Biz Buzz Monday: SW Wisconsin events venue finds all-around success with new building

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Kyle Vesperman stands in front of the 1913 round barn that now is part of Vesperman Farms’ yearly fall offerings. PHOTO CREDIT: Dave Kettering
Kyle Vesperman stands in front of the 1913 round barn that now is part of Vesperman Farms’ yearly fall offerings. PHOTO CREDIT: Dave Kettering
The inside look at the unique round barn built in 1913 that was moved to Vesperman Farms located south of Lancaster, Wis. PHOTO CREDIT: Dave Kettering
The inside look at the unique round barn built in 1913 that was moved to Vesperman Farms located south of Lancaster, Wis. PHOTO CREDIT: Dave Kettering
Grace Nieland
Grace Nieland
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Posted By: BY GRACE NIELAND grace.nieland@thmedia.com October 9, 2023

Biz Buzz shares business tidbits from the tri-state area. In addition to this development from Lancaster, Wis., we will share other news in Tuesday’s edition.

Owners say a recent agricultural addition to a southwest Wisconsin venue has been an all-around success.

This season marks the first for public viewing of a historic round barn now located at Vesperman Farms in Lancaster, said owner Kyle Vesperman. The 1913 building is roughly 40 feet tall with a hand-crafted domed roof.

“It’s unique to pretty much any other barn you’ve likely been in,” Vesperman said. “You walk in and look up at the ceiling, and it’s just unbelievable to think about all the work it took to construct that building.”

The barn previously was located a few miles away from Vesperman Farms on a property along Grant County N. Its bright red visage was well-known to local residents, but few had ever seen inside of the structure.

Vesperman was approached about taking ownership of the structure and relocating it in 2019, when the property the barn sat on was sold and the new owner was looking to decommission it.

Vesperman was hesitant at first, but once he saw the barn’s interior, he knew it needed to be saved.

“Someone took a lot of time and a lot of straight lumber and turned it into this beautiful dome,” he said. “We didn’t want that to just be thrown away.”

After a pandemic-related pause, the barn was relocated to Vesperman Farms in 2022. Next, a new foundation was built and the roof was repaired, and Vesperman had the hayloft removed to provide a full 360-degree view of the interior dome.

The barn now serves as a showpiece at Vesperman Farms, which also offers a yearly corn maze and pumpkin patch.

Vesperman said the barn’s public opening this year coincided with the 20-year anniversary of the corn maze.

“It’s a good addition,” Vesperman said. “It’s something different, and as the season goes on, it’ll be nice to have a place for people to gather and get away from the cold.”

The response to the barn so far has been “nothing but positive,” Vesperman said, and he has several musical acts scheduled to play there this month.

The barn and the rest of the Vesperman Farms will remain open to the public at 8149 Stage Road through Oct. 29 from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. More information is available online at vespermanfarms.com.

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