AYR Venu Offers Unique Event Space
Crunching up the gravel road to Lone Oak Farm, there’s a sense of peace; a connection with the fields, rolling hills, and rural roots of our region. This space, only a little way off the beaten path, has everything you need for a one-of-a-kind gathering. Just add your ideas.
When Melissa Oberlander and Teresa Gulleson began planning their dream event venue, they had a very clear idea of the ambiance they wanted to create: a space that was inviting and intimate, where, regardless of the size of the guest list, everyone felt like family. They wanted somewhere with breathtaking views and only a few neighbors to kick up a fuss when the party ran late.
But finding the right location was just part of the challenge the women faced. With established careers in different industries, creating and sustaining an event business would test their business acumen and their relationship.
A Feeling of Home
“In my professional career as a registered nurse I’ve had the opportunity to serve others during significant life events; birth, surgeries, oncology diagnoses, and end of life,” Gulleson said. She dreamed of extending this service into other impactful moments such as weddings, reunions, retreats, and graduations.
Oberlander shared the same dream. With her background in social work, she’d also been there for people on their best and worst days. She was eager to take on the new challenge with Gulleson and create a place where family and friends could come together to celebrate life’s most memorable moments.
The search for the right location took them all over Cass County, but in the end, they found what they were looking for right across the road—Oberlander’s grandparents’ homestead. The farm had always been a gathering place for the neighborhood. “It was a full circle moment,” Oberlander said. “My grandma had people over all the time. Her birthday parties weren’t just immediate family, it was anybody. She kept brownies and cookies in the freezer just in case someone stopped by. She kept lipstick in her kitchen. If anybody knocked on the door, she’d put lipstick on, whip off her apron, and she’d be fully dressed.” Growing up, she’d taken for granted the sense of community and family she’d found around her grandmother’s table. Now there was an opportunity to breathe new life into the property and create a new generation of memories.
“It was a full circle moment,” Oberlander said. “My grandma had people over all the time. Her birthday parties weren’t just immediate family, it was anybody. She kept brownies and cookies in the freezer just in case someone stopped by. She kept lipstick in her kitchen. If anybody knocked on the door, she’d put lipstick on, whip off her apron, and she’d be fully dressed.”
