Berea, Ky., has feel of another era

By REBECCA SLOAN

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

BEREA, Ky. — Step into the welcome center here, and you’ll swear you’ve stepped backstage at the Grand Ole Opry.

Seated comfortably just inside the door is a group of musicians tuning up on the mandolin, banjo, fiddle and guitar.

“Ya’ll have any questions about our town?” asks the friendly banjo player as she picks out the opening notes of a lively Bluegrass tune. With a wink she adds, “We’ve got all the answers.”

One of the first questions people typically have about Berea is if this town is as special as it’s reputed to be.

The reply is an enthusiastic yes.

About 30 miles south of Lexington and known as the Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky, Berea is quaint, welcoming, unique and overflowing with cultural arts.

Watch a weaver work at her loom, or a potter molding his clay or listen to live dulcimer music — Berea is home to numerous professional craftspeople who’ll happily open the doors to their studios.

In fact, most of these studios do double duty as shops, and Berea’s quiet downtown is brimming with lovely little stores filled with one-of-a-kind merchandise.

Hand-woven rugs and throws, pottery fresh from the kiln, handmade jewelry, homemade candles, gourd banjos — you name it, they’ve got it.

The one big Berea shop where tourists can go to buy Bluegrass arts and crafts is the Kentucky Artisan Center at 975 Walnut Meadow Road.

Inside this spacious limestone building, tourists can view and purchase sculptures, books, CDs, crafts, postcards, paintings, textiles and much, much more, and at the center’s café, they can sample regional specialties.

Berea is also home to the Log House Craft Gallery on the grounds of Berea College, where students receive a free education in exchange for working on campus.

The Log House gallery showcases crafts made by students and other Appalachian area artists. Weaving, woodcrafts, ceramics and wrought iron are among the mediums displayed.

The Berea College campus is also home to the Boone Tavern and Hotel, which — you guessed it — was named for Kentucky hero Daniel Boone.

In this sprawling, historical mansion, tourists can dine on traditional Southern fare. Old-time favorites such as “spoonbread” and “chicken flakes in a bird nest” highlight the menu.

In recognition for its fine cuisine, Boone tavern received the Duncan Hines Excellence in Hospitality Award in 2003.

XFor more information about Berea, Ky., call (800) 598-5263.