SE Minnesota Amish Tours
{Lanesboro area Amish Community}

Posted on June 6, 2013 by stonemill

If you are looking for a fun, educational tour opportunity in Lanesboro, consider taking an Amish tour with Bluffscape Amish Tours located in Lanesboro, MN. Any time is a good time for a tour; however, this time of year, you may see the Amish farmers in the field planting their crops.

We are truly fortunate to have the Amish as neighbors as they make beautiful furniture and handcrafted items. They also make wonderful candy (cashew crunch) and have garden produce available for sale when in season. You can also find baskets, canned goods, and leather goods. More importantly, you will learn about the history and tradition of the Amish community.

The tour guides at Bluffscape respect the Amish community and have a very good relationship with the Amish families and farms they stop at. They truly give some of the best Amish tours around. The tours depart Monday – Saturday at 10:00 am and at 1:30 pm. Each tour is three hours in length. For more information or to schedule a tour, please call 507.467.3070.

Until next time. . . .

Rockin’ With Rhubarb in Lanesboro, MN

Posted on May 30, 2013 by stonemill

On Saturday, June 1, Lanesboro, the rhubarb capital of Minnesota, hosts the Rhubarb Festival in Sylvan Park. The festivities begin at 10 am with the singing of the Rhubarb National Anthem.

“Everything rhubarb” will be celebrated. There will be a rhubarb run, rhubarb games, and rhubarb tasting. The Rhubarb Sisters will take the stage at 11:15 am and will sing original rhubarb songs,other entertainment will be featured during the day, and the Rutabaga Brothers will be performing at 2:00 pm in Sylvan Park.

The Rhubarb Sisters and Guests will be in concert at 7:30 pm at the St. Mane Theatre in downtown Lanesboro. Tickets can be purchased by calling 507.467.2446 or at the door.

For a day of “rhubarb fun”, make plans to attend. Scenic Valley Winery in Lanesboro will be sampling their locally produced rhubarb wine. The restaurants will be serving rhubarb delights along with their usual delicious offerings.

When you are in Lanesboro, stop by the Art & Craft Gallery located at The Feed Mill in Lanesboro. The Art & Craft Gallery is home to twenty local artisans that have their pottery, jewelry, fabric, and other art displayed.

Until next time . . . .

Vacation Destination – Lanesboro, Minnesota

Posted on May 2, 2013 by stonemill

During the last weekend in April, we were given a taste of the upcoming seasons. Spring and summer are now in sight.

When the gentle spring rains give way to colorful blossoms, I start to think of day trips, weekend trips, family getaways, and summer celebrations. Lanesboro is the complete vacation destination for couples and families, and is a playground for all ages. The Root River Trail and Root River, which crisscross in Lanesboro, are perfect for walking, biking, tubing, canoeing, and kayaking.

If you are seeking lodging, Stone Mill Hotel & Suites is a premiere lodging destination in the bluff country of southeastern Minnesota. If shopping and eating, are on the list, the choices will be plentiful. If theater and the arts are on the list, you won’t be disappointed. If comfortable and conveniently located accommodations are on the list, a reservation at Stone Mill Hotel & Suites is the answer. If an Amish tour is on the list, we can reserve that for you. If a massage is on the list, we can make an appointment for you. If sitting and relaxing is on the list, this will be checked off.

We are looking forward to seeing you this summer. Until next time . . . .

Stone Mill Hotel & Suites
in Lanesboro, MN
& Kussmaul Seeds

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Stone Mill Hotel & Suites Staff

A few days ago, some visitors were at the Feed Mill and were shopping in the Art & Craft Gallery. As the ladies were leaving, they noticed the feed bag display we have at our front desk. You may remember the display as I blogged about it earlier this year (May 17, 2012). As the one lady was looking at the bags, she immediately said “My dad started Kussmaul Seeds.” It was a heartwarming moment for the few gathered as she recalled how her dad started the business.

