ideal spot for married couples to have their first dance.” Kirk says wedding decorators love to light the main and second floors to showcase the exposed wood walls and roof structure, creating an amazing party atmosphere. The barn is now more structurally sound and guest-friendly, thanks to recent improvements. One of the stone walls was buckling in 2020. A mason familiar with limestone restoration completely rebuilt a 40-ft. section, finishing it just days before a spring wedding. Restrooms were added to the main level, the old cistern became the utility room, and new 6 by 6 support beams were installed to reinforce the second floor. The second level entry became handicap accessible with a large door and a covered walkway leading to an outdoor patio. The venue is marketed personally and online as much more than a historic barn and beautiful home. In addition to brick and mortar, the location has 35 acres of gardens and trails with colorful outdoor scenery. Ceremonies can be held outside or indoors, with receptions inside or spilling into the outdoor areas. Wedding parties also have access to the bed and breakfast inn for accommodations. The Stensruds are quick to point out that their iconic barn, the last round one standing in Goodhue County, is a strong symbol of the state’s agricultural heritage. “It was built for farming; however, now, along with our other facilities, it provides a perfect setting for special ceremonies,” Wendy says. “We even have a large wooden replica of the barn displayed in the barn’s lower level. It was built by one of the family members raised here.” EDITOR’S NOTE: A 2010 story in FARM SHOW (Vol. 34, No. 3) explained how Ron Griffith spent 6 years and 3,000 hours building a 1/27th scale model of the historic barn. Griffith cut more than 8,700 wooden pieces for the replica. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Round Barn Farm, 28650 Wildwood Ln., Red Wing, Minn. 55066 (ph 651-360-2409; info@roundbarnfarm.com; www.roundbarnfarm.com).

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