When guests check in to the Historic Boone Tavern Hotel and Restaurant in Berea, Kentucky, there are no plastic key cards, cold furniture or automated kiosks anywhere in sight. Instead, guests are welcomed by a warm smile and a friendly greeting, then given a metal key to unlock a guest room full of handcrafted wood furniture made by students at Berea College.
The Historic Boone Tavern Hotel and Restaurant has a long history of hospitality, as it was originally built in 1909 as a guesthouse at the request of Nellie Frost, the wife of the Berea College president at the time. Its restaurant alone has made a name for itself, where guests from all over come to sample well-known historical favorites like spoon bread and its famous Chicken Flakes in a Bird’s Nest, which was developed by Richard Hougan, the hotel’s innkeeper for more than three decades.
The hotel has always thrived off its long-standing relationship with Berea College, one of the few schools in the world that do not charge tuition. Students of the school can earn a four-year degree with little or no debt through the university’s unique work-study format. Even today, many of the student artists can be seen working and creating on campus and in the town from the windows of the Boone Tavern Hotel’s guest rooms.
Over the years, the Boone Tavern Hotel has acted as a home away from home for artists, dignitaries and scholars who flocked to what has become known as the art and craft capital of Kentucky. It wasn’t until 2009, nearly a century after it was first opened, that the Boone Tavern Hotel underwent an extensive $11 million renovation that included earning a LEED Gold Certification, updating its 63 guest rooms and adding a brand-new event center that holds up to 150 guests. The hotel managed to retain its historic charm throughout, but now it juxtaposes its historic, artisanal furnishings with modern appliances, i.e., flat-screen TVs, Keurig coffeemakers, etc., in the guest rooms as well as high-tech audiovisual equipment, lighting and sound for its meeting guests.
Meeting Space
The artfully restored and renovated meeting spaces at the Boone Tavern Hotel span more than 8,552 square feet and feature seven separate event rooms for anywhere from six to 150 guests. The new event center was opened last fall and offers 2,834 square feet of flexible function space that holds a maximum of 150 guests. Other spaces throughout the hotel are the Skylight Room, maximum 50 guests; the Robinson Room, maximum 20 guests; the Coyle Gathering Room, maximum 80 guests; the Bowling Dining Room, maximum 150 guests; the Lincoln Lounge, a 380-square-foot add-on space for receptions, registration, breaks and set-up; and the Elizabeth Ann Dunseth Lounge, maximum 20 guests.
Catering
Fine dining has been a tradition at Boone Tavern since it opened, and the restaurant features produce and ingredients from local farmers and producers in Kentucky through its Kentucky Proud catering program. The catering team crafts all-day menus for a wide range of meeting types, including breakfast buffets, plated lunches and all-inclusive dinners. Besides the hotel’s famous Chicken Flakes in a Bird’s Nest with cranberry-orange relish and Southern-style spoon bread baked fresh each day, dinner favorites include its thick-cut filet of beef prepared with a lump crab and herb cream sauce served over mashed potatoes. Early risers rave about the warm cinnamon rolls drizzled generously with icing. Alcohol is available.
Eco-Friendly and Historic
Along with the chance to meet in a beautifully restored historic property, meeting groups can also take advantage of Boone Tavern’s complimentary Wi-Fi; complimentary parking, with VIP parking for eco-cars; cutting-edge audiovisual equipment, high-resolution projection screens, flat-screen TVs, LED lighting and natural light options; portable staging; and exclusive guest rooms for event guests. Guests attending events and meetings at the Boone Tavern Hotel will appreciate the hotel’s green aspects, which include energy-efficient heating and cooling systems; low-emissivity windows; fresh air circulation; and low-volatile-organic-compound paints, adhesives and carpets, all in a smoke-free environment.
After Events
Before and after events, meeting guests and guests of the hotel are free to explore the historic grounds of the hotel to see the handiwork and artistry of Berea College students displayed throughout the property. The hotel’s proximity to the college allows guests to learn about the history and culture of Berea College and its famous Craft Department without straying far from their rooms. The hotel staff also updates its list of recommendations for guests and can arrange murder-mystery dinner shows, musical entertainment, craft-making demonstrations and outdoor games. There are also miles of walking and hiking trails just outside the hotel.
Historic Boone Tavern Hotel and Restaurant
Location: Berea, Kentucky
Size: 63 rooms
Meeting Space: 8,552 square feet of flexible space
Access: Interstate 75; Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, approximately one hour away
Contact Info:
859-985-3700
www.boonetavernhotel.com
