This summer, Judy and I attended a wedding at a unique venue just south of the Twin Cities called Little Log House Pioneer Village. Road and highway construction made the drive south of Hastings a bit of an adventure, but once we arrived, the detours were instantly forgotten. The place is extraordinary.

Here is how the Bauer family describes their creation at littleloghouseshow.com:

“Little Log House Pioneer Village is home to over forty-five restored buildings, a replica of the Hastings Spiral Bridge, and stunning flower gardens that span over 40,000 square feet. Once a year, the Bauer Family opens the village to the general public to tour over three days. The Little Log House Antique Power Show is always held during the last full weekend in July. The village is otherwise used for private events such as weddings, receptions, banquets, holiday parties, corporate functions and professional photography.”

The wedding itself took place in a building called The Stable — decorated and lit beautifully, perfectly designed for the ceremony, and everyone who attended was impressed and amazed. If you’re ever looking for a unique venue for a wedding or any type of special event, I would highly recommend you consider Little Log House Pioneer Village. Just allow a little extra time for the construction detours.

I wandered around with a camera while the cocktail hour was underway. Forty-five buildings spanning roughly two centuries of Minnesota life — a Blacksmith shop, a train depot, the Grinstad pioneer log home, a General Store, a Jail, a Root Beer stand, a Phillips 66 station with a Model A still at the pump, and a Stars-and-Stripes Corvette mounted twenty feet in the air above a Chevrolet dealership. Click any photo to open it full size — use arrow keys or click the sides to navigate.