Get away, play, stay at the Brown Co Barn Burner
Donation protected
Hi, we're Clint and Kara Hammes - a husband and wife team and the parents of 4 and 6 year old daughters. We love where we live in Nashville, Indiana and want to create an experience that allows others to relax and join us on Brown County time. We've never hesitated to dream big or take steps to make those dreams a reality, so keep reading to find out more about the biggest project we've taken on yet...
The four of us after a hike near Yellowwood Lake, one of our favorite places in Brown County.
It’s hard to believe that we first walked around 185 S Jefferson St, Nashville, Indiana over a year ago, on the evening of St. Patrick’s Day 2018, before meeting some friends for dinner. That night sparked many conversations and brainstorming sessions between Clint and me, and anyone else we could get to listen. Ultimately, we saw a path forward with that particular property that brought together several things we’ve been passionate about for a while, even before we moved to Brown County, Indiana in late 2016. We closed on the purchase of that property in late July, 2018. At that time, we made the choice to purchase the property ourselves, without rolling everything into a construction loan.
The Barnyard Shoppes have been at 185 S Jefferson St since the late 1970's. They were previously retail shops and, to the best of our knowledge, have been all or mostly vacant for almost 20 years. Years of neglect have made their mark and it's past time for a change.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
There’s a saying that for any given project you can choose to optimize two (but not all three) of the following: speed, cost, or quality. But once you’ve gotten a loan, you can bet you’ll feel the pressure to move fast above all else. Since we’re committed to keeping our costs down and assembling a team that prioritizes quality workmanship to bring our vision to life, we had to slow down our original timeline. Thankfully, that’s allowed us to use the past year to design and redesign this project, fully think through the necessary steps, and get our team in place. We’ve already poured a lot of ourselves into this dream and we’re excited to finally unveil our plan: the Brown County Barn Burner.
Proposed northwest view of the Brown County Barn Burner.
Proposed southeast view of the Brown County Barn Burner.
No one has ever accused us of dreaming small, but what we have in mind with the Brown County Barn Burner is a little audacious, even for us. As dreamers and doers at heart, we knew we wanted to create something that allowed more people to experience what we love about Brown County, while also providing some missing amenities that will benefit local residents and visitors alike.
Designed with the mantra, “get away, play, stay” in mind, once complete the Brown County Barn Burner will feature:
· Four units for overnight and short term rental, within easy walking distance of everything downtown Nashville, Indiana has to offer. One 1-bedroom, one 2-bedroom, and two 3-bedroom units – rent just one, or rent multiple to suit the size of your group;
· All-ages interactive play space , run by local play expert, and owner of the Brown County Toy Chest, Hilary Key;
· Flexible-use event space with attached certified commercial kitchen that can be rented for your personal event or to host classes, pop-up dinners and more. We’re also exploring the option of making the kitchen available for rental by the hour to food-related businesses that need access to a certified commercial kitchen space.
With our combined engineering, project management, home design and DIY backgrounds, we are well prepared to bring our vision to life. Based on our current estimates, we hope to be open sometime in the spring of 2020.
WHY FUND THIS PROJECT?
We are close to finalizing the details for our construction loan, but the reality is that this is an enormous undertaking and new business venture for us. No matter how conservative we’ve been in our own projections and planning, any lender is going to be even more conservative on top of that. In the words of one bank, “The business is a start-up and has no history, even though there is significant history in the market.” But the same bank also said, “There are a lot of positives, not the least of which is my belief that you both are very capable of making this happen.”
We believe that too, but the fact remains that we need to qualify for a commercial construction loan to make this project a reality. We are asking for money to assist with the final down payment and to help sustain the financial “cushion” that the bank wants us to have on hand for any potential project overruns.
It's a big project, there’s no denying that. But we also know it has big potential to change the face of that corner of town, and meet the needs of both the residents of Brown County and its visitors. We have worked hard and feel grateful to have the opportunity to offer our dream to the community. And, while we are well on our way, we are hoping to get your support to push us over the finish line.
