Craig Schatz will open a wedding venue called Pine Hollow Farms this month in the Jefferson County portion of Eureka.
He also has purchased the old House Springs Lions Club to use as a smaller events venue.
“We are trying to provide quality events and quality locations so we can highlight the community and the beauty of the area,” Schatz said.
The Northwest Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 25 to mark the opening of Pine Hollow Farms, 3993 Hwy. W.
Schatz of Fenton said he already has about 30 events booked at the venue – a10,000-square-foot barn that can accommodate 100 to 300 guests.
“We wanted to oversize it so our guests have plenty of room for dancing and not have chairs bumping into each other,” he said.
Schatz said his wife, Heather, picked out the name for the venue.
“She grew up reading ‘the Saddle Club’ book series,” he said. “In the books, the setting is at Pine Hollow Stables, so just going back to her childhood days, she’s always had an affection for that.”
Schatz said he wanted to build a barn with a gambrel roof and something that highlighted the area.
The barn sits on a 50-acre property Schatz owns.
He said only 6 acres were cleared for the barn.
“We designed it based on what we like, but we also tried to make it very much universally appealing,” Schatz said. “It is absolutely gorgeous, God’s country, and that’s partially what we’d love to highlight. This corridor from Hwy. 30 to Hwy. MM to Hwy. 109 is just a beautiful corridor.”
In front of the barn is a 10-foot deep water tank, which many people mistakenly think is a swimming pool, Schatz said.
“That provides the water supply for the Eureka Fire (Protection) District to use if (the building) catches fire,” he said.
Schatz said due to the poor water supply in the area, the fire district required him to have the water tank.
Schatz said he plans to put a fountain in the tank to make it look more appealing.
He said besides the water tank, the venue was built by all Jefferson County contractors.
“That’s a huge source of pride,” he said.
Schatz said the venue may be rented for $4,500 on Fridays, $5,500 on Saturdays and $4,000 on Sundays.
He said anyone interested in booking the venue should visit pinehollowstl.com.
Lions Club
Schatz said he closed on the purchase of the Lions Club, 6482 Hwy. MM, in mid-July and hopes to have it open by the end of the year.
He said he will use that building for events with no more than 100 guests, like bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, baby showers or even large family gatherings.
Schatz said he plans to make “cosmetic improvements” to the 4,200-square-foot building.
“The Lions Club maintained the building very well,” he said.
Schatz said he expects those improvements to be complete by the end of the year.
The building sits on a 2.65-acre property that also has a pavilion and parking lot.
The property was listed for sale in June 2020. At one point, Rodney Leadbetter, who owns Slo Odie’s in House Springs, said he was going to buy it and relocate his restaurant there, but that sale fell through.
The Lions Club building was completed in 1927 and housed other civic organizations before the Lions purchased it in the 1970s.
Schatz also owns Gateway Apothecary, a pharmacy in St. Louis, and Advantage Veterinary Center in High Ridge, where his wife works as a veterinarian.