The Mersmann Family is headed to Alabama!
Mark your calendars: June 24–27, 2026. Four days, one beautiful lake, and the whole family together at Lake Guntersville State Park in Guntersville, Alabama.
This is going to be a reunion worth the trip. The lodge sits on a 500-foot bluff overlooking one of the most stunning lakes in the South, and the schedule is packed with things to do with family meals, a beach day, a group cave tour excursion, evening activities, and plenty of unscheduled time to sit down and actually talk to the people you don’t see often enough.
Whether you’re coming from an hour away or across the country, it’s time to finalize our plans now!
Secure your accommodations now! Group rates expire April 24!
Use the link below to access the group reservation block for our family.
Group rates available Lodge Rooms, Cabins, and Chalets. Details and room types are included in the reservation link below.
Reservations for Mersmann Family Reunion 2026 are available to be booked at the group rate for stays from June 24, 2026 - June 29, 2026.
If you have questions about the reservation process or types of accommodations, reach out to Dianne Mersmann Joseph at [email protected]!
The Goldenrod Room at the lodge is the family’s home base for the entire reunion – set up, open, and available all four days for meals, games, evening activities, and everything in between. (Note: The resort is pretty strict about outside food and beverages in the Goldenrod Room, so please help us be respectful of that rule.)
Beyond the Goldenrod Room, the schedule has a little bit of everything: a beach day, a cave tour, three group meals, family photos by the lake, and a couple of evenings with a lot of fun planned! Some things are planned and need reservations so we have enough food/space, but a lot of it is just good time to be together.
A few items on the schedule require advance sign-up by May 15, 2026, specifically the group meals, the Cathedral Caverns tour, and t-shirts. Check those sections below and get your information in early.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
Arrivals & Opening Dinner
The reunion kicks off Wednesday afternoon. When you arrive, head to the Goldenrod Room to check in, grab your t-shirt and name tag, and start finding the cousins you haven’t seen in too long.
Arriving after 7:30 PM? The lodge’s dining options aren’t open Wednesday night, so plan to grab something to eat on the road before you get in.
THURSDAY, JUNE 25
Beach Day, Free Afternoon & Evening with the MCs
The full day together. Thursday is anchored by a private beach pavilion rental in the morning and early afternoon, followed by free time to explore the park and capped by an evening of activities back in the Golden Rod Room.
FRIDAY, JUNE 26
Family Photos, Cathedral Caverns Tour & Farewell Banquet
The big day. Family photos in the morning, an unforgettable cave tour in the afternoon, and the final banquet dinner together in the evening.
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
Goodbyes & Safe Travels
The group meals are the heart of the reunion and we’ve got three of them! Thursday’s picnic buffett will be a Southern BBQ and is being provided at no cost. Our Family Dinners will be served buffet-style in the Goldenrod Room, both are priced to be accessible for families of any size, and both will feel exactly like what a family reunion dinner is supposed to feel like.
If anyone in your group has dietary restrictions, note them when you sign up. We’ll do our best to make sure everyone has something delicious on their plate.
Sign-up deadline: May 15, 2026
When submitting payment, please include: which dinner nights you’re attending, number of adult and children’s meals per night, and any dietary restrictions.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 — Welcome Dinner
6:00–7:30 PM | Goldenrod Room
The first dinner together to catch up with one another.
Menu: Build your own tacos with chicken, beef, or beans, plus all the toppings you’d want.
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | $24 |
| Children ages 4–10 | $12 |
| Children 3 and under | Free |
THURSDAY, JUNE 25 — Beach Picnic
12:00 PM | Beach Pavilion
Take a break from the swimming and sun and enjoy a BBQ picnic! No cost for this meal, so no excuse not to come!
Menu: BBQ Pork · BBQ Chicken · Baked Beans · Coleslaw · Dessert
FRIDAY, JUNE 26 — Farewell Banquet
6:00–7:00 PM | Goldenrod Room
Our last dinner together deserves a proper send-off with everyone under one roof for the last time this trip.
Menu: Chicken Parmesan · Sliced Roast Beef · Mashed Potatoes · Green Beans · Salad · Dessert
Have young kids who’d prefer chicken fingers? If there’s enough demand, we can arrange it, just let us know when you sign up.
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | $24 |
| Children ages 4–10 | $12 |
| Children 3 and under | Free |
What? No picture? Not yet, but the 2026 Reunion Shirt is a nod to Mersmann family history and our setting, but we’re keeping the details under wraps until you arrive Wednesday and pick it up in person. Consider it the first surprise of the reunion!
What we can tell you: it’s being printed on the Bella+Canvas Unisex Jersey Tee. It’s soft, it fits well on every body, and it’s the kind of shirt we hope you’ll reach for after the reunion is over. See the shirt style here →
All sizes: $15
| Youth Sizes | Adult Sizes |
|---|---|
| 3T · 4T · 5T | Small · Medium · Large |
| YS · YM · YL · YXL | XL · 2XL · 3XL |
Order deadline: May 15, 2026.
No reorders can be placed after the deadline, so please make sure everyone in your family group gets their size in on time.
About 30 minutes from the lodge, Cathedral Caverns State Park is exactly what it sounds like, a cathedral underground. It features one of the largest cavern entrances in the world, a forest of massive stalactites and stalagmites, and a frozen waterfall that has to be seen to be believed. It’s been drawing visitors for decades, and it absolutely earns the reaction it gets.
The tour is about a mile (round trip) on a fully paved path and takes approximately 90 minutes — comfortable and accessible for every age in the family. Before or after the tour, there’s also an opportunity for kids (and plenty of adults) to pan for gems outside the caverns.
Friday, June 26 · 2:00 PM Group Tour
Ticket Prices:
| Age | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | $15 |
| Children ages 5–12 | $8 |
| Children 4 and under | Free (but still need a ticket — count them in your total) |
Sign-up and payment deadline: May 15, 2026
When submitting payment, include the number of adult tickets and children’s tickets needed.
Every four years we get together, and every time we learn something new about each other. This is your chance to add to the fun.
Submit a fun fact, a favorite memory, or something unique about yourself that most of the family doesn’t know. Our MCs and OGs will put your submissions to work during the reunion, so make it good.
The more you share, the better the games!