A new and unique rental venue is now available just outside of Preston, Minn., that has much to offer for a wide variety of events.
Nestled in the countryside, although conveniently located just off of Hwy 52, Serenity Hills is the perfect place to hold your next special occasion.
This time of year, with the corn standing well over six feet tall, the building is almost completely out of sight except for the roof until you turn off the highway. As you drive up the driveway and then reach the top to see the beautiful views, it is clear why it is named Serenity Hills.
As fall approaches, the bright red, orange and yellow colors of the surrounding hills and the valley below are breathtaking.
Although the view was part of the inspiration of the site, the need for a large and complete venue in the area was the beginning of this family run business.
When Tori (Ristau) Johnson and her then fiancé, Stephen Johnson, were looking for a venue for their wedding, they found there were no venues near her hometown of Preston, Minn., that met all of their needs. The couple were also shocked at the cost for one day rentals of these facilities.
That got Tori to thinking, “We could build this” on her parents property. After much discussion with her parents, Randy and Debbie Ristau, and the rest of the family, they decided to go ahead with building on the picturesque spot and starting their family business, Serenity Hills.
The privacy of the spot is one of the first things that you notice at Serenity Hills, but that is just the tip of the iceberg, as the facility has so much to offer it seems the owners have thought of everything.
To begin with, the 5,000 square foot building is designed with large events in mind, so the main part of the space is a large open room with a stage and a bar. Two large overhead doors with tinted glass help to bring the outside in and makes the space feel even larger than it already is.
The main reception area will comfortably seat 300 guests. Very nice wooden chairs and a combination of round and rectangle tables are included in the rental.
The men at your next family wedding would be extremely excited about the Groom’s Den, which is a room off of the main reception area that includes two couches, a flat screen tv and its very own bar.
A Bridal Suite, coming in summer 2018, will surely be decorated with future brides in mind to help create the wedding day of their dreams.
An on-site ceremony location overlooks the valley and depending on the time of year you plan your wedding, you could have varying backgrounds for your wedding photos, from lush green trees in late spring to corn stalks in the summer and then on to fall foliage, and then of course, snow in the winter.
Just outside the building and close to the ceremony location is a stone patio with seating to add additional space for entertaining. Many guests would certainly enjoy the bonfire pit and seating located in a far corner of the property, which is all included in the price of rental as well.
The venue is in no means limited to weddings, however, as the area has plenty of outdoor grassy areas for children to run around and play during family reunions, and the space works perfectly for anniversaries, birthdays, class reunions, corporate parties and many other events.
Parking will not be an issue as there is a large gravel parking lot at Serenity Hills which is easy to drive in and out of.
Although there are currently no restrooms in the building at Serenity Hills, included in the rental fee is the use of a luxury restroom trailer, which resembles permanent facilities.
“These trailers are equipped with flushing toilets, running water sinks, they are temperature controlled, have individual stalls and surround sound stereo systems,” states Tori (Ristau) Johnson. “They are very functional and appropriate,” she adds.
Serenity Hills is now taking bookings so you may want to beat the rush. There will be an open house at Serenity Hills on October 7, 2017, from 3-7 p.m. as “we really want to welcome the public to see what we have been working on all summer,” states Johnson, adding, “it is quite amazing what a family, close friends and a small town community can create” together.
Serenity Hills is located at 21630 US 52, in Preston, Minn. For more information phone Tori at (507) 251-1760 or Debbie at (507) 259-6077.
Linda says
Is there a kitchen available?