Geneva's Hideaway & Ice Cream Shoppe sweetening Peterson

By News Team
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Fri, Jan 27th, 2012
Posted in All Progress Edition

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Geneva's Ice Cream Shoppe attracts a crowd in Peterson. Photo by Kirsten Zoellner

You've seen them in just about every small town; buildings for sale. Take for instance an 1980s era 8-plex apartment building. Sure it may have that lovely outdated carpeting and décor, but what if you looked beyond the obvious.

For Terry and Cindy Highum, that's exactly how Geneva's Hideaway came into being. Now, the building exists as an eight-unit lodge, with spacious room, including complete, fully-equipped kitchen, private bath, and spacious outdoor spaces including a barbecue pavilion. One 600 sq. ft. bedroom suite and seven 700 sq. ft., two-bedroom suites are available year round. Keeping up with modern conveniences, amenities include air conditioning, cable television, and non-smoking rooms.

The Peterson couple purchased the property in the spring of 2000 after seeing it sit for sale for quite some time. Renovations began almost immediately, with four units being ready for rental by the fall of the same year. By the next spring, the entire building had seen updated and refined aesthetics.

While Peterson boasts two established Bed & Breakfast properties, Geneva's Hideaway allows for more hotel-like lodging and has been popular with repeat clients, such as families and groups attending specific functions. Since its opening, Geneva's Hideaway has seen a steady stream of tourists pass through the town of 253 residents.

In addition, Geneva's Hideaway caters to outdoor enthusiasts, bicyclists enjoying the Root River State Trail, as well as anglers, canoeing, kayaking, and tubing on the Root River. Taking it even further, Geneva's Hideaway will assist with those wanting overnight canoe trips or a simple picnic lunch along the waterfront. As they move toward the future, Terry Highum can see a potential to grow, despite already having his hands full. "We have a nice business with deer and turkey hunters in the spring and fall and we'd like to continue that."

So, Geneva's Hideaway is the lodging, but where do day guests and day travelers dine? Enter Geneva's Ice Cream Shoppe. Situated in a building right on Main Street, the shoppe is only a block from the state trail, and features a myriad of mouthwatering delights.

Of course, that building itself has seen some history. According to Highum, it has been a little bit of everything, including an antique store, appliance store, general store, and gas station, even selling Harley-Davidson motorcycles out of the back in one era. Also set up to meet its new purpose, the shoppe is decorated as an old-fashioned parlor, and serves Hand-dipped Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, sandwiches, drinks, and more. Open mid-May through mid-September (weather dependent), the shoppe serves customers seven days a week.

For more information about Geneva's Hideaway and Geneva's Ice Cream Shoppe, contact Terry or Cindy Highum at 1 (877) 727-4816 (toll free), (507) 875-7733, or email at Genevas@acegroup.cc. You can also visit them on the web at: www.genevashideaway.com .

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