About Old Barn Resort in Preston, Minnesota

In 1869, the milling town of Clear Grit was founded along the Root River just below the present barn site. Built around a flour mill and railroad access, the town flourished briefly during Minnesota’s wheat boom before declining as agriculture shifted west and flooding challenged the settlement.

Today, only foundation remnants remain — but the land above the river was about to enter a new chapter.

In 1885, the Edward P. Allis Company of Milwaukee — a major flour mill machinery manufacturer and predecessor to Allis-Chalmers — purchased farmland above Clear Grit. The property was later deeded to Edward’s son, Jere Allis, who established Reliance Stock Farm, named after the family’s Reliance Works in Milwaukee.

The farm became known for dairy and livestock operations, including Holstein cattle and purebred breeding. During this period, the property also gained regional attention for harness racing, with two race tracks constructed on site and as many as twenty trotters and pacers stabled at one time.

In 1899, plans were announced for construction of the present barn as part of Reliance Stock Farm, established by Jere Allis, son of Milwaukee industrialist Edward P. Allis.

The structure measures 50 by 100 feet and rises three stories. Built using pegged timber-frame construction on an exposed stone foundation, the barn reflects the scale and ambition of late 19th-century stock farm architecture. It features large wagon doors, roof ventilators, and originally included a Fairbanks wagon scale just inside the main entrance. Historical accounts suggest the barn was prefabricated in Milwaukee and shipped by rail to this site overlooking the Root River valley.

Today, the Allis Barn (Reliance Stock Farm) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its architectural and agricultural significance. More than a century after its construction, the barn remains a defining landmark in the Driftless region.

After the Allis era, the property changed hands several times. The Flaby family operated the farm as a dairy for multiple generations in the early 20th century. In 1970, the Rissman family purchased the property and continued agricultural use as a beef operation.

These decades ensured the barn remained an active working farm structure, preserving its integrity and continuity long before its transition into a resort.

After nearly a century of agricultural use, the property entered a new chapter in 1988 when Vernon Michel purchased the barn and surrounding land and began restoration efforts. By 1990, the historic structure and property officially opened as a public resort destination.

Ownership later transitioned to Doug Brenna and Shirley Endres, who expanded the campground and developed the 18-hole golf course that now anchors the property. Their stewardship shaped the modern footprint of the resort while maintaining the barn’s historic character.

In 2016, the resort was purchased by the current ownership, continuing the tradition of preservation while welcoming guests for camping, golf, dining, and outdoor recreation in the Driftless region.

More than a century after its construction — and more than three decades after becoming a resort — the Old Barn continues to evolve while honoring the generations who shaped it.