The middle of the woods, in the middle of Minnesota

Juliane James Place is a modern vacation rental and wedding venue located on 40 acres situated between Finlayson, MN and Willow River, MN. The space is a canvas for creative gatherings of genuine folks. 

The property consists of a main house and a cabin for sleeping quarters, a large pond, and spaces for wedding ceremonies, cocktail hours, and receptions. Junebug Weddings honored us by naming us to their World's Best Weddings Venues and we've been lucky to be named a MN Bride Best Of Finalist. 

The main house and cabin are included with wedding rentals for both getting ready and overnight accommodations.

 

The Outdoor Spaces

Juliane James Place boasts 40 acres of forest, garden, ravines, and ferns galore. The property is set back off the road a bit, giving it a secluded feel. The pond is large enough for canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boating on. The trail around the pond is about a half mile and the depth of the pond varies. The ceremony stage overlooks the pond.

The Wedding Spaces

Juliane James Place was made to be a unique, gathering space for weddings in the middle of the woods. The ceremony area is carved out of the the woods, adjacent to the pond, with a stage and seating for guests. Next to the ceremony area is a 40‘x 60’ frame tent with a dance floor, string lights, harvest tables, and vintage folding chairs for receptions. A cleared space for cocktails with tables and a bar bumps up to our pond.

The Main House

The main house is the primary indoor gathering space on the property. The first floor consists of the main gathering and dining areas, a non-commercial kitchen, a bedroom with a queen bed, and a full bath. The upstairs is a loft space and master bedroom with a king bed, chaise lounge, and vanities. Outside the house is a deck and porch with seating.

The Cabin

The cabin is nestled up to the pond, about a quarter mile from the main house. It sleeps up to eight people in its two double beds, one queen bed, and another two people in twin beds. The cabin is rustic but comfortable, with a wood-burning stove and electricity, but without running water. Folks staying in the cabin can either use the adjacent outhouse or the bathrooms in the main house.

 

A place positively made for possibility

Juliane James Place is owned by Alyson Newquist and managed by the Bigger Picture Solutions team. Soon after moving from Brooklyn to Minneapolis, Alyson got it in her head to buy some land, somewhere "up north," where everyone seemed to go on the weekends. Her parents had passed away within the few years prior and she wanted to make a place where happy things happened and where families, including her own, could make new memories.

She found Juliane James Place in 2010 and knew this was the land. It needed a lot of work to become a venue, but it was the spot. Then she worked, and worked some more, and learned a lot of new skills. 

BPS came on board in 2020 to help manage the space and continue Alyson’s vision, so she could take a nap or two. The BPS team is passionate about holistically managed spaces, building relationships, logistics, and coffee. They love that their job is making dreams come true.