A Leap of Faith

In 2011, Mom wanted to build a blueberry farm.  Something tiny, quant, relaxing - a retirement of sorts.  A small metal shed with a cash box and seasonal hours.  She labored with her trademark fastidiousness and intensity, cultivated the land, corrected the pH levels from the former-gravel pit, beautified the grounds, and got ready to serve the community.

Mom at Work!

In 2011, Mom decided she wanted to start a blueberry farm on a few acres of old family farm land (ne: "gravel pit")  Nothing fancy.  A few acres, a few rows, a metal shed and a cash box, open a little you-pick for the community.  A "retirement" hobby of sorts.

In typical Peggy fashion, she got to work.  She fastidiously manicured the grounds, planting her bushes, adjusted the pH levels to be suitable for the crop; she "Peggy'd it" which is our family's colloquialism for "making things perfect through sheer force of effort and will."  And of course, she reached her goal and opened up a cute little spot the town could enjoy

"But what if... we moved back home to Shanda's home town, and 'partnered' on a little store and a small outdoor pavilion for events?  That could be fun, right Mom?"  And with one simple "yes" "retirement" would have to wait... ;)

Fast forward eight years, and Blue Barn Events had become one of the most popular wedding venues in the region, booked every weekend at least once, and often two or three days in the same weekend.  We turned a small pavilion into an indoor/outdoor paradise with HVAC, covered patios, stamped concrete pathways to a gorgeous lakeside ceremony area - even an outdoor game area complete with a putt-putt course (that Mom built by hand).  The venue grew into everything we could have ever imagined and so much more. Mission accomplished.

Well... not so fast ;)  Perhaps it was the thrill of a challenge, perhaps it was the love of the honor of playing a small part in the BIGGEST day of so many amazing couple's lives.  Maybe it was the joy of building something along side our young daughters that could one day be theirs... whatever the pull, we knew we had more to offer the community.

In 2021, we purchased an old restaurant 0.3 miles from Blue Barn and turned it into Farmhouse, our 70-capacity smaller venue and the home of all our catering operations.  We thought it'd be a cute place for small events we didn't have calendar availability for any longer at Blue Barn and a place to bring a chef in to cook for our weddings.  Small stuff.

Last year, we prepared food for over 150 events, half of which weren't at one of our venues, and Farmhouse has become a go-to for large events all over the Michiana Region.

NOW we had done it.  Mission Accomplished.  Deeeeep breath.  Relax....

You get the theme.  Lol.  And, for the record, when a realtor knocks on your door asking if you 'might know of anyone who would be interested in a property' - it's a sales call.  And it's directed solely at you.  (We are grateful, but, also, keeping it 100...)

We hope you enjoy our newest venue, Hidden Oak Manor.  We fell in love with the property on our first tour, both with its current beauty, awesome quality construction, gorgeous surrounding land, but also with the POTENTIAL of what it COULD become. So we lept in faith and got to work.  Or more specifically, remember "Mom" and her insane work-ethic from the opening paragraph?  Mom got to work, and helped transform the property into the gorgeous, indoor-elegant ballroom we hope you'll enjoy in person soon.  

It's a leap of faith to be sure.  Many a wise man have said "why mess with happy" when the pull of "more" creeps into one's life.  Opening Hidden Oak Manor wasn't a decision we took lightly.  But it wasn't the "more" for the business that ultimately drew us in.  It was the "more" for the people we love; our community, the amazing couples and companies we get to serve, our children who are growing up right along side our venues.  I've found that scary leaps of faith are often the greatest litmus test of the strength of one's faith to begin with. I pray it is that faith that clearly defines Hidden Oak's mission, as well as Shanda's and my life.  While we give this venue to the community, we also know we are giving it all to God.

As the calendar turns to 2025, and the excitement of "let's do something big" turns to "we've started this... now let's get to work and make sure it works" I hope we get to forge and share some of the memories with you in person.  It is an honor to be the backdrop for the amazing milestones, those biggest-moments-in-life stories that are written in front of us every day.  Thanks for taking this journey with us.  We know it will be one to remember..

For Booking Info Visit: HiddenOakManor.com or check us out on Facebook at Facebook.com/HiddenOakManor