Love Lee County tour back for 2023

LEE COUNTY - The Love Lee County Tour “From Main Street to the Roads Less Traveled” is returning and growing wildly in 2023! Join the fun and road trip through beautiful Lee County to 18 locations featuring demonstrations, sales, samples, prizes and pop-ups. The tour runs Friday and Saturday, June 9-10, from 10am-6pm. 
Start your day with biscuits & gravy, baked goods and lattes at Kim’s Confections, 423 Avenue D, West Point. They will also be serving BBQ for lunch and dinner during the tour. Tri-State Stove, 1300 Main Street, St. Paul, is also new to the tour this year. More than a family-owned stone and fireplace store, they feature hearth products, grills and accessories for your home. They will be serving free samples and have a BruMate drawing for the weekend.
Appletree Antiques is a country neighbor to Tri-State Stove, located at 1805 180th Street, Donnellson. They carry a huge selection of antiques, primitives, furniture, collectable treasures and also feature a barn warehouse overflowing with fresh estate finds. While you’re in the area, stop by Harvestville Farm at 1977 Highway 2, Donnellson, for fresh veggies, home and garden décor or lunch specials at their Pitchfork Café. The Petal Market is a charming flower cart with a build-your-own bouquet flower bar popping up at Harvestville Farm. Visit the Petal Market to enter a free bouquet drawing and see about renting the cart for your next event.
J & L Farms, 2270 Highway 16, West Point, is a family farm growing premium Wagyu beef and Berkshire pork. They will be grilling hamburgers, hotdogs and brats, as well as hosting Midwest Merle Co! Midwest Merle Co. is a traveling boutique bringing you a little western and a little boho. Quarry Creek Elk & Bison Company also carries many products great for the grill; many cuts of elk and buffalo steaks and meat that are raised right on the farm. They will be having samples all weekend and also carry a wide selection of gifts, boots and apparel in their store at 1866 303rd Ave, Ft. Madison.
Make the short trek to 3077 170th Street Ft. Madison, where you’ll find Four B Tack & More and their full line of high-quality boots for men, women and children, clothes and horse tack. You can then walk to the next stop, Angels & Outlaws Boutique, a unique shop that carries trendy and affordable clothing of a wide variety of styles and sizes. The Wizard of Dogz Food Cart will be set up at this location serving gourmet coney dogs.
Chestnut Hill Pottery, 3198 Old Quarry Road, Wever, is showcasing talented Lee County artists all in one place. Mary Ilmberger Scott paints a fun variety; Barb Zumdome is an expert in wool fiber; Monk Creek Woodworks creates beautiful wood products; and Linda Ross crafts pottery for the home and garden. Check out the ’74 VW bus renovation, sign up for classes and enjoy snack and demonstrations. 
The most beautiful gardens on the tour and perhaps in the county belong to Hillcrest Hostas & More, 2292 Hillcrest Road, Donnellson.  Hillcrest Hostas is a small plant nursery specializing in hostas, daylilies, grasses and a wide variety of additional perennials. 
Appleberry Orchard will be opening their farm-market store just for the tour and are serving up fresh-baked strawberry pies and apple cider donuts from their bakery and will be sampling new adult drink mixes during the tour. Appleberry Orchard is located at 2469 Highway 2, Donnellson, and offers a wide variety of gifts and gourmet foods in their farm store.
Hinterland Dairy will be bringing back their strawberry ice cream for the tour and releasing a new cheese, Smokey Road Cheddar. Hinterland Dairy, 2149 Franklin Road, Donnellson, crafts aged cheddars, fresh cheese curds, and German-style quark right on their dairy with milk from the family’s milking herd. Bella & Row, a local flower farm, will be set up at the dairy and creating charming Mason jar bouquets.  Cheese pairs nicely with wine, and thankfully Christian Herschler Winery and Stagecoach Stop is located near the dairy at 503 Franklin 6th Street. Step back in time to pre-Civil War grounds and enjoy 100-year-old-plus wine recipes, free tasting and a little history at their historic stone home.
New to the tour this year is MAFAB Fisheries, 2408 Peach Orchard Road, Montrose, a new business showcasing fresh caught and smoked fish, locally grown beef, jams & foods. Jim’s Greenhouse is MAFAB’s neighbor, the largest greenhouse in the county at 2407 280th Street, Montrose. Jim’s Greenhouse carries a huge selection of annuals, perennials, herbs and fresh veggies. The greenhouse will also be hosting Taylor Ann Designs, who can assist you in bringing your ideas to life in customized t-shirts.
The beautiful drive to Keokuk and Lou & Jo Clothing Co. takes you down
river road to Fat Jimmy’s Smokehouse and Catering, 3065 Mississippi River Road, Montrose. Fat Jimmy’s provides smoked meats and homemade sides and desserts. Inside and outside dining are available with live music every Saturday from May-October. Lou & Jo Clothing Co., 607 Main Street, Keokuk, offers trendy women’s clothing and accessories and will be celebrating the tour with 20% off orders over $50.
On the way to Keokuk be sure to stop at Green Frog Distillery, located at 3345 270th Avenue, Keokuk.  Green Frog is a family-owned corn whiskey distillery and will be celebrating the tour with specialty drinks for purchase made with their whiskeys. Sunshine B Creations will be set up at the distillery with fun summer and Fourth of July graphics and accessories!
The Love Lee County Tour began in 2019 to create an entertaining weekend for the community and highlight the “hidden gems” located right here in rural Lee County. For more information, head to any participating business or check out the Facebook event page. The tour has grown every year to include more locations, and these family-owned businesses are excited to welcome and entertain all visitors with a fun weekend celebrating businesses off the beaten path.