Jean Kussmaul Bula, the youngest daughter in the family, sent us the picture of her as she is pointing to the feed bag from the company that her father started. She also sent us the following information about how her father started Kussmaul Seeds.

He started the business in 1934 with just one acre. That was before electricity came to the area and he built a shed with a slotted floor and he used a wood stove to heat it. It took about 10 days to dry the corn. He had a B tractor driving the fan. He used a gas engine on the sheller and fed it by hand. The seed grader was run by a gas engine too and he could grade one bushel in about an hour. He sold his first crop for $4.00 a bushel! A few years later electricity came to the farm. Someone from the University of Wisconsin drew up plans for the first forced air corn dryer. Several farmers close by started to raise a little hybrid corn and brought it over to Dad for him to dry. He made good money—$1.00 a bushel! In 1939 his brother came into the business. He was a natural born salesman. He is going to be 99 in Feb. Dad died three years ago at the age of 97. His name was Rudolph Willard Kussmaul. My Uncle is Allen Kussmaul. “Rud” and “Al”. Like I said, Dairyland Seed bought it in the early 80′s and now it is owned by Dow Chemical but still goes by the name of Dairyland. Needless to say, we are all very proud of him.

The picture to the left is of Rudolph Willard Kussmaul at one of the displays at the Cattle Congress in Waterloo, Iowa, in the early years. Rudolph is the one on the far right in the green shirt and cap just behind the guy with his back to the camera.

From feed and seed to rooms and suites. The Feed Mill has quite a history and the legacy continues. Isn’t it amazing what a small world we live in! Lanesboro is so fortunate to receive so many visitors each year.

2012 Christmas Inn Tour
in Lanesboro, Minnesota

Posted on October 10, 2012 by Stone Mill Hotel & Suites Staff

The Bed and Breakfast Inns of Lanesboro, Minnesota welcome you Sunday, December 2, from 2:00 – 6:00 pm to the Lanesboro Christmas Inn Tour. Join us for an afternoon of celebration and tour the Bed and Breakfast Inns that have made Lanesboro the “Bed and Breakfast Capital of Minnesota “.

Stone Mill Hotel & Suites will be decorated in holiday finery and graced with Stone Mill hospitality. We are already planning the festivities for the day. As of this writing, Minnesota has had its first taste of winter with measurable snow. I am so happy the southern part of the state didn’t receive a white blanket.

We are experiencing the beauty of the autumn colors in Lanesboro along with seasonable temperatures.

For further information regarding the Inn Tour and tickets, please visit www.lanesboro.com or call 800.944.2670.

Autumn Bluffscape Amish Tours
{Historic Lanesboro, Minnesota}

Posted on September 27, 2012 by stonemill

September and October are one of the premiere times to ride along on a Bluffscape Amish Tour in Lanesboro. As autumn arrives the Amish of Southeast Minnesota are harvesting their crops of corn and picking late summer produce out of their gardens. You may see shocks of corn drying in the field while your Bluffscape tour guide drives you along country roads to visit the Amish people while narrating about their simple lifestyle. While out on a Bluffscape Amish Tour, you may want to purchase buttery, sweet cashew crunch made by the Amish.

Bluffscape Amish Tours depart Lanesboro daily at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. from the Feed Mill building and Stone Mill Hotel & Suites. Please call now to reserve your seat with Bluffscape at 507.467.3070 or learn more about our quality Bluffscape Amish Tours at www.bluffscape.com.

Announcing the Mill Studio
Small Group Retreat Center!
{Southeastern MN Group Getaways}

Posted on August 27, 2012 by stonemill

We here at Stone Mill Hotel & Suites are excited to announce the much anticipated grand opening of Mill Studio Small Group Retreat Center. Starting in mid-November Stone Mill Hotel & Suites will be expanding its offerings to bring you a premier location for all variety of small group retreats in our beautiful corner of Southeastern Minnesota.

