Something for everyone

Welcome center gift shop is for visitors and locals alike

Story by JOHN CLAYTON

The uniquely shaped Munfordville Welcome Center on the corner of Dixie Highway and West South Street does more than roll out the red carpet for visitors to Hart County.

With its gift shop featuring the wares of local artisans, cooks and craftspersons, the center also offers something for area residents, especially during the holiday season. “When we rented the building from the city, we decided to put in a gift shop for locals and tourists,” says Coni Shepperd, executive director of the Munfordville Tourism Commission. “We’re a Kentucky Proud gift shop, and we try our best to keep as much Kentucky stuff in here as we can.”

KENTUCKY PROUD

The list of Kentucky-themed and -inspired items is long, featuring everything from bowls, pottery and jewelry to jellies and jams. Local residents create quite a lot of the inventory in the gift shop, which Patti England manages. “We have a lot of people come in and do birthday shopping or Christmas shopping, and that’s exactly what we wanted, along with the tourists coming in to pick something up on their trip,” Shepperd says.

The addition of local crafts and wares gives area residents a reason to visit the welcome center. They may not buy a Horse Cave bumper sticker, but they might purchase one of Chris Garmon’s wooden bowls for themselves or as a gift.

Garmon began his woodworking sideline about six years ago, making bowls, brooms and other items. After that, he connected with the welcome center and became one of about a dozen local artisans with wares in the gift shop. “I do mostly bowls and things like that,” says Garmon, adding that he works on custom items, as well as seasonal pieces such as snowmen.

In addition to creating custom orders for his clients, Garmon usually spends part of his time on the road, exhibiting and selling his work at craft shows across the region. The pandemic, however, stymied his travels as shows were canceled. But his work is still available in the gift shop. “I think it helps me get in front of people,” he says.

APPEALING TO ALL

As she spoke, Shepperd took a quick tour around the shop, finding Amish-made jellies, a variety of products from a local beekeeper, necklaces and bracelets, and locally thrown pottery. There is always a broad selection of items in the shop that appeal to either tourists visiting for the afternoon or the lifelong Hart County resident.

The gift shop also offers another perk for residents and tourists alike, especially with the Christmas holidays right around the corner. “One of our big things is we gift wrap for free,” Shepperd says. “Everyone loves it when they find that out. It’s something you can take home and just put it under your tree, and you’re ready to go.”

Chris Garmon begins turning a bowl on a lathe.