Even without your financial support, we are still committed to making this project a reality, but may have to complete things in “phases,” such as holding off on the purchase of commercial kitchen equipment, among other options. The more money we can raise at this stage, the more likely we are to be able make the full vision, and desired level of quality, a reality in this first push of construction – especially the pieces will most directly affect local residents. For some in Brown County there’s a perception that “everything is for the tourists;” but one thing we love about our plan for the Brown County Barn Burner is that it provides a space for tourists – and the income that goes along with that – while also including spaces that can be used by locals, like the play space, event space, and commercial kitchen.
So, while it feels a bit strange to be using GoFundMe to ask for your support at this stage, the reality is that the only way this dream will succeed long term is with your backing. So why not start building our community of supporters now? This will also allow all of you join us for the journey, feel a sense of ownership from the beginning, and hopefully we can use this opportunity to provide some pretty cool perks as a thank you as well!
If you are able, please consider donating and sharing our campaign with others. Also, be sure to follow along on Instagram and Facebook , or join our mailing list on the website for updates and insight on the whole project. Things are about to get fun, y’all.
P.S. A note about our name
A barn burner is “an event or game that arouses much interest or excitement.” The Brown County Barn Burner will embody both the figurative and literal meanings of a barn burner by combining the opportunity for guests to get away, play, and stay, with materials and barn-like finishes that are black or literally burnt using techniques like the Lichtenberg process (below, top) or shou sugi ban (below, bottom).
Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process on reclaimed oak.
Close-up of shou sugi ban charred cedar.
PERKS
As a thank you to anyone who is able to donate, we're offering the following perks at different donation levels:
$5
Funder’s "time capsule" wall created during construction, with your name written on the building studs
$30
Block-printed t-shirt with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
Block-printed t-shirt with logo, hand printed by Kara
Close-up of block-printed logo
$50
2x Block-printed t-shirts with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
OR
Block-printed sweatshirt with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
$100
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
Block-printed t-shirt with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
Close-up of a fractal burned piece of reclaimed oak.
OR
Game night pack with two games (choose from four categories: family, toddler, strategy, or party) and popcorn
Block-printed t-shirt with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
$150
Invite for one to our Grand Opening Event and Open House, with refreshments
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
Block-printed t-shirt with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
$250
Invite for two to our Grand Opening Event and Open House, with refreshments
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
2x Block-printed t-shirts with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
$500
Two nights in the 1- OR 2-bedroom unit (can be gifted to another on your behalf, if you’d like)
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
Block-printed t-shirt with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
OR
Family invite to a “thank you” cookout somewhere in Brown County during summer or fall 2019, with food and games
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
Game night pack with two games (choose from four categories: family, toddler, strategy, or party) and popcorn
Block-printed t-shirt with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
$750
Two nights in a 3-bedroom unit (can be gifted to another on your behalf, if you’d like)
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
Block-printed t-shirt with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
$1500
Weeklong (six night) rental of the 1- OR 2-bedroom unit (can be gifted to another on your behalf, if you’d like)
Insider’s guide to Brown County activities and help with itinerary planning for your stay
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
Game night pack with two games (choose from four categories: family, toddler, strategy, or party) and popcorn
2x Block-printed t-shirts with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
OR
Four nights in a 3-bedroom unit (can be gifted to another on your behalf, if you’d like)
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
Game night pack with two games (choose from four categories: family, toddler, strategy, or party) and popcorn
2x Block-printed t-shirts with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
$2500
Weeklong (six night) rental of the 3-bedroom unit (can be gifted to another on your behalf, if you’d like)
Insider’s guide to Brown County activities and help with itinerary planning for your stay
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
Game night pack with two games (choose from four categories: family, toddler, strategy, or party) and popcorn
2x Block-printed t-shirts with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
$5000
Weeklong (six night) rental of all four units: 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and two 3-bedrooms (can be gifted to another on your behalf, if you’d like)
One night rental of Event Space, to host event of your planning
Insider’s guide to Brown County activities and help with itinerary planning for your stay
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
Game night pack with two games (choose from four categories: family, toddler, strategy, or party) and popcorn
2x Block-printed t-shirts with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
The four of us after a hike near Yellowwood Lake, one of our favorite places in Brown County.It’s hard to believe that we first walked around 185 S Jefferson St, Nashville, Indiana over a year ago, on the evening of St. Patrick’s Day 2018, before meeting some friends for dinner. That night sparked many conversations and brainstorming sessions between Clint and me, and anyone else we could get to listen. Ultimately, we saw a path forward with that particular property that brought together several things we’ve been passionate about for a while, even before we moved to Brown County, Indiana in late 2016. We closed on the purchase of that property in late July, 2018. At that time, we made the choice to purchase the property ourselves, without rolling everything into a construction loan.
