Hormel Historic Home: Meal with royalty
Published 6:48 am Saturday, April 27, 2019
“Dear Friends –
I wish I could extend a personal invitation to all the people who would like to attend opening night at King’s Wood – but the only way I know to reach all of you is through this ad.
The gates of the magnificent new King’s Wood Hotel will open to the public for the first time at 5:00 p.m., Thursday, July 17th, and will be open every day thereafter.
Hormel Dress Requested Opening Night Only
Sincerely, Geordie Hormel”
— Ad from the Austin Daily Herald, July 15, 1958.
A new invitation is now issued from Gerard Academy and the Hormel Historic Home to celebrate the historical relevance of that magical establishment. We offer you an evening of elegance and fine dining on Saturday, May 18, starting at 6 p.m. at the Hormel Historic Home-no formal dress required. Guests will experience history, charm and ambiance with an exquisite meal and live music reminiscent of Geordie Hormel’s illustrious King’s Wood.
Both Gerard and the Hormel Historic Home rely on the generosity of the public to continue our respective missions of serving the community in valuable ways. Gerard serves about 200 youth annually from around Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Through this dinner event we hope that the community can gain a better understanding of the impact Gerard is making in the lives of youth who have struggled in other environments.
The Hormel Historic Home preserves the legacy of a family who invested in our community. We bring cultural enrichment to tourists and we share the rich life lessons of a humble businessman. We serve those on the autism spectrum and we look for innovative ways for our history to continue being a part of the landscape of Austin.
This event will serve as a fundraiser that, through photos, music and food, will take you on a journey back to 1958 when Geordie endeavored to create a place of escape for those from near and far to enjoy. His creativity and passion brought a luxury venue to Austin that was considered among the finest establishments in Minnesota at the time.
The shared heritage between the modern day Hormel Historic Home and Gerard perpetuates the values of a family that gave to its community in countless ways. Join us for an evening from the past and learn about how we are contributing to our community today.
Tickets to the King’s Wood Dinner event are $35 and can be purchased at the Hormel Historic Home or online at www.hormelhistorichome.org/calendartickets.
What’s Happening at the HHH
History At Play Day
- 10-11:30 a.m., Saturday, May 4
- Enjoy historic activities in the historic home. Appropriate for all ages. Story time sponsored by Sweet Reads. Free.
History Happy Hour: Austin’s Other Historic Homes
- 5:30 p.m. social, 6 p.m. presentation, Monday, May 13
- Free for members of the Hormel Historic Home, Friends of the Library, or the Mower County Historical Society
- Austin’s history was made by many people whose names we see around town or hear about in conversations of the past. In this presentation we will feature information about the Deckers, the Hirschs and Thomsons and the houses they called home.
2nd Annual King’s Wood Dinner
- Saturday, May 18
- Support Gerard Academy and the Hormel Historic Home by attending this dinner reminiscent of the luxurious King’s Wood Hotel and Night Club operated by Geordie Hormel. Tickets are $35 per person and are available at www.hormelhistorichome.org
