The Conservatory at Evergreen

INDY’S NEWEST PREMIER EVENT VENUE

The sun sparkles over gentle ripples in a pond, and light reflects through clear glass walls, catching on the golden embers of candlestick chandeliers. Surrounded by a dense forest full of evergreens, cottonwoods and maple trees, upon a long, winding dirt road, the Conservatory at Evergreen lies just on the outskirts of the city.

Nestled on 23 acres and bordered by the peaceful, flowing runs of Eagle Creek and the Eagle Creek Dam, you would never know this venue exists just a short drive off Interstate 74 on the west side of town.

Debbie Hasbrook, the owner of Hotel Broad Ripple, purchased the property from the Kernel family in April of 2018. The 23-acre property was home to the Kernels for more than 100 years. The property went on the market as a two-bedroom, one-bath house off of 34th Street for nearly $750,000. The property featured a log home, rental home, guest cabin with a garage, separate mechanic garage, indoor and outdoor owner-operated dog day care, artesian well, three-acre stocked pond, and fish hatchery.

“We knew we could do something amazing here and didn’t want the land to be developed into just another apartment complex,” says David DePrez, Hasbrook’s son.

They have done something inspired with the property while respecting the land around it, and it’s just the beginning. Hasbrook’s first step was to build a new space just west of the pond. The Conservatory greenhouse will serve as a reception and ceremony space. The building is a stunning, 5,000-square-foot glass, metal and stone structure that can accommodate up to 250 people.

leads out to views of the pond east of the property. The cozy, twobedroom cabin lies to the north, and just over the ridge on the west side flows Eagle Creek. Parking and an additional cabin lay to the southeast of the property, which is conveniently hidden by the kitchen and other building amenities.

The Conservatory and grounds occupy the secluded property on 34th Street. The space offers a drive-up to the stunning entrance, bordered by industrial iron columns and softened by beautiful landscaping. A portico features a glass ceiling, so visitors can enter the property and admire the skies above while being protected from the elements.

Once inside, you can admire the whole property to the left, and a variety of service and amenity spaces to the right. A coat check with a custom, wooden Dutch door offers a space for visitors to check their items. Two ample restrooms with beautiful, custom concrete countertops and stained-wood stall doors are just down the hall. There’s also an impressive catering kitchen outfitted with garage doors for bringing in large items, fridges, three-bay sinks and abundant workspace. Above the service spaces, just up a small staircase, is a cozy, quaint room. The space can serve as additional private quarters for the wedding party, with a gorgeous balcony looking over the event space. The balcony provides perfect photo opportunities for wedding couples, or bouquet tosses.

The open space is ready to be transformed into the reception of your dreams. “Many brides have discussed separating the space with black-and-white, checkered dance floors, large area rugs and a variety of seating,” DePrez says. “The options are endless.” While the space is surrounded by glass windows that embrace nature, the seating on the pond.

A short walk up the hill from the Conservatory is a log home, the Cabin, built in 1930. Rumor has it that the space used to serve as an underground casino. Visitors will be greeted by a massive stone fireplace, plenty of open space for wedding parties, one large master bedroom that is perfect for getting ready, one smaller bedroom, a quaint bathroom, and a cozy kitchen with sweet touches like a built-in window seat. Just on the other side of the stone fireplace is a screened-in porch overlooking the pond and an old fish hatchery. Overstuffed, vintage rattan couches and a cozy atmosphere make it a perfect place to relax before a ceremony.

Across from the Cabin is a small building, previously used for a dog day care. It will eventually be transformed into another space for guests, and has massive windows overlooking Eagle Creek streams.

Near the entrance of the property is another modest, two-bedroom bungalow home. The space has been transformed into the perfect place for a bridal party to get ready. The living space offers sleek, modern white couches, while the previous dining space has been transformed with makeup mirrors, tons of table space and full mirrors. The space offers an additional private room for brides, as well as a small guest room that is perfect for resting throughout the day. The kitchen offers visitors a place for coffee, sink space, and a fridge perfect for holding snacks and libations for a bridal party to enjoy before their ceremony.

