Boone Tavern