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An opportunity for a unique ‘Game Preserve’ fall tourism package in Bracken County Oct. 21


By Carol L. Williams
Special to NKyTribune

Whatever happened to Monopoly and other table-top games? What about lawn games of skill like croquet, horseshoes, bocce and box hockey? Have they gone the way of the Dodo? Fortunately, the answer is no! Old fashioned board games and lawn activities are experiencing a revival thanks to Millennials who are making them cool again.

With the revival of board game popularity, a “Game Preserve” event has been planned as part of a fall tourism package on Oct. 21st, in Bracken County. The tourism bundle is the brainchild of Celine Quinn, a Newport resident and Bracken County farm owner. It’s designed to encourage tourism in Bracken County and in-person interaction with others. The Game Preserve portion of the bundle is a time and place where all your favorite games have been “saved from extinction” for you to enjoy.

The tourism package begins with shopping, strolling and guided tours in Augusta, then moves to Baker-Bird Winery for tours and tastings, and finishes with the Game Preserve.

Downtown Augusta boasts a spectacular river walk, antique and curiosities dealers, Marie’s Chocolates, and the Augusta Arts Guild gallery. As part of the package, Miss Lily, of Gilded Lily Tours, will be giving trolley tours in Augusta.

Just outside Augusta, is the Baker-Bird wine cellar – the longest and oldest wine cellar open to the public in American today. Baker-Bird Winery offers their award-winning Black Barrel Wine, a special 11-year old wine that gets its flavor from bourbon barrel aging. It’s a Kentucky original known as the “Thoroughbred of Wines®.”

Potato Hill Farm, in rural Bracken County, is the location of the Game Preserve.

The farm includes hillsides and a stream for walking and exploring. It has a large lawn with horseshoe, tetherball, croquet and bocce courts. Vintage board games will be set up in the renovated barn. The barn includes a box hockey set, a dance floor, café tables and a Donkey Bar – a restored bar, complete with bar stools, behind which the resident donkeys await their “patrons”. The Game Preserve includes a popcorn bar and local vendors will offer grass-fed beef, roasted chestnuts, and fresh produce.

A special feature of the day is an essential oil workshop by Marie Kelsch, a certified essential oil therapist. The workshop, being held in the barn at Potato Hill Farm, includes instruction and two custom essential oil blends – a $30 value.

There’s something for everyone in this ticketed event. Tickets are $20 each, or $35 for two.

Included in the package are games, hiking and farm animals at Potato Hill Farm, Marie’s Essential Oil Workshop, trolley tours of Augusta, and trolley transport between destinations. The trolley leaves Augusta for Baker-Bird Winery at 2 p.m., and from the winery to the Game Preserve at 3 p.m.. The trolley leaves Potato Hill farm for Augusta at 6 p.m. For tickets contact Marie at (859) 512-7423.


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