Next door is an additional guest cabin with a garage and separate mechanic garage. This, for now, serves as a beautiful photo backdrop with a forest-green, wood-clad exterior and giant carriage doors. The staff members hope to eventually restore this area for additional event space.

The Conservatory will serve as a year-round facility, and officially opens in March of 2023. However, they already have more than two dozen events booked. In the spring, the grounds will be covered in lush greenery, creeping thyme and blooming cottonwood trees. In the fall, the foliage will beam with orange and red from the maple trees. In the winter, the frozen pond will glisten amongst the evergreens. No matter what time of year you book, the Conservatory at Evergreen will serve as the picture-perfect backdrop for your special occasion.

The Conservatory at Evergreen is located at 8140 West 34th Street in Indianapolis. For more info including event pricing, call 317-787-2665 or visit evergreenindy.com.

Writer / Michael Durr Photography Provided

It’s a beautiful summer day or perhaps a chilly winter evening. Your significant other has dashed you away and astonished you by creating an epic day, ending with a picturesque dinner for two. Next thing you know, you look over and they are down on one knee. OMG! It’s happening!

Assuming you said yes, keep reading.

Fast-forward a day or two. The dust of excitement has settled and you are both struck with the reality of having to plan the biggest day of your life. It might seem daunting and maybe a little stressful, but rest assured that it will all work out in the end.

When planning a wedding, all decisions are big decisions, but there are a few that might stand taller than others. This quick, three-step guide will offer you some advice on making your day as special and as memorable as it can be.

STEP ONE: THE VENUE

There is something every wedding needs - a location. This can be a difficult decision based on where families are located, how many people will be in attendance, the vibe you are going for, etcetera. If you decide you want to have your wedding take place here in the Indianapolis area, there are a lot of amazing locations available to you including the Indianapolis Art Center, the Conservatory at Evergreen, Tinker House Events, Guggman Haus Brewing Co., the Neidhammer, Liter House, and The Westin, to name just a few. The venue you select should boil down to answering one question. Is it you? All wedding venues near and far have unique offerings, and it should be a place that is special to you and your future partner. The benefit of any wedding venue is the ability for you to put your own decorative spin on it, but most importantly, it should be a location where you can see yourself standing when you share that first kiss.

STEP TWO: THE ENTERTAINMENT

Perhaps one of the most important parts of any wedding is the DJ. Let’s be honest - you are throwing a party, and a DJ is an integral part of the flow of a wedding. Introductions, speeches and music selections can be a delicate game that requires on-the-fly flexibility and talent. Hiring a skilled DJ that not only matches your personality and style, but also has the experience and ability to be the maestro for the evening, is something to consider when you begin your search. Be sure to discuss your requests and be open to feedback.

STEP THREE: THE MEMORIES

Hopefully you will only be getting married once and it is important to preserve the moments of your special day, for not only yourselves, but also for future generations that will one day look back and say, “Is that you?” Finding a photographer and/or videographer is all about style and personality. There are a lot of photographers and videographers out there, and again, it boils down to finding professionals you are confident and comfortable with. Keep in mind that the face you will see, even more than your future partner, will likely be your photographer. They will arrive in the morning and be with you until the end. Perhaps your photographer was referred to you, maybe you have followed their work for years and know you want them documenting your day, or perhaps you have scoured the internet diving into social media accounts and have uncovered the perfect documentarian. No matter how you get there, meet with your photographer and videographer. Talk about your expectations, and if you can, book an engagement session with them, which will offer great insight on what it will be like to have that person by your side for the duration of your wedding day.

Obviously there is much more that goes into planning a wedding, from big decisions to small details. Don’t forget, it is the first day in a long journey. Things may not always go exactly as planned so don’t sweat the little things, and remember that the most important decision was made before all this began - and they will be standing in front of you when you say, “I do.”

If you are looking to host a wedding in our area, reach out to us and we’d be happy to answer questions or help you with your decisions. You can contact us on Instagram and Facebook @thisisnorthindy, or you can email our publisher, Michael Durr, at michael.durr@gmail.com.