Berea Kentucky

[Rob Will]

I am thinking about taking the family to the Berea KY area for a weekend. Are the local woodworking shops and other arts and crafts stores open to the public in mid January? Where is the nicest place to stay in the area? Is Cumberland Falls more than an hour away?

There are some interesting woodworking videos on the Berea web site.

Rob

[Charles McCracken]

Rob,

I've been there (~7 years ago) and it's a beautiful place. As I recall there were some local woodworkers with shops to visit but can't say if they'd be open when you go. The college is also an interesting place. Try calling the Chamber of Commerce.

[Jim Eller]

Rob,

Here's a guy that says here there, Brian Boggs, http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/Community/ArtistProfile.aspx?id=1871

Also, Joe Osolnik, http://www.osolnikmachinery.com/index.asp Nice guy to work with.

Been through there many times on the way back to Michigan but never stop.

Jim

[Luther Oswalt]

Rob,
I don't know anything about Berea but I just "Googled it" and they have a very nice web site with lots of info!
Leo

[Michael Hammers]

Cumberland falls is about an hour or so away. It is Beautiful...One of only two places in the world a "moon-bow" appears, the other in Africa!
Lake Cumberland is worth checking out. If you go a little further south you can see the Big South Fork area and it is really amazing. I did a multiday backpacking trip there several years ago and it was awesome!
To the East of Berea is Red Rocks..another treat. Don Weber has a really great shop in Paint Lick, about 10-15 min. from Berea. He writes articles for PWW and has a smithy shop and alot of other neat things. Brian Boggs of course. The Shaker village is near Berea, not to mention just walking around Berea and checking out the artisans from woodturners, furniture makers, glass workers, pottery, weaving, ect. Visit the school and tour their woodworking class area, very impressive. Tater Knob Pottery is very cool. As you can see lots to do...several good B&B's and cabins for rent as well...
Here is a good starting link...

http://www.kaht.com/default.htm

http://www.handcraftwoodworks.com/

http://www.bigsouthforkpark.com/

http://www.cumberlandfalls.org/

[Rob Will]

I sent an e-mail to the historic Boone Tavern hotel. It seems that they are closed for renovations until May 2008. I'm thinking about staying at the Lake Cumberland lodge or Cumberland Falls. Anybody from the Berea area have suggestions on where to stay or things to do?

The woodworkers around Berea are incredible! I'm looking forward to this.
Maybe this will help spark an interest within my family about woodworking.

Rob

[Michael Hammers]

Anybody from the Berea area have suggestions on where to stay or things to do?

We stayed at Jarvis Mountain Cabin, which is a new cabin owned by a local couple who have it on family land. Remote, quiet clean and alot of fun. I would stay there again.

http://www.kaht.com/places/jarvis_1.htm

[Bob Stegemann]

Warren May has a store on the square with fine furniture and he is always willing to talk woodworking. The Haley's welcome visitors in their shop in Old town. There is an Artisan Center just off the expressway that has crafts from all local artists. Brian Boggs has a shop in Old Town also. Kelly Mehler has a shop and school in the area.

Paint Lick, KY is close in the center of town is a bodger whose name escapes me but he is great to visit with. There are only 5 stores in Paint Lick so he's not hard to find.
Enjoy,
Bob

[J. Greg Jones]

Another option for a B&B in Berea is Weavers Bottom (http://www.weaversbottomcraftstudio.com/). They are located in Old Town and one of the owners, Neil Colmer, will be teaching classes with the Haleys this year. I'm not sure what shops are open in January, but I would expect that most/all are. As was already mentioned, Shaker Village is about an hour away from Berea and is well worth the drive IMO.

[Rob Will]

Another option for a B&B in Berea is Weavers Bottom (http://www.weaversbottomcraftstudio.com/). They are located in Old Town and one of the owners, Neil Colmer, will be teaching classes with the Haleys this year. I'm not sure what shops are open in January, but I would expect that most/all are. As was already mentioned, Shaker Village is about an hour away from Berea and is well worth the drive IMO.

If the weather is decent (no ice storms or blizzard), how much of Shaker Village can one see in January? I'm thinking that some of the guides in costume might not be there.

On the other hand, travelling with a 3 year-old.........she's not going to sit still for a long tour anyway :o. Suggestions?

Any hands-on shops in Berea where the kids can make some art of thier own?

Thanks,
Rob

[J. Greg Jones]

Rob,

Except for the animal barn, everything on the Village Museum Tour is inside, so I would expect that all of the guides should be there just as in the summer. You do have to walk from building to building, so that could be uncomfortable if the weather is bad. New Year's Eve day I was in shorts and had a couple of windows open in the house. Today it is very cold and snowing, so it could be nice or nasty during your visit. The buildings are spaced fairly close to one another, so if you start at one end and move from building to building, you won't be outside for too long at a time. If you plan on eating at the Village, you'll want to make reservations in advance any time of the year as I understand it is nearly always busy.

I personally don't know of any hands-on shops in Berea, but then I've only lived here a short time so I'm not familiar with all the local practices. This time of year is off-season, which is why Boone Tavern chose to close now for renovation. It may actually be a good time to get in the back rooms of some of the workshops as the artisans work to build inventory for the new year. All are pretty good folks, so I would not hesitate to ask anyone for a behind the scene tour. Same goes for Shaker Village-if it's a slow day you may find some of the guides willing to let you get "hands on" in the shops.