Gathered at the grain bins
Larsons breathe new life into old farm equipment
By Rae Lanzrath
STAFF WRITER
ALEXANDRIA — Grain bins have many purposes. Once they are retired from the farm, they can be used as scrap metal or restored. Near Alexandria, 10 grain bins have been creatively recycled as guest accommodations.
Anne Larson, her husband, Dave, and their son, Andrew, and daughter-in-law, Tessa, own and operate Gathered Oaks, a wedding and event venue. The space is situated on an old farm site north of Alexandria.
“My husband and I were really focused on the idea of people gathering and creating spaces for that,” Larson said.
The family updated the barn on the property and officially opened Gathered Oaks in 2017, and from there, further restoration of the property continued.
“We completely gutted the farmhouse and turned five bedrooms into 10,” Larson said. “The grain bins came next, and that was another big project.”
The Larsons took eight grain bins and converted them into lodging facilities for guests. The interiors of the bins are similar to hotel rooms, with one queen bed, a bathroom area, a microwave and a mini refrigerator.
“We wanted to make the rooms really comfortable and cozy for the guests,” Larson said. “When you’re inside, it doesn’t feel like you’re in a grain bin.”
Larson had the idea to convert grain bins into rooms for quite some time and was finally able to do so when they bought the Gathered Oaks property. She said she did not want to buy brand new grain bins, as they had less character, and it was just not the same as finding used ones.
“My aunt actually lives in Kensington and had a ton of grain bins out there,” Larson said. “We bought eight of them from her and actually took them apart and then reconstructed them.”
Because the bins are made from metal and had been used, they were not perfectly round, which made construction difficult. Larson said the contractors had to figure out exactly what angles to cut and how to make it work since it was not like building a regular house.
“Once they figured out the angle they had to cut, it began going a lot smoother,” Larson said.
The grain bins had to go through an extensive renovation before they were fit for guests to stay inside. The Larsons had to add electricity and plumbing to each bin as well as heating and air conditioning.
“We opted for in-floor heat because it makes it feel so much cozier inside,” Larson said. “There are also alternative heat sources and then air conditioning as well.”
Once the grain bins were fully equipped with plumbing and electricity, Larson got busy decorating them. She said she wanted to give the bins a welcoming and home-like feeling and allow guests to make themselves comfortable during their stay.
The eight bins are all connected by a large, two-story deck. Four bins are on the ground level, and three are on the second story of the deck, giving the bins a staggered appearance.
One of the grain bins was built to be a two-story, suite-style accommodation. The larger bin has a kitchenette and small seating area on the main floor, with the bedroom and bathroom on the second floor.
The eight grain bins that were converted into rooms to stay in were not the only ones that got a facelift, Larson said.
“There were two grain bins on the farm when we got here,” Larson said. “Those got moved across the driveway and repurposed as well.”
One of the original bins from the farm was converted similarly to the other six and is used as a getting-ready space for those who have events at the venue, typically bridal parties. Instead of having a bed, the bin has seating options and space to get dressed. The second bin that was originally on the farm has been converted into a storage area.
“It gives the venue a really unique look, and I think people love it,” Larson said. “It’s definitely a modern twist on a very rustic space. It’s just a cool combination.”
By Rae Lanzrath
STAFF WRITER
ALEXANDRIA — Grain bins have many purposes. Once they are retired from the farm, they can be used as scrap metal or restored. Near Alexandria, 10 grain bins have been creatively recycled as guest accommodations.
Anne Larson, her husband, Dave, and their son, Andrew, and daughter-in-law, Tessa, own and operate Gathered Oaks, a wedding and event venue. The space is situated on an old farm site north of Alexandria.
“My husband and I were really focused on the idea of people gathering and creating spaces for that,” Larson said.
The family updated the barn on the property and officially opened Gathered Oaks in 2017, and from there, further restoration of the property continued.
“We completely gutted the farmhouse and turned five bedrooms into 10,” Larson said. “The grain bins came next, and that was another big project.”
The Larsons took eight grain bins and converted them into lodging facilities for guests. The interiors of the bins are similar to hotel rooms, with one queen bed, a bathroom area, a microwave and a mini refrigerator.
“We wanted to make the rooms really comfortable and cozy for the guests,” Larson said. “When you’re inside, it doesn’t feel like you’re in a grain bin.”
Larson had the idea to convert grain bins into rooms for quite some time and was finally able to do so when they bought the Gathered Oaks property. She said she did not want to buy brand new grain bins, as they had less character, and it was just not the same as finding used ones.
“My aunt actually lives in Kensington and had a ton of grain bins out there,” Larson said. “We bought eight of them from her and actually took them apart and then reconstructed them.”
Because the bins are made from metal and had been used, they were not perfectly round, which made construction difficult. Larson said the contractors had to figure out exactly what angles to cut and how to make it work since it was not like building a regular house.
“Once they figured out the angle they had to cut, it began going a lot smoother,” Larson said.
The grain bins had to go through an extensive renovation before they were fit for guests to stay inside. The Larsons had to add electricity and plumbing to each bin as well as heating and air conditioning.
“We opted for in-floor heat because it makes it feel so much cozier inside,” Larson said. “There are also alternative heat sources and then air conditioning as well.”
Once the grain bins were fully equipped with plumbing and electricity, Larson got busy decorating them. She said she wanted to give the bins a welcoming and home-like feeling and allow guests to make themselves comfortable during their stay.
The eight bins are all connected by a large, two-story deck. Four bins are on the ground level, and three are on the second story of the deck, giving the bins a staggered appearance.
One of the grain bins was built to be a two-story, suite-style accommodation. The larger bin has a kitchenette and small seating area on the main floor, with the bedroom and bathroom on the second floor.
The eight grain bins that were converted into rooms to stay in were not the only ones that got a facelift, Larson said.
“There were two grain bins on the farm when we got here,” Larson said. “Those got moved across the driveway and repurposed as well.”
One of the original bins from the farm was converted similarly to the other six and is used as a getting-ready space for those who have events at the venue, typically bridal parties. Instead of having a bed, the bin has seating options and space to get dressed. The second bin that was originally on the farm has been converted into a storage area.
“It gives the venue a really unique look, and I think people love it,” Larson said. “It’s definitely a modern twist on a very rustic space. It’s just a cool combination.”