Serving groups of 10 to 24 people the new Mill Studio Small Group Retreat Center is the perfect location for your next small group retreat. Whether you are planning a quilt retreat, corporate getaway, scrapbooking weekend, business meeting, spiritual gathering, family reunion or other event the staff at Stone Mill is here to serve you. Lodging, meeting spaces and free Wi-Fi are included.

While at the Mill Studio rejuvenate, relax and refresh with services from our staff at our onsite Day Spa. The Lanesboro Day Spa is staffed by licensed, certified massage therapists who provide and inviting and personalized array of professional services to meet a wide variety of client needs.

If you or someone you plans or participate in small group retreats, please consider the Mill Studio Small Group Retreat Center at Stone Mill Hotel & Suites in Lanesboro, MN. Gather, imagine, create or relax while enjoying the charm and history of this Historic building and beautiful town.

You can find out more about Mill Studio online today at www.stonemillsuites.com/groups.htm or call 507-467-8663 to talk to our staff about your event. We’ll see you soon at the Mill Studio!

The Mill Room Opens at Stone Mill Hotel & Suites in Lanesboro, MN

Posted on August 8, 2012 by stonemill

Last weekend, Lanesboro celebrated Buffalo Bill Days. This annual town celebration boasted dances, fireworks, volleyball and softball tournaments, and a grand parade.

Not only has Lanesboro been bustling with activities, so has Stone Mill Hotel & Suites. The newest lodging room is now open. The Mill Room is a lovely appointed room with a private bathroom and is located in the “mill” part of the building.

What has happened to our long summer days? As our days are starting to get shorter, I know it will only be a short time and we will be experiencing the beauty of another season. We are so fortunate to live in an area where we can experience the depth of the four seasons. Shortly, the summer green will give way to the golden shades of autumn.

Soon, I will write about the “Mill Studio”. In the meantime, enjoy the beauty each day brings!

FOSSE THE CHICKEN Explores Downtown Lanesboro!

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Stone Mill Hotel & Suites Staff

Oh My! What a hot one it is out there today! This is the hottest July I’ve seen since I was a little chick back on the farm! Squawk! It’s enough to even make a chicken be lazy!

But speaking about lazy, there is nothing lazy about Lanesboro! I just love this town. There is so much to see and do that all these folks think a day trip will do. They find out that they need to come back and stay a day or two so that they can have the full experience. Shopping, river activities and of course don’t forget my favorite activity… resting with the one you love! But alas, I digress…

The really interesting thing is that there is a tremendous amount of ingenuity to the folks that call Lanesboro home. We have fantastic chefs, Nancy and Dave just to name a few, Spoon Makers, Soap Makers, and Ice Cream galore!

Recently, Minnesota Public Radio and Winona Daily News did a story about some of the new and existing businesses in Historic Downtown Lanesboro! Lanesboro ‘urban expatriates’ embrace new home. We are so proud to live and work with these great people that add so much to our unique and charming little town.

Suites Scent from ESSENCE of Lanesboro

Did you know that Peter Bilkey featured in the article above developed a special scent just for Stone Mill? That was an amusing experience for one of my Inn Keepers, Mandy. She spent several hours at Peter’s shop with her nose sniffing this scent and that scent. She found one that she liked and Peter worked his magic by pulling this element out, putting that element in and then shake, shake, mix, mix and what do you know you have this clean, fresh scent that everyone just loves called; Suites Scent with Juniper!

I would tell you more, because I have some really great stories from each of these folks that really speak to the uniqueness of Lanesboro. However, in such hot weather, even a young chicken such as myself needs to sit on the front deck of Stone Mill and rest.

So have a great time finding out about some of our shop owners and come down and stay with us some time. Squawk!

Stone Mill Hotel & Suites
Renovation Update

Posted on June 17, 2012 by stonemill

Rick²(that’s Rick Lamon and Rick Sjarpe) our maintenance team extraordinaire have been very busy! In fact I have been given instruction to open up another room in our reservation system this week.

Click to View More Renovations

The debate is on as to call this room the CCC room or the Mill room. We are interested to know which you would rather stay in. Do you know what CCC means?

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