The jewel of our property is the barn, built in 1948 by our grandfather and other local men from the community. Even our father participated in building it when he was just 10 years old. The hardwood post-and-beam construction and gable roof are finished by crisp white paint, which sets against the green fields and a blue summer sky beautifully. Inside are hand-hewn beams salvaged from another much older barn (1800s) that was here when our great-grandparents purchased the property. These beams would have been cut from trees that started growing in the early 1700s! The vertical siding and concrete foundation are also original to the barn.
Our property is well-manicured, landscaped, and maintained, highlighting the historical, hand-built wood barn. The barn and property are part of a family-owned and operated grain farm and is surrounded by 2 to 3 acres of lawn, and a countryside setting that showcase gorgeous sunsets. Sugar Creek Silos offers multiple wedding ceremony locations on the property based on your personal preference for background. We have security, on-site parking with parking attendants, and have ADA access so all guests can comfortably enjoy your event.
To make your event picture-perfect, we have café-lighting on our outdoor patio adjacent to the barn, as well as a large selection of vintage furniture, accessories, and décor. To accommodate your event needs, we also have a bridal suite prep room, deluxe restroom trailers, and an open shelter structure available for a wedding ceremony or cocktail hour in case of inclement weather. Finally, we are able to accommodate large groups of 200+ people on the property with a tent (additional cost). Contact us to visit Sugar Creek Silos today and tour the property for yourself. We know you’ll love it as much as we do!
Named for the Little Sugar Creek just east of the farm, Sugar Creek Silos is a property steeped in family history and tradition. First purchased as a farm and homestead for our grandfather and grandmother, Edward and Mildred Kleiman, the farm continues to operate today as a grain farm and one of the many parcels in Hancock County that has been owned and farmed by our family for five generations. Our father, Paul, was born on the farm in 1937 and he later married our mother Peggy in 1956.
At that time, our grandparents moved to another nearby home and left the farm for our Mom and Dad to begin their life together and continue farming. Our parents had four children, Terri, Tami, and Melanie, and Mark, and we had a happy life growing up on the farm! Our father unfortunately passed at a young age of 61 from heart disease in 1998. Our mother, at that point, had already been stricken with early onset Alzheimer’s. She was able to stay at home until 2006 with care, but later passed in 2010. Brian and Melanie, along with other family members, began taking care of the farm at our father’s passing and have continued since.
In November 2011, our (Brian and Melanie’s) son Joel got engaged to Shelbe. They met us at the barn one day and told us their plans of wanting to have a country chic barn wedding reception. Of course, our first reaction was “No way!” because at this time, the barn was being used for storage. Eventually, they sold us on the idea. It was a long winter project to clear out, repair, and clean the barn from the top to the bottom, but their July wedding was the hit of the summer! Family and friends loved it. So many of them had ties to the farm from current and past generations. Later that summer, and in the years following, we hosted more and more events, including weddings, parties, showers, and fundraisers. We continued to receive requests to rent the barn for events, so in 2017 we began the process of becoming a public venue.
Our parents, Paul and Peggy Kleiman, began estate planning in the 1970’s with hopes and dreams that this farm would be here for future generations. We desire to continue that plan for our children and grandchildren. We have a unique situation due to the fact that we are a working, operating grain farm while most venues like this are not. We look forward to exposing our guests to the authenticity, history, and tradition of farming while they celebrate their event on our beautiful property.
Family, hard-work, and generosity. Since Herman Heinrich Kleiman settled in Hancock County in 1850, our family’s pride and passion has been to bring those three qualities into everything we do. Now as your Sugar Creek Silos team, a family owned and operated business, we have the pleasure of pouring those qualities into your special event. From the dinner table to fundraisers, we have always enjoyed planning and hosting parties where we can make our guests feel like family.
Like their father, Tami and Melanie were born and raised on this farm. As children, they learned to care for the land, their animals, and their neighbors. As adults, they have continued their family legacy of being positive participants in this community. Now Melanie (and husband, Brian), after 25 years of living ‘down the road’, has returned to the farm to carry on the family homestead.
Melanie, Brian, and Tami will work together to make your event as beautiful as you imagine. From the beginning stages of planning, they will care for you and work to ensure you have a memorable and enjoyable day.
