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The Mercedes-Benz Car Club will host monthly planned drives for members and non-members that highlight the joy of the open road and the camaraderie of fellow drivers.This drive begins in Hastings, MN and winds through the scenic river valleys and farm country of western Wisconsin, with stops in Eau Galle, WI at a Vintage Standard Station and award-winning Eau Galle Cheese Factory before finishing at the historic Stone Barn near Nelson, WI.
Route Summary
• Date: September 20, 2025
• Start Location: Point Douglas Park, 14500 Point Douglas Dr S, Hastings MN
• Start Time: Meetup beginning at 8:30 AM | Departure at 9:00 AM
• Marshalling Point: Handy Mart, W6396 WI-35, Bay City, WI 54723
• Stop 1: Vintage Standard Station, N375 County Rd D Eau Galle, WI 54737
• Stop 2: Eau Galle Cheese Factory, N6765 WI-25, Durand, WI 54736
• End Location: The Stone Barn, S685 Co Rd KK, Nelson, WI 54756
• Total Distance: ~87 miles
• Total Drive Time: ~1 hour 50 minutes plus a marshaling break and 2 stops
Attached is a pdf of the Google Maps directions
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FXO9x2RJ460c-OGG7txrycI7ntYQgx2C/view
Attached is a pdf of a Driver’s Cue Sheet
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZyEBWA9vHTaAOAHO3SlWY75r_w1cLWtb/view?usp=share_link
This route begins Point Douglas Park in Hastings, Minnesota and quickly carries you across the St. Croix River into Wisconsin. The opening stretch follows US-10 through rolling countryside and small river towns, where the Mississippi and St. Croix valleys converge. Drivers are treated to a blend of farmland and wooded ridgelines, with the Great River Road providing sweeping views of the waterway below. The early miles set the tone for a leisurely and scenic drive, perfect for savoring the rhythm of rural highways.
As the route winds deeper into Pierce County, the character shifts toward narrow county roads that thread through quiet farmsteads and lush green fields. County Road D and Semple Road provide a particularly intimate glimpse of the countryside, with gently curving pavement that invites an unhurried pace. This middle section showcases Wisconsin’s pastoral beauty, highlighted by red barns, silos, and stretches of hardwood forest.
Two stops in Eau Galle, Wisconsin offer a nostalgic pause and provide a chance to break and stretch before pressing onward. The second stop in Eau Galle is the award-winning Eau Galle Cheese Factory. Family owned since 1945, Leo Buhlman started Eau Galle Cheese Factory after studying his craft in Switzerland. John and Carol Buhlman, who own the Eau Galle cheese factory today, are generous enough to make available just to us the first stop - a vintage service station. John Buhlman will be onsite to share his collection and love of automotive history, cars and trucks with us. The station is truly a time capsule of automotive history.
The final leg brings the group south through Durand and onward toward Nelson, where the destination is The Stone Barn. The approach along County Road KK builds anticipation as the wooded bluffs rise on one side and farmland opens on the other. The Stone Barn itself, nestled among rolling hills, makes for an ideal endpoint to gather, share stories from the road, and enjoy good food after a day of spirited driving and scenic discovery. Altogether, this 87-mile journey blends riverside beauty, farmland tranquility, and small-town charm, making it a rewarding loop for drivers and passengers alike.
For more info on the Eua Galle Cheese Factory, follow this link.
https://www.eaugallecheese.com
For more information on the Nelson Stone Barn, follow this link https://www.thenelsonstonebarn.com
Many thanks to Dale Simpson for developing the route. Thanks also to John Buhlman for opening up his Vintage Standard Station and Eau Galle Cheese Factory for us.
Looking forward to the fourth MNMB Sommerfarhen 2025 drive!
Cheers,
Joe VanLoy
MNMB – Mercedes Benz Club of Minnesota
If the weather appears to be not cooperating, postponement or cancelation will be indicated in email and updated on the MNMB Facebook page
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Point Douglas Park, 14500 POINT DOUGLAS DR S,Hastings, Minnesota, United States
