From there, a curved staircase cascading from the second floor will provide that perfect entry to
your wedding ceremony or reception. The groom’s suite is conveniently located on the main floor
in a secluded area with a private door for easy outdoor access and its own full bathroom with a
shower. While waiting for the big event, there are horseshoes and cornhole games in the groom’s
closet to keep them busy throughout the day.
For the reception, their kitchen is on the main floor and a proud amenity to the venue.
“Our venue is wonderful and unique for weddings because we offer an excellent kitchen with a
full caterer’s fridge and the perfect bar for entertaining guests,” she said.
For the after-wedding photos, Diamond H3 Ranch is all about the gorgeous and unique views,
especially the sunsets, a huge selling point for any client.
“Only a couple of venues in the country have a view like we have. The sunsets are incredible
and make for good photo backdrops for our guests,” Hodge said
Oak Knoll Ranch —
Creating a Wedding as Unique as You Are
60
Located in Springtown, Oak Knoll Ranch came from a discussion between Richard Watkins and
his daughter on Thanksgiving 2012. She was engaged and sat explaining what she would like in a
venue to get married in. Watkins met with a friend of his who was a contractor and four and half
months later, Oak Knoll was created for his daughter’s wedding.
“Richard believed this would be a perfect way to display a part of the unique antiques he had
collected over the past few decades,” Bobbye Greenlee of Oak Knoll Ranch explained. “Oak Knoll
Ranch was opened to the public for events so the owner could share his collection with many more
people and in hopes of being a part of the most important day of many couple’s events to make it
the most special day possible.”
Oak Knoll Ranch is the result of a vision of heritage by the founders that grew from experi-
ences on an Ohio family farm beginning in the early 1900s. The red barn was originally built for
a family wedding and is a perfect combination of scenic, old-timey, and functional. It provides all
the comforts of modern amenities such as a chef’s gourmet kitchen and luxurious bride and groom
suites. Oak Knoll Ranch offers a traditional, time-forgotten experience with all the modern conve-
niences. Oak Knoll’s spacious barn has room for all your needs, allowing for a ceremony to be
either inside or outdoors, a dance floor, tables for dinner, and room for your entertainment all in
one location.
Voted Best Wedding Event of Parker County by the Springtown Epigraph in 2019, it’s hard to
pinpoint the most beautiful feature of this breathtaking venue. Their chapel has beautiful stained
glass windows from a historical church in Belmond, IA, stained glass from a mission in California
and the entry into the sanctuary consists of doors with 100-year-old beveled glass.
“The venue, which has the ballroom, bride’s and groom’s rooms, have so many unique antique
pieces collected over four decades by the owner; it has a beautiful chandelier in the middle of the
reception area that is breathtaking,” Greenlee explained.
Many parts of Oak Knoll were previously part of Watkins’ family home and are incorporated into
the building itself. There are chandeliers, doors, wood and even tin that was brought from his home
in Kenton, Ohio. This allows a “warm welcome” feeling that developed from the thought and heart
that was put into not only the design and building but every unique piece that is displayed in the
venue.
Oak Knoll is not just a perfect venue for a romantic ranch wedding, they also provide a unique
opportunity for corporate retreats, private parties, quinceañeras, and other events.
Umbra Winery at La Buena Vida Vineyards —
European Style Vineyard with a Texas Flair
The third oldest vineyard in Texas, owners John and Debbie Wilson met at a wine tasting in