Tucked beneath 40-foot pine trees just outside historic Hermann, Missouri, the newly opened Hermann Grain Bins Bed & Breakfast & Retreat Center offers a one-of-a-kind lodging experience inside two repurposed grain bins that have been transformed into stylish, two-story guest suites.
Each of the guest suite bins, which were purchased new from a farm bin dealer, sleeps up to eight guests and includes four queen beds and two full bathrooms. Between the two sits a spacious Gathering Room, a communal space with soaring ceilings, a chef’s kitchen, an oversized island, and a dining area large enough for all 16 guests when both bins are booked together. Outside, guests can relax or play in two additional converted grain bins: one is centered around a gas fire pit with vintage rocking chairs and grills, while the other is set up as a game lounge under the pines.
The imaginative spirit behind it all is owner Donna Eldringhoff Joerling, who describes herself as a quirky, eclectic soul with a flair for color and comfort. Raised on a German family farm just outside Hermann as the youngest of six siblings, Joerling grew up working from dawn to dusk raising crops and livestock. That tireless work ethic stuck with her through a 25-year career in banking, followed by a successful pivot to real estate when she founded The Joerling Group. Yet it was her lifelong love of cooking, art, and joyful gatherings that ultimately led her to create this whimsical rural retreat, which she purchased in 2022.
“This project and dream make my heart sing and bring a smile to my face,” she said. “It’s built on everything I love: hospitality, color, laughter, creativity and a little bit of weirdness.” That sensibility shines throughout the property, from the hand-carved pirate-ship front door to the brightly painted lemonade wall, which features adult- and kid-sized angel wings for a photo op that’s equal parts fun and heartwarming.
Guests are treated to a full farm-style breakfast each morning, served from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Gathering Room. “I have a meat market right down the road, so we have smoked bacon and sausages, along with farm fresh eggs I get from a farmer down the road,” she said. “I make pancakes and homemade potato bread that works well for toast or French toast. I’m also pretty good at breakfast casseroles made with a lot of those ingredients I already mentioned plus cheese, of course, and whatever fresh fruit is in season. That should fill them up.”
There’s a coffee and refreshment bar with cocoa and an assortment of teas, cozy seating areas, books and games, and a house rule to leave your shoes at the door, reinforcing the relaxed, come-as-you-are feel. Packages and extras like homemade pies, charcuterie boards, celebration cakes, spa visits and horse-drawn wagon rides can be arranged to enhance the stay, and each suite includes thoughtful details and surprise touches that reflect Joerling’s playful personality. Joerling noted that no alcohol is available on site, but guests are welcome to bring their own if they’d like.
The property also includes a rustic Red Barn venue, a 1,100-square-foot space with mood lighting, cocktail tables and room for up to 40 guests. It’s ideal for small weddings, retreats, birthday parties or creative workshops.
With every element carefully curated by Joerling, Hermann Grain Bins isn’t just a place to stay, it’s an invitation to slow down, celebrate and reconnect. As Joerling put it, “Let your eyes see the strange and weirdly wonderful … your adventure at the Bins begins.”
Check out the slideshow below to see the new bed and breakfast in all its glory.
