I recently had the pleasure of spending some time with the Huntingtons, and talking about a little town with a big draw that rests upon a hilltop on the backside of their farm.
When Bob and Carol Huntington purchased their 168 acre farm back in December 1979, they probably didn’t envision how this property would some day become the center of attention for their family.
Their farm, located half way between Chatfield and Fountain, is so picturesque from Highway 52, that it belongs on a postcard. A long driveway, symmetrically lined with trees, leads up to their classic white house.
There’s a windy road behind their home that climbs to a hilltop landscape full of woods and views overlooking the Root River. Beneath the canopy of mature trees – this is where the Huntingtons have spent the past 24 years creating memories with their children, grandchildren, and so many others in their lives.
In 2000, their first grandchild was born. Madeleine, the daughter of Mike and Carrie Fingerson, became the inspiration for what has been coined “Tiny Town.”
Carrie, Bob and Carol’s daughter, recalls how it all started. Carrie, pregnant with her first child, and her mother Carol were walking up the hill to where there was a nice piece of flat land. They talked about camping in that area, and how that would be a fun place for their families to gather.
The vision grew from there. There was the campsite area – part of the original conversation. And, then came Tiny Town. Bob and Carol were good friends of Bob and Kim Grinhaug, now residing in Rochester, who had a place Chester, Iowa, where they built a small town for their children to play and dream. It was only big enough for kids, so Bob and Carol wanted to make their little town big enough for adults, too.
From the time their first grandchild was born, over the course of four years, Bob and Carol, with the help of family and friends, constructed an entire little town where the children could laugh and play and grow up together.
Carrie recalls visiting Tiny Town with her childhood friends. “My friends have said, ‘why didn’t they have this when we were kids?”
“It was great for the cousins to go up there and play, and get to know each other. They have also brought their friends,” shared Carrie.
There are a total of nine buildings within the perimeter fence of Tiny Town. There’s even electrical in the buildings, thanks to Bob and Carol’s son, Troy, who is an electrician.
Walking around the town, these buildings are small enough for children but large enough that adults can feel like a kid again. And, every building has a name for a specific reason.
To the left is the tallest building on site. The fire station stands two stories high, overlooking the entire village. The fire station boasts a slide, jail cell, and a space for the kids to run around. Bob and Carol’s son and daughter-in-law, Troy and Angie, helped to build the fire station.
Next to the fire station is the Huntington Learning Center. With colorful Christmas lights hanging on the wall, this is a welcoming creative environment where kids can pretend to be teachers and students. There’s a chalkboard on the wall and desks for students. It has the “Little House on the Prairie” old schoolhouse feel to it, but with a new school look.
Right next door to the school is the Smiling Pig Saloon. There’s a bar with an old-time cash drawer and a poker table. It seemed like a good place to wear a cowboy hat, drink some A & W Root Beer, and play cards. This little saloon came together with the help of long-time family friends Bob and Kim Grinhaug. As a matter of fact, the saloon was named after the Grinhaugs. Smiling Pig is a variation of Grinhaug, if you look closely.
The B-52s band would be happy to see that right next door to the Smiling Pig Saloon is a building known as Funky Little Shack, constructed with the help of Jim and Diane Peterson. Diane is Carol’s sister.
Then there’s At The Hop, where the dance floor brings out the best in everyone. This was made possible with the help of Bob Huntington and Jim Erickson.
After a long night of tearing up the dance floor, the Tiny Town Cottage, right next door, is the perfect place to rest. This could be acknowledged as the county’s smallest bed and breakfast.
A cathedral equipped with a bell and podium was constructed by Bob. The bell came from Jim and Connie Erickson. In 2014, the Huntingtons even hosted a wedding at The Crystal Cathedral in the Wood where Joe and Trisha Lamantia exchanged their vows.
The Wood Tick Theatre sets the stage for performance arts. This is where the kids can put on plays and test their acting skills before a live audience.
Tiny Town has become a place of memories.
They’ve hosted movie nights, pumpkin carving and painting events, along with many birthday celebrations.
If there was an award for Grandparents’ Day, Bob and Carol Huntington would be top contenders. They’ve created something special that friends and family have embraced since it all began.
Tiny Town has always been about bringing people together.
Kathy Hansen says
I love this 😍