A Fair Barn

A Fair Barn A Fair Barn event venue. Historic barn located in Southern Illinois. Beautiful location.618-740-1515. Welcome to a Fair Barn. My name is Mistie. Hotze Rd.
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My husband and I reside in Salem, IL. We lived here since 2004. When we purchased our property to build our home it had a beautiful barn sitting on it. The barn was originally the old Marion County Fair Barn. At the time we purchased our property we were told it was over 100 years old. That was over ten years ago. It was used for livestock at the fairgrounds. Sometime around 1950 it was moved to o

ur location on S. It was put on the block foundation that it still sits on today. It looked pretty good on the outside, but wow when you went inside it was a mess. Hay was stacked to the ceiling. There was no electricity. Concrete feeding troughs went from one end to the other. We couldn’t see how bad of a condition it was in until we scooped out hay for days. My husband even fell through the loft floor it was that bad. Luckily the old lofts were not very high from the dirt floor. We debated on tearing it down once we saw the condition of all the wood. Posts were rotting out and the lofts were very unsafe. We called a company to come out and give us an estimate on tearing it down and building us a new one. Thank goodness we had a very honest man talking to us. He said “I would love to build you a new barn, but you can build five new barns and see them fall and this one will be still standing.” So with that said we decided it would be a fun project and a great place to store stuff in. With the help of family and friends we began what we thought was going to be a two year project. Well we slightly underestimated the work we were going to do. Five years later we are almost done. We jacked up and replaced the main poles. Jackhammered out all the concrete troughs. The lofts were removed board by board. Let me tell you that old oak is heavy and nails were put there to stay. Once all that was done we started trying to make it look the way it did in its glory days. We build a two tier loft completely around the barn with railing to make it safe. Added stairways so you could make a complete circle from either side. New windows and doors were installed. And a concrete floor was added. Finally we insulated the entire barn, ceiling and all to help keep drafts and birds out. Once that was done we hung knotty pine tongue and groove in the entire upper area. We stained it dark green so that it could blend with the country side. The lower block level was painted and we have rustic style lighting and electrical outlets all throughout. Recently we added a high efficiency wood stove to make it cozy in the winter. Within the next few months we will have the south side completed with bathrooms, kitchen and storage. Not too long ago we had a family inquire about holding weddings in it. I was excited. That was never in the plan, but I liked the idea. So next thing you knew we were hosting our very first wedding. I always thought it would be great to have an event planning business, but living in a small community I never thought it would go over good. I still can’t believe it never crossed my mind to turn it into a venue for celebration of all types. Especially since we have had our annual Halloween party out there for several years. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. What started out as a fun project and an excuse to buy tools and play outside turned into a dream come true that I never thought would happen. It is also a great way to meet new people and work at a job you really enjoy doing. Most people are never that lucky, and we feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to share our barn with you and help make your celebration one you will remember for years to come. We are just getting started so we can only imagine what the future of our barn holds. We get new ideas every day. Please call us so that we can be a part of your special day. Whether it be a wedding, shower, or family reunion. We will do our best to make yours the best it can be!!! Thank you for stopping in!! Al and Mistie Urdaneta

PHONES ARE WORKING. 🩵💍💐🩵💍💐🩵💍💐🩵💍💐Spectrum replaced several items to restore our lines and internet. Sorry for any inconve...
08/02/2026

PHONES ARE WORKING.
🩵💍💐🩵💍💐🩵💍💐🩵💍💐Spectrum replaced several items to restore our lines and internet. Sorry for any inconvenience. Call us at 618-740-1515. If no answer please leave a message. outdoor

07/30/2026

Booking for 2027 and 2028. Be sure to ask about our winter wedding package for 50-150 guests! 618-740-1515.🩵💍💐

07/22/2026

October 10th of this year has become available for unexpected reasons. Please call if interested. We can wave the booking fee for this date. 618-740-1515.

07/12/2026

Over the past few days, questions have been raised regarding a wedding held at A Fair Barn on July 4, 2026. We believe it's important to respectfully address those concerns while also honoring the privacy of the couple and their families.

We are truly sorry this family left feeling disappointed following such an important day.

Every wedding we host is meaningful to us, and we never want a couple or their family to leave feeling their expectations were not met.

After taking time to review the concerns shared, speaking with the staff members who worked throughout the event, and looking back at what occurred that day. While we respect their experience, several statements presented as fact do not align with what our staff documented and experienced that day.

Our staff was present throughout the day preparing for the event, assisting with setup, and interacting with members of the wedding party and family. Concerns that were brought to our attention during the event were addressed as quickly as possible. The only item we were made aware of the following morning was a box of flowers. Once we were contacted, we immediately provided access to the building, and the flowers were located.
We understand that people can leave the same event with different perspectives, and we respect everyone's right to share their experience. However, because this involves a private event and the privacy of those involved, we do not believe it is appropriate to debate every detail publicly or discuss private conversations on social media.

For many years, A Fair Barn has been honored to host weddings and special celebrations for so many wonderful families. We take great pride in the care we put into every event and remain committed to providing a beautiful venue, attentive service, and a memorable experience for every couple who chooses us.

We sincerely congratulate the newly married couple and wish them a lifetime of happiness together.

-Al and Mistie Urdaneta
A fair barn

❤️🇺🇸💙 Contest Time in Salem! Which display is your favorite. They all look great! Happy 250th Birthday America!❤️🇺🇸💙
06/29/2026

❤️🇺🇸💙 Contest Time in Salem! Which display is your favorite. They all look great! Happy 250th Birthday America!❤️🇺🇸💙

🇺🇸 Contest Entries Are In! 🇺🇸

The following photos were submitted or nominated for the Red, White & Blue Decorating Contest before the entry deadline of Friday, June 26, 2026.

Now it's your turn to help choose the winner!
🗳️ Voting Rules
👍 One Like, ❤️ Heart, or 😊 Smile Reaction = 1 Vote
💬 One Positive Comment or GIF = 1 Vote
🏷️ Each Person You Tag = 1 Additional Vote (One tag = one vote!)
📅 Voting is open NOW through July 4th!
🏆 The winner will be announced on Monday, July 6th!
🎉 Grand Prize
🏆 A custom engraved Marion County 250th Anniversary Trophy
🌟 A featured marketing spotlight on the Greater Salem Area Chamber of Commerce website through 2027
📸 A special Winner Announcement Photo featured on the Chamber's page & Website and a Special Email blast!
Thank you for supporting our local businesses and helping us celebrate Marion County's 250th Anniversary! Every vote helps recognize the creativity, pride, and community spirit of our participating businesses. Good luck to all of our contestants! 🇺🇸🎆

Thes is such a beautiful sneak peek. Danielle Francois Photography does an amazing job. You really captured the day. 🩵🩵🩵
06/23/2026

Thes is such a beautiful sneak peek. Danielle Francois Photography does an amazing job. You really captured the day. 🩵🩵🩵

Huge Congratulations to the new Willis couple! 🎉🥳 The best events are family ones! We work very hard around the barn to ...
06/16/2026

Huge Congratulations to the new Willis couple! 🎉🥳
The best events are family ones! We work very hard around the barn to make sure every event goes off fantastically. When it’s family, it means even more to us for the day to be as fabulous as it can be! We love you Reese & Luke!!

Call us today to book your special event! Booking for 2027 and 2028. Still a few dates this year! Give us a call and ple...
06/12/2026

Call us today to book your special event! Booking for 2027 and 2028. Still a few dates this year! Give us a call and please share!🩵🌸🌿 Share

Address

3416 Hotze Road
Salem, IL
62881

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

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