Couple seeks Douglas County’s approval for agritourism event venue; neighbors oppose what they call ‘party barn’

Plans for a wedding venue and agritourism site in rural Douglas County have drawn some concern from neighbors — namely, in regards to increased traffic and potential for issues involving gunfire.

Kyle and Codi Wentzel filed plans with the county to construct a barn-style event venue for weddings, corporate events, family reunions and the like. The couple would also live on-site.

The site, 1173 North 150 Road, is about 12.5 miles south of Kansas Highway 10’s interchange with Iowa Street, or just southwest of U.S. Highway 59 and North 300 Road, near Baldwin City. The venue would accommodate 150 people, and its use would be restricted to weekends.

However, a dozen neighbors signed a letter asking commissioners to decline the request and stating that to the surrounding community, the Wentzels are “simply venture capitalist(s) who are trying to put a ‘party barn’ in a bean field under the guise of the popular phrase, Ag tourism.”