The Barnyard Shoppes have been at 185 S Jefferson St since the late 1970's. They were previously retail shops and, to the best of our knowledge, have been all or mostly vacant for almost 20 years. Years of neglect have made their mark and it's past time for a change.ABOUT THE PROJECT
There’s a saying that for any given project you can choose to optimize two (but not all three) of the following: speed, cost, or quality. But once you’ve gotten a loan, you can bet you’ll feel the pressure to move fast above all else. Since we’re committed to keeping our costs down and assembling a team that prioritizes quality workmanship to bring our vision to life, we had to slow down our original timeline. Thankfully, that’s allowed us to use the past year to design and redesign this project, fully think through the necessary steps, and get our team in place. We’ve already poured a lot of ourselves into this dream and we’re excited to finally unveil our plan: the Brown County Barn Burner.
Proposed northwest view of the Brown County Barn Burner.Proposed southeast view of the Brown County Barn Burner.No one has ever accused us of dreaming small, but what we have in mind with the Brown County Barn Burner is a little audacious, even for us. As dreamers and doers at heart, we knew we wanted to create something that allowed more people to experience what we love about Brown County, while also providing some missing amenities that will benefit local residents and visitors alike.
Designed with the mantra, “get away, play, stay” in mind, once complete the Brown County Barn Burner will feature:
· Four units for overnight and short term rental, within easy walking distance of everything downtown Nashville, Indiana has to offer. One 1-bedroom, one 2-bedroom, and two 3-bedroom units – rent just one, or rent multiple to suit the size of your group;
· All-ages interactive play space , run by local play expert, and owner of the Brown County Toy Chest, Hilary Key;
· Flexible-use event space with attached certified commercial kitchen that can be rented for your personal event or to host classes, pop-up dinners and more. We’re also exploring the option of making the kitchen available for rental by the hour to food-related businesses that need access to a certified commercial kitchen space.
With our combined engineering, project management, home design and DIY backgrounds, we are well prepared to bring our vision to life. Based on our current estimates, we hope to be open sometime in the spring of 2020.
WHY FUND THIS PROJECT?
We are close to finalizing the details for our construction loan, but the reality is that this is an enormous undertaking and new business venture for us. No matter how conservative we’ve been in our own projections and planning, any lender is going to be even more conservative on top of that. In the words of one bank, “The business is a start-up and has no history, even though there is significant history in the market.” But the same bank also said, “There are a lot of positives, not the least of which is my belief that you both are very capable of making this happen.”
We believe that too, but the fact remains that we need to qualify for a commercial construction loan to make this project a reality. We are asking for money to assist with the final down payment and to help sustain the financial “cushion” that the bank wants us to have on hand for any potential project overruns.
It's a big project, there’s no denying that. But we also know it has big potential to change the face of that corner of town, and meet the needs of both the residents of Brown County and its visitors. We have worked hard and feel grateful to have the opportunity to offer our dream to the community. And, while we are well on our way, we are hoping to get your support to push us over the finish line.
Even without your financial support, we are still committed to making this project a reality, but may have to complete things in “phases,” such as holding off on the purchase of commercial kitchen equipment, among other options. The more money we can raise at this stage, the more likely we are to be able make the full vision, and desired level of quality, a reality in this first push of construction – especially the pieces will most directly affect local residents. For some in Brown County there’s a perception that “everything is for the tourists;” but one thing we love about our plan for the Brown County Barn Burner is that it provides a space for tourists – and the income that goes along with that – while also including spaces that can be used by locals, like the play space, event space, and commercial kitchen.
