Root River Barn & Farmhouse

Welcome to the barn and farmhouse at Root River, on the Oak Leaf bike trail. Established in 1893 by immigrants (Meissen, Germany, 1880) Christian & Anna (Wollke) Stelzner. Once an 80-acre, 23-dairy cattle farm with vegetable gardens, it was sold to the US Government in 1936 for the land to develop the Village of Greendale. In 1955, the barn became an International Hostel. In recent years, the property was slated for demolition. Through an open proposal process, our team of Greendale residents proposed a restoration proposal and were permitted to begin restoring this property for its preservation while we collectively determine a mutually beneficial way to share its unique charm with the public sustainably. Donations of any amount over $20 will be memorialized on our donor wall. The donor wall will be made of small slices of live edge wood circles, and your name will be placed on a piece of wood that represents the level of your gift. To learn more click here.