Vennebu Hill & Myklebust Farms History
History of the Myklebust Farm
The history of the Myklebust Farm is one of strong ties to the land, the Wisconsin river and the family. Ragnhild Helland was a Dell's local from an old family that was involved with the early Wisconsin river tours and ran a hotel. She loved the outdoors, worked in the family businesses, studied economics at UW Madison, and in her free time could be seen scouring the riverbanks for ginseng with her local Native American friends. Paal Myklebust arrived in America as an Fulbright Scholar from Norway following the end of WWII, where he had worked in the Norwegian underground during the war. He grew up on the Sognefjord waters and in the summers worked as a lumberjack in the mountains.
Paal met Ragh during a presentation she was giving on her tour of post WWII Europe including Norway. As a first generation Norwegian, Paal, who had immigrated to the U.S. longed for his homeland, and he relaxed as she spoke until falling asleep, when he started to snore and disrupted her talk
Apologetic and from the old school, the next day Paal called Ragh's father to ask for a date with Ragh. He showed up at her doorstep unannounced, and she closed the door on him! But thank goodness his charm superseded his sleepy first impression, and that Ragh believed in second chances, because the rest is history.
Restoring Myklebust Farm to Vennebu Hill
Together they built a dream homestead and raised a family on a large sect of land nestled to the west of the Wisconsin River. The hilltop farmland is located in the Village of Lake Delton, south of the bustling tourist town of Wisconsin Dells and about eight minutes north of quaint Baraboo, WI. Mia Myklebust, one of Paal & Ragh's five children, would become the future owner of the farm. Mia grew up, alongside her four siblings, enjoying the unique traditions a farm lifestyle offers. The farm was a Black Angus cattle operation with cattle branding and birthing facilities, as well as a hay barn, and then later a crop farm.
The barn was the showstopper on the once active cattle ranch. Its Gothic style easily could be imagined as a joyful place that offered hints of the way of life they experienced during their youth. In 2014, a seed of an idea was born. Mia thought “What if we created a place where people could gather together and celebrate life's cherished moments?” The property's Gothic barn had a beauty to it that Mia envisioned would be lovely for a couple to wed and celebrate in. So the idea was cultivated. Myklebust Farm would become home to a wedding and event venue - now called Vennebu Hill.
Unique Name “Vennebu” and Its Meaning
Vennebu Hill was named early on during the initial concept phase. The Gothic barn that resided on the top of the great hill at Myklebust Farms in Wisconsin Dells had a magic to it that was not only inviting but peaceful and picturesque. Mia Myklebust (Vennebu Hill co-owner and executor of Myklebust Farms) suggested the name Vennebu, a word her parents had described to her years before. Then partners Katie Klitzke and Dave Muehl both liked the sound of the word, but what was its meaning? The Norwegian term meant “a gathering place for friends and family.” How appropriate to name this place 'Vennebu' with its beautiful views of the Baraboo bluffs, interesting and unique Gothic style barn, and rich Norwegian culture and family history.