So, while it feels a bit strange to be using GoFundMe to ask for your support at this stage, the reality is that the only way this dream will succeed long term is with your backing. So why not start building our community of supporters now? This will also allow all of you join us for the journey, feel a sense of ownership from the beginning, and hopefully we can use this opportunity to provide some pretty cool perks as a thank you as well!
If you are able, please consider donating and sharing our campaign with others. Also, be sure to follow along on Instagram and Facebook , or join our mailing list on the website for updates and insight on the whole project. Things are about to get fun, y’all.
P.S. A note about our name
A barn burner is “an event or game that arouses much interest or excitement.” The Brown County Barn Burner will embody both the figurative and literal meanings of a barn burner by combining the opportunity for guests to get away, play, and stay, with materials and barn-like finishes that are black or literally burnt using techniques like the Lichtenberg process (below, top) or shou sugi ban (below, bottom).
Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process on reclaimed oak.Close-up of shou sugi ban charred cedar.PERKS
As a thank you to anyone who is able to donate, we're offering the following perks at different donation levels:
$5
Funder’s "time capsule" wall created during construction, with your name written on the building studs
$30
Block-printed t-shirt with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
Block-printed t-shirt with logo, hand printed by KaraClose-up of block-printed logo$50
2x Block-printed t-shirts with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
OR
Block-printed sweatshirt with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
$100
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
Block-printed t-shirt with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
Close-up of a fractal burned piece of reclaimed oak.OR
Game night pack with two games (choose from four categories: family, toddler, strategy, or party) and popcorn
Block-printed t-shirt with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
$150
Invite for one to our Grand Opening Event and Open House, with refreshments
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
Block-printed t-shirt with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
$250
Invite for two to our Grand Opening Event and Open House, with refreshments
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
2x Block-printed t-shirts with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
$500
Two nights in the 1- OR 2-bedroom unit (can be gifted to another on your behalf, if you’d like)
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
Block-printed t-shirt with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
OR
Family invite to a “thank you” cookout somewhere in Brown County during summer or fall 2019, with food and games
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
Game night pack with two games (choose from four categories: family, toddler, strategy, or party) and popcorn
Block-printed t-shirt with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
$750
Two nights in a 3-bedroom unit (can be gifted to another on your behalf, if you’d like)
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
Block-printed t-shirt with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
$1500
Weeklong (six night) rental of the 1- OR 2-bedroom unit (can be gifted to another on your behalf, if you’d like)
Insider’s guide to Brown County activities and help with itinerary planning for your stay
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
Game night pack with two games (choose from four categories: family, toddler, strategy, or party) and popcorn
2x Block-printed t-shirts with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
OR
Four nights in a 3-bedroom unit (can be gifted to another on your behalf, if you’d like)
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
Game night pack with two games (choose from four categories: family, toddler, strategy, or party) and popcorn
2x Block-printed t-shirts with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
$2500
Weeklong (six night) rental of the 3-bedroom unit (can be gifted to another on your behalf, if you’d like)
Insider’s guide to Brown County activities and help with itinerary planning for your stay
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
Game night pack with two games (choose from four categories: family, toddler, strategy, or party) and popcorn
2x Block-printed t-shirts with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
$5000
Weeklong (six night) rental of all four units: 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and two 3-bedrooms (can be gifted to another on your behalf, if you’d like)
One night rental of Event Space, to host event of your planning
Insider’s guide to Brown County activities and help with itinerary planning for your stay
9x12 piece of reclaimed oak burned using Lichtenberg, or fractal burning, process
Game night pack with two games (choose from four categories: family, toddler, strategy, or party) and popcorn
2x Block-printed t-shirts with Brown County Barn Burner logo, hand-printed by Kara
Your name written on the building studs during construction, in the “Funder’s Time Capsule” wall
Organizer
Kara Horn Hammes
Organizer
Nashville, IN
