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To our Guests & Friends,
Places to visit . . . off the beaten path
Visitors come to Hermann to enjoy award-winning wineries,
unique shops, fine restaurants and historic sites, and to participate in special
events, things for which Hermann is known. But, the surrounding countryside is
full of surprises, too. Sometimes finding the unexpected can be the most
memorable part of a vacation. So, give yourself at least half a day to travel
the scenic country roads and discover some special people and places along the
way.
| The tour described in this newsletter will take you
south of Hermann for about 35 miles along Highways 19 and 50. It
includes stops at Swiss Meat & Sausage Company, The Gourd House, The
Drake Company, Phoenix Winery, and Wenwood Farm Winery. Days and hours
of operation are indicated along with directions to each site. So hop in
the car and head for the country. |
Joyce and Don Riedel
own The Gourd House |
Visit our
Day Trips page to
view this tour.
(You will note an asterisk (*) throughout the newsletter.
This indicates a reference to Hermann Hill's 3-Mile Walk. Information about the
walk is available on our web
site.)
Stomping
for charity
An
often asked question at
Stone Hill Winery*
is if grapes are still crushed the old-fashioned way -- by foot -- just like in an
episode of "I Love Lucy" when Lucy and Ethel ended up in a wine barrel stomping
grapes.
Well, that's just what visitors will see at the winery on
August 13 when it hosts the 28th Annual Grape Stomp, a charitable
event that raises funds for River Bluff Industries, Inc., a non-profit sheltered
workshop for the mentally and physically challenged in Hermann.
|
Stompers of all ages can participate in the
Grape Stomp |
Visitors can compete in the stomp to the sounds of
the Boney Goat Band or sit on the hillside and cheer for the stompers,
who are judged on the amount of juice produced and their stomping
style. Stompers are divided into categories by age and no one is too
young, or too old, to stomp. Cash prizes are awarded to the winners of
each age category. Special prizes are given to the winners of several
championship Stomp-Offs.
The event begins at 1 p.m. Registration for
stompers begins at 11 a.m. Tickets are $3 for stompers and $2 for
watchers. A winery tour is included in the ticket price.
For more information about the event, contact the
winery at 800-909-9463. |
All aboard for Hermann
August 6 marks the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the
first passenger train in Hermann. Railroading in Missouri has a long history,
and for many, traveling by rail continues to be a popular way to get to Hermann
and other destinations throughout the state.
Railroading began in Missouri in the late 1840s. With the
onset of the California Gold Rush in 1848, Americans realized the need for a
fast and reliable way to head West and St. Louisans wanted the starting point to
be in their city. In 1849, the Missouri Charter was penned for the Pacific
Railroad, the first rail line west of the Mississippi River, that would extend
from St. Louis to the western boundary of Missouri and continue to the Pacific
Ocean.
Ground breaking was on July 4, 1851. At
first the work was slow because two tunnels needed to be constructed
(west of what is now Kirkwood) on the route that had been selected. It
followed the Missouri River until it reached Jefferson City. West of
Jefferson City, it veered away from the river because it was feared that
the railroad would run into competition with steamboats on the river. |
Amtrak stops at Hermann four times daily |
On December 9, 1852, the first passenger train left the
station at Fourteenth Street in St. Louis and traveled to the end of the line--a
total of five miles in approximately 10 minutes. The inaugural run on the new
Pacific Railroad gave the people of Missouri their first look at a steam
railroad. By August 6, 1855, passengers were able to ride all the way to
Hermann. It was another 10 years before the railroad served the Kansas City area
because construction was interrupted by the American Civil War.
In 1872, the line was reorganized as the Missouri Pacific
Railway. A merger with several other railroads in 1917 created the Missouri
Pacific Railroad. The line's passenger operations were turned over to the
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) in 1971.
Currently, four Amtrak trains that run between St. Louis
and Kansas City stop daily at Hermann. Other stops between these two cities
include Kirkwood, Washington, Jefferson City, Sedalia, Warrensburg, Lee's
Summit, and Independence.
Train travel is easy, fun, and relaxing, and because
Hermann is a town that can be enjoyed on foot, many of our guests leave their
cars at home and arrive here on Amtrak. For information, visit Amtrak's web site
at
www.amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL.
Hermann Hill Village update
|
Cottage #2 Construction |
We continue to make progress at Hermann Hill
Village. The roof is now on Cottage #2 and the foundation is being
prepared for #1. On July 22, the sign went up at the entrance to the
village from Highway 100.
Our guests are interested in the project and we get
lots of inquiries about our plans for the site. We'd like to answer the
10 most Frequently Asked Questions for our readers. |
1.
Where is it located? Hermann Hill Village is located on
15 acres one mile
east of Hermannhof Winery on Highway 100.
2.
How will the "inn" be different from the "village"? Hermann Hill Inn
is an upscale bed and breakfast. Hermann Hill Village will function as a hotel
with individual cottages. The cottages are the only lodging choice during this first phase of the project. Once the lodge/conference center is completed, a
full array of services will be offered to our guests.
3.
Why cottages instead of a big building? Cottages allow couples more
isolation, privacy, and flexibility with children, pets, and other family
members. They are ideal for multiple couples who travel together but want
totally separate amenities, such as cooking facilities and outdoor hot tubs.
4.
How many cottages will there be and will they be the same? Our plans
call for a total of 16 cottages. Eleven will be along the river bluff and five
along the top road with views of the Missouri River and Highway 19 bridge. Of
the first five, only one will be handicapped accessible and allow up to four
couples who know one another to stay in a single unit. The remaining cottages
are designed for up to two couples who know one another but want separate
amenities like hot tubs, Jacuzzis, steam showers, kitchens, etc.
5.
Can we use Hermann Hill gift certificates at both locations? Yes, and
we hope to be able to display availability for both properties on the Hermann
Hill web site.
6.
What rates will you charge for the cottages? We will continue to vary
our rates by the season and day of the week. We expect to rent a cottage to a
single couple for one rate and then adjust that rate if more than two people
occupy the cottage. We expect the Hermann Hill Village rates to be higher for a single couple but only slightly higher if two couples book a single cottage.
7.
Will we still get breakfast,
cookies,
ice cream, and Hermann Hill port chocolate raspberry sauce? Yes, but we plan
to load the cottage refrigerator with breakfast, cookies, and ice cream prior to
a guest's arrival.
8.
Who will use the wedding chapel? Since it will seat only about 70
people, we anticipate mainly second marriages, which often have much smaller
guest numbers.
9.
When will the lodge and conference center be built? We do not have a
specific date at this point because we are still working with the Missouri
Department of Conservation, MODOT, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and Missouri
Department of Natural Resources on a permit for on-site stream relocation.
10.
How can we keep track of Hermann Hill Village development?
Subscribe to our e-mail
newsletter. Each month we will have an update on our progress.
To view more photos of our progress, visit the
Hermann Hill Village
page.
September newsletter:
More about Hermann Hill Village | 