TUNNEL OF LOVE

Are you looking for a little love?
The Tunnel of Love may be just what you need. It’s a new display located in the greenhouse next to B to Z Hardware on Main Street in Blooming Prairie. It will be featured daily through Valentine’s Day.
The man behind the Tunnel of Love is no stranger to making things festive for area residents around special holidays. Dan Peach, whose family owns B to Z and purchased the empty lot where the Bakery once stood, is at it again after successful runs with Halloween and Christmas displays.
Peach has decked out the Tunnel of Love with a kissing booth, sweetheart display, prison of love, date night photo and a chain fence for wooden hearts to be connected. It’s mostly geared to be a photo opportunity for lovers or family members to come and have their pictures taken as a way to express their love for each other. Candy and gifts will be available in the store for children.
“I want to keep the holiday tradition alive,” said Peach, who also serves the community as a police officer. “You never hear of anyone doing anything for Valentine’s. It’s small, but it’s something,” he added.
Peach doesn’t expect anything like he experienced with Christmas when hundreds of people toured the lot in December for his spoof on National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. However, he is kind of curious to see how many people will check out the love shack.
He was pleasantly surprised to learn a woman traveled about one hour last week to check out the Tunnel of Love. She had seen the display featured on Facebook. “It’s something fun to do during the pandemic,” said Peach. He encourages people to bring someone they love down, but it doesn’t have to be people in a relationship. He would like to see families of grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins check out the display. “It’s for all ages, let’s have some fun,” he added.
The tunnel will be featured in a special business promotion Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Some downtown businesses will be open during those hours.
Coming up with new ideas and concepts to showcase the community in a positive light has become Peach’s passion over the past year. “You just can’t be stale or you will never grow,” he said, adding he would like to see the downtown more active. 
Peach was also recently captured in the Tunnel of Love sharing a moment behind the sweetheart display with his girlfriend of the past year and a half, Shelby White. Local artist Sandy Jones painted the sweetheart sign as well as the outdoor heart sign for Peach.
After Valentine’s, Peach will turn his focus to spring. He is already planning something special for spring flowers in April and May.
And he’s already eyeing next fall when he can turn the corner into a pumpkin patch once again.
“I like staying busy,” Peach confesses. “It has been a fun hobby before work. I’m just trying to spread love.”