The agricultural heritage, natural beauty and remarkable history of America’s Heartland make it a wonderful place to find unique meeting and event venues. The variety of fun on-site activities and nearby attractions at these five venues help meeting planners entice people to attend their events.
Wingspread Retreat & Executive Conference Center
Wind Point, Wisconsin
Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1938 as the family home of Herbert Fisk Johnson Jr., the president of S.C. Johnson, Wingspread sits on 36 acres in Wind Point, Wisconsin. Completed in 1939, the Johnson family lived in the home through the 1950s but eventually donated it to The Johnson Foundation to be used as a conference facility. A second home on the property was converted into a 1,200-square-foot conference center, which can hold 55 attendees, but most social events and dinners are held in Wingspread.
The facility specializes in small board meetings, executive retreats and leadership workshops. Surrounded by ponds and woods, Wingspread is a perfect spot to get away from daily distractions and focus on business. Groups that host events on the property must have a defined goal and purpose in mind for their functions in order for the foundation to keep its tax-free status.
Small groups can stay in the 40-room Sam & Gene Johnson Guest House, which offers beautiful views of the surrounding landscape.
All meals are chef’s choice. A breakfast buffet bolsters groups in the morning, and a private meal space is set aside for lunch and dinner. Wingspread and the Guest House both have full kitchens. Groups interested in learning more about Wingspread can take a complimentary architectural tour of the building followed by a cocktail reception.
The facility backs up to Lake Michigan, and guests will find hiking and biking trails nearby. Visitors often leave the property out the back gate to catch the sunrise at the historic Wind Point Lighthouse.
Punderson Manor Lodge & Conference Center
Newbury, Ohio
Punderson Manor Lodge in Newbury, Ohio, began construction in the late 1920s and was completed by the state of Ohio when it was awarded ownership of the property. The resort opened in 1956 and has continued operating as a destination ever since. The lodge is surrounded by the 741-acre Punderson State Park.
In the past four years, many areas of the manor have been renovated, with care and attention given to maintaining the building’s historic integrity. The lodge sits on the shores of Ohio’s largest kettle lake, which is a wonderful spot to kayak, paddleboard or fish. Whether on the manor property or in the state park, guests will find plenty of recreation activities, including an 18-hole championship golf course; 18-hole disc golf course; indoor and outdoor swimming pools; tennis, basketball and volleyball courts; an archery range; boat rentals; and 14 miles of trails for hiking, fat tire biking, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and dog sledding. A sledding hill and chalet on the property can double as an indoor/outdoor event venue for up to 75 guests, and the nature center by the campground is a great place to learn more about the wildlife that calls the park home.
There are 31 lodge rooms in the manor and 26 two-bedroom cabins with full kitchens on the grounds. The manor has 4,000 square feet of banquet and meeting space for groups of 10 to 120. Several outdoor venues can serve as event spaces.
The facility welcomes corporate, social and church groups that want to incorporate outdoor activities into their events. Full-service catering and team-building activities are available.
Bloomsbury Farm
Atkins, Iowa
Bloomsbury Farm in Atkins, Iowa, is a fifth-generation family-owned corn and soybean operation that has expanded over the years to include a flower shop, greenhouse and gift shop, pumpkin patch, petting zoo, corn maze, private events and many family-friendly activities.
The farm can host groups of up to 2,000 guests, but its sweet spot is groups with 300 to 500 attendees. Groups can rent barn space for a catered meal or meeting and then give attendees free rein to experience the farm’s fun activities, from hayrack rides and a corn pool to the giant jumping pillow. Team-building activities include apple shooters, target games, pumpkin bowling and corn maze races. The farm also hosts movie nights for groups by projecting films onto the side of the giant corn pool.
The Harvest Barn is the largest event space on the farm and can fit 275 seated. It can be heated, but it does not have air conditioning. The Party Barn can host 140 for a banquet. The loft upstairs can fit an additional 100 attendees. Some groups choose not to rent barn space and instead buy out the property to allow their guests time to explore the farm at their leisure.
The catering staff serve buffet-style meals, and the farm has many picnic tables throughout. The covered beer garden can fit 150 guests and is an ideal spot to set up outdoor buffets for visiting groups.
The family helps groups plan fun activities during their events, including hiring local bands to perform, organizing tethered hot-air balloon rides on property or hosting fireworks shows.
Margaritaville Lake Resort Lake of the Ozarks
Osage Beach, Missouri
Located in the central part of Missouri, Margaritaville Lake Resort covers 420 acres on the shores of Lake of the Ozarks. The 520-room resort features 76,000 square feet of indoor event space that can accommodate up to 3,500 guests. There are also five outdoor venues that can host groups of 120 to 400 for a banquet.
The 23,160-square-foot Paradise Ballroom can seat 1,650 for a banquet and 2,700 theater style. Windgate Hall is 30,000 square feet and can host groups of 2,200 for a banquet and 3,300 for a reception. The deck at JB’s Boathouse Grill can host groups of 200 for receptions or dinners. Windgate Plaza, outside the resort’s main lobby, provides beautiful lake views and can host 180 for a reception.
The resort has an 18-hole golf course and driving and putting ranges where groups can host tournaments or play casually. The clubhouse can seat 120 for an event. For fun, attendees can spend the day at the indoor water park or rent pontoon boats, paddleboats, motorized boats or jet skis at the marina.
There’s also an eight-lane bowling alley, arcade, billiards room, miniature golf course, pickleball courts, indoor and outdoor pools and a fitness center. Tropic Island Cruises takes groups out on the lake, and horseback rides are available from Thouvenel Stables. Driftwood Spa & Salon offers massages and body treatments.
Lake of the Ozarks State Park is just 10 miles from the resort, and groups can visit two nearby cave complexes, Bridal Cave and Stark Caverns.
margaritavilleresortlakeoftheozarks.com
Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa
Galena, Illinois
Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa in Galena, Illinois, is located about 30 minutes from Dubuque, Iowa, and 2 ½ hours from Chicago. The resort is in an area of Illinois that was never touched by glaciers, so it is surrounded by rolling hills, valleys, farms and waterfalls.
The resort spans 6,800 acres and boasts four award-winning golf courses. The resort offers 80 guest rooms and over 110 condos and homes that guests can rent out during their stay, and they can go boating or paddleboarding in the 22-acre lake behind the resort.
Eagle Ridge has 15,000 square feet of event space that can accommodate banquets of up to 300 people. Outdoor venues overlook Lake Galena and the Northern Illinois hills and woodlands. There are nine function rooms, three boardrooms, three private dining rooms, the 5,300-square-foot Eagle Ballroom and the 3,300-square-foot Galena Room.
The resort offers team-building activities, meeting and conference services, full-service catering and A/V equipment. In their down time, groups can enjoy three on-site restaurants, golf, pickleball, and hiking and biking on 26 miles of trails that start at the resort. There is horseback riding, zip lining nearby and a marina with six pontoon boats that can be rented out. During the summer months, groups can host fishing tournaments and roast s’mores by the firepit. In the winter, the resort opens a Nordic center on one of its golf courses, allowing guests to go sledding or snowshoeing. There’s also an ice rink every season.
