By Lacie DeGough and Jenna Rose
Waking up to the sound of nature, breaking bread with new people at the breakfast table, enjoying locally grown and fresh food, experiencing a place pulled directly out of a novel—Snug Hollow Farm Bed & Breakfast is the epitome of a sanctuary. A place that has become a home away from home for many. The bed and breakfast is known as a place for renewal, peace, and a step back in time. The legacy of Snug Hollow has been nurtured by Barb Napier, the longtime owner and innkeeper, and it will continue to be nurtured as it goes through a transition in ownership because a family in Appalachian Kentucky understood what the community stands to lose without it.
The time has come for a new chapter in Snug Hollow’s story. This cozy bed and breakfast has two new stewards: Will Dawson and Ryan Joseph Allen. Will and Ryan have worked at Snug Hollow for the past year, but their connection to the inn goes back further than that. Barb calls them “old friends,” and her confidence in their ability to carry on the legacy of Snug Hollow is evident. “They’re lovely people – ready, willing and capable of carrying on what Snug Hollow has come to mean to so many of you. What more could we ask?” Barb wrote in her announcement of the new ownership. Will and Ryan are earnestly committed to carrying on the legacy of Snug Hollow.
“We have been deeply connected to this land way before we stepped foot here and we believe it’s our true purpose in life to continue the beautiful legacy that Barb and the amazing team here have built over the past 25 years.”
– Will Dawson and Ryan Joseph Allen
While they fully intend to maintain the beloved legacy of the bed and breakfast, Will and Ryan also have many dreams for the future of the peaceful sanctuary. One of their first orders of business is to build a retreat area that will provide space for more guests to visit the holler. Because of their love of Snug Hollow and the community that it draws together, they have a vision of making this place a retreat for more people than ever before. In the newsletter announcement of the ownership transition, Will and Ryan wrote, “We are excited to build relationships and friendships with the guests that have been coming for decades and new guests that will discover the special place that we now get to call home.” Their plans for the future rely heavily on support from organizations in Appalachian Kentucky—namely, Mountain Association, Invest Appalachia, and the Appalachian Impact Fund.
The Appalachian Impact Fund (AIF) is an Impact Investing Initiative of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky. AIF supports social enterprises, nonprofits, and community projects in the region by providing a funding platform for state, regional, and national partners. One of the major reasons for AIF’s existence is to build bridges to funding for Appalachian businesses like Snug Hollow. Together, the Appalachian Impact Fund, Mountain Association, and Invest Appalachia were able to provide Snug Hollow with a loan that will help Will and Ryan’s dreams for the future of the bed and breakfast come true.
“This loan makes a huge impact as it will allow Snug Hollow to flourish, while also solidifying itself as a top place of work in the county, and region. Our care for the employees runs deep, and is a core social responsibility we feel we have, and as our business grows, we hope to further empower and support our team here. In doing so, we hope to make direct economic impacts, and continue to support our local community.”
– Will Dawson
Because of support from Appalachian organizations like AIF, the future of Snug Hollow is secure and bright. You can support Snug Hollow too, by following them on Facebook or visiting their website and making a reservation! Trust us, you won’t regret it. “Snug Hollow is truly remarkable and magical,” Will says, “and with one visit it’ll leave you wanting to come back.”
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