City of Topeka | Old Prairie Town at Ward Meade Historic Site

Weddings, Receptions, Reunions

The 1880 Everest Church
This historic church building was moved to Old Prairie Town from Everest, Kansas. The last worship service in this building took place on June 24, 2001. The sadness of the occasion for congregation members was lessened by the knowledge that the building would receive a new life at the Ward-Meade Historic Site.

Thanks to generous donors, volunteer workers, Ward-Meade board members, volunteers and staff, corporate donors and Parks and Recreation of Topeka staff, restoration was completed in the spring of 2004. On June 6, 2004, we dedicated the newest addition to Old Prairie Town at Ward-Meade Historic Site.

In addition to telling the story of small town faith communities through Old Prairie Town’s guided tour program, this facility is now available for rentals. Weddings, recitals, meetings and other similar events may be scheduled by calling 368-2438. This beautiful wood-frame church with stained glass windows joins the Preston Hale Room, the Mansion Courtyard, Anna’s Place (a Victorian Reading Garden) and the Lingo Livery Stable as unique places to hold your special events.

Make your wedding an historic event! Choose from the following packages. All weddings booked require an additional $75 non-refundable Security Deposit. All weddings will have a staff person on site during rental time.

Package I – Everest Church (Wedding Only):

3 hour rental (maximum)
No bride’s dressing facilities
Decorating and clean up is included in the 3 hour rental time
Includes 1 hour rehearsal time the night before wedding
Topeka resident $350; Non-resident $437.50

Package II – Everest Church and Reception:

5 hour rental (extra time is $50 per hour Topeka resident; $62.50 non-resident)
Includes bride’s dressing facilities
Decorating and cleanup is included in 5 hour rental time
Includes Preston Hale Room, full kitchen and courtyard
Includes 1 hour rehearsal time the night before wedding
Topeka resident $600; Non-resident $750

Package III – Anna’s Place and Reception:

3 hour rental (extra time is $50 per hour Topeka resident; $62.50 non-resident)
Includes bride’s dressing facilities
Decorating and cleanup is included in 3 hour rental time
Includes Preston Hale Room, full kitchen and courtyard
No seating provided at Anna’s Place
Topeka resident $250; Non-resident $312.50

Package IV – Courtyard and Reception:

5 hour rental (extra time is $50 per hour Topeka resident; $62.50 non-resident)
Includes bride’s dressing facilities
Decorating and cleanup is included in 5 hour rental time
Includes Preston Hale Room and full kitchen
Includes 1 hour rehearsal time the night before wedding
Topeka resident $400; Non-resident $500

Package V – Courtyard (Wedding Only):

3 hour rental (maximum)
Includes bride’s dressing facilities
Decorating and cleanup is included in rental time
No kitchen available
Preston Hale Room will be used as a backup in case of rain
Includes 1 hour rehearsal time the night before wedding
Topeka resident $200; Non-resident $250

MEETINGS, ANNIVERSARIES, SHOWERS, ETC.
Preston Hale Reception Room (maximum72 people)

$300 Topeka resident; $375 non-resident
day rate: 8am - 5pm, includes kitchen
$50 per hour Topeka resident; $62.50 non-resident
minimum 2 hours
$75 security deposit

Kitchen facility adjacent to the Preston Hale Reception Room

$ 45 extra Topeka resident; $56.25 extra non-resident

Lingo Livery Stable (maximum 35 people)
A rock barn was brought to the property and reassembled stone by stone with beautiful masonry work. The loft area is available for meetings, receptions or dinners.

$200 day rate Topeka resident; $250 non-resident; 8am-5pm
$30 per hour Topeka resident; $37.50 non resident; minimum 2 hours
$75 security deposit

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