Welcome to Camp Creek Farm

We are Mike and Cindy Tomashek and we have been married over 35 years. We love Southeast Minnesota with its spectacular natural beauty and large range of outdoor activities. It is a wonderful place to call home and here we can indulge in our hobbies. Mike loves fly-fishing, hunting and archery and Cindy loves gardening.

Camp Creek Farm came about after we purchased some farm land just outside of Preston, Minnesota in 1997. Mike had always had a dream of owning some hunting and fishing land. The land sat along a ¾ mile stretch of the blue ribbon Camp Creek Trout Stream and contained the usual farm structures – house, barn, silo, grain bins and pole shed. When we purchased the land, the new Preston/Harmony segment of the Root River State Trail system was being developed on the old railroad bed that ran through the valley and dissects the property.

Although Camp Creek Farm is a beautiful location for our family to enjoy time together,
and now open as an event venue, it has taken a long while to get to this point.

The early 1900s farmhouse had been unoccupied and neglected for years. The entire grounds had been open to pasture and there were cow pies everywhere. The property had several owners and acquired a colorful history, including a local farm family whose initials and names are carved into the barn’s limestone walls, wood and concrete. The farmhouse also served as a temporary home for unwed mothers. Before we could consider inhabiting the house, we had to evict all the critters that had come in through the broken windows. Besides the obvious fixes that were necessary and some rearranging of the main floor, it retains much of its original character, including a set of pocket doors that once separated the living area from the parlor. The farmhouse is not available or open to the public.

Despite the old farmhouse charm, we gravitate to the barn to hang out and entertain friends and family. The hay barn was likely the first structure built in order to shelter horses and cattle, as well as the family until the house was completed. While the barn was generally in shambles when we purchased the property, the peg and post barn had solid bones and the original limestone foundation was mostly intact. To prevent further deterioration, we put a metal roof on while we considered our options with it. In 2006 we began to renovate the barn and it took over five years to create the special space it is today. The walls and ceilings feature reclaimed barn wood, from our barn as well as five other area barns, making it wonderfully warm and inviting.

The three-plus level barn features multiple lounge areas, two catwalks, large dining area, gas fireplace, pool table, a main level bar, and a rustic bar in the lower level. There is a 3/4 bath in the loft, 1/2 bath on the main floor and 1/4 bath in the lower level.

The barn is a wonderful location to host small gatherings.

The barn is good for groups up to 30 people. Although no onsite food preparation is allowed, you are welcome to bring in food or have it delivered or catered. The third level is restricted and not open to the public.

The Event Center has transformed from a gloomy pole shed to rustic glam! The space formally harbored lumber with nails in it and some rusting equipment. In 2012 our daughter became engaged and desired to have an outdoor wedding at the farm the following spring of 2013. Considering the unpredictability of Mother Nature and wanting to ensure a magical wedding day, we decided to makeover the pole shed. A new overhead door, two sets of French doors, polished concrete floor and numerous windows transformed the space into a wonderful area with beautiful views.

The main room is 2,400 square feet and has a very flexible and open floor plan. There is an adjacent space that offer room for caterers and to stage meals. There is an integrated speaker system, free Wi-Fi access, two portable rustic bars that can be placed where you desire, an AV projector and screen available and some table and chairs. For larger or formal events, you will need to provide your own tables, chairs and linens. There is a handicap accessible unisex bathroom in the event center. However, groups larger than 50 will need to rent additional portable toilets. The Event Center opens out to a 600 square foot covered patio and another 1,800 square feet of open air patio. The existing patio seating can be rearranged to suit your event’s needs. The Event Center and patio offers plenty of space for socializing and enjoying the view of mature gardens and lush pasture. There is also a fire pit nearby.

The gardens at Camp Creek Farm have evolved with Cindy’s passion for gardening. Back in 1997, there wasn’t a blooming thing in the yard except thistle. After all, it was just a pasture when we purchased it. Overtime, fences were relocated to push the pastured areas further from the house and yard and some corral fencing was removed. The grounds now include large garden areas and several fruit trees. Eventually, a large patch of tiger lilies appeared around the well and have proved to be the only blooming heirloom in the yard. The lily patch gets bigger every year, as do the rest of the gardens that range from sunny conifer/perennial beds to shady Hosta/perennial beds. There are many varieties of peonies, roses, hydrangeas, daylilies, coral bells and ornamental grasses, among other perennials and shrubs, including magnolias, but Hostas reign supreme here, with several hundred varieties on display.

Another beautiful feature at Camp Creek Farm is the octagonal Gazebo that was built in 2014 on one of the two 22’ diameter concrete slabs that had been platforms for the grain bins. Sitting on the highest point in the yard, the views are spectacular! It’s a great place for an intimate ceremony or to sit back and relax during an informal event. Hanging baskets of ferns and/or flowers, white mesh curtains and rope lighting create a relaxing atmosphere by day and romance by night!

For over 20 years we have been working on making
Camp Creek Farm a beautiful place to enjoy indoors and out.

It wasn’t until after hosting our daughter’s wedding that we realized we had created an exquisite venue for all kinds of events and decided to open up our farm for others to enjoy it as well. We welcome all types of events including birthdays, reunions, graduations, business meetings, corporate events, retreat, and team building.

Call today to schedule a visit or request pricing.