What Sets Us Apart
Mission Statement
Vision Studios is a multimedia production center located in the heart of Mankato, Minnesota’s historic Lincoln Park neighborhood. Housed in a beautifully renovated 150- year-old church, our facility offers a state-of-the-art recording studio, beautiful live performance and events center, and skilled staff to bring your creative visions to life.
Services
Ivy Events Center
See intimate performances or host your own private event in the sanctuary of our historic building.
Electric Prairie Recordings
Record your next collection of music in our world-class multiroom studio!
History
Past
In 1997, Wes and Kristi Schuck purchased the historic First Congregational Church in and renovated the basement into Two Fish Studios. For nearly two decades, Wes and his team produced countless albums for regional and national artists, including live albums for classic rock giants Journey and indie rock pioneers The Pixies. Vision Studios is proud to revive Wes’s legacy and expand the creative possibilities set into motion by a Mankato musical legend.
Present
Vision Studios didn’t simply renovate the old First Congregational Church—we resurrected it. After Two Fish Studios closed in 2015, the church fell into disrepair. When our renovations began in 2025, we had our work cut out for us. Construction crews stripped damaged drywall down to the studs, restored crumbling masonry, repaired broken stained glass, installed a flood mitigation system, designed a beautiful kitchenette, renovated the sanctuary into a stunning performance space, rebuilt the original basement recording studio, added a second-floor loft for writing and relaxation, and decorated the various rooms with gorgeous Art Deco inspired pieces—all while maintaining the building’s original character and design. Now, we’re set to provide a wide range of unique experiences for creators and art lovers alike.
Future
Vision Studios is home to The Ivy Events Center and Electric Prairie Recordings. The Ivy is Mankato’s premiere medium-capacity venue for live performances, private events, and more. Electric Prairie Recordings carries on the legacy of Two Fish Studios by providing world-class equipment, a variety of recording booths, and knowledgeable house engineers to bring your music to life. From our variety of creative outlets to our beautifully curated décor to the sense of history emanating from the building itself, Vision Studios is the place for transcendent experiences.
Bio
Colin Scharf
Luck, says Colin Scharf, is simply being in the right place at the right time with the right skillset. And that’s how the lifelong creative became Vision Studios’ Creative Director: with a little bit of luck and a lot of talent. Scharf brings his variety of artistic talents and decades of experience to our brand new facility, where he will be the lead producer/engineer of Electric Prairie Recordings and live events coordinator of The Ivy—two skillsets he’s been honing since starting Gold Mine Studios, his own recording and live events company, in 2020. Through Gold Mine Studios, Scharf produced countless singles, EPs, and albums for local artists, as well as curated a variety of annual live
music events highlighting the Mankato area’s original bands and musicians. As Creative Director of Vision Studios, Scharf will continue using his talents and energy to help elevate and expand the creativity of everyone who enters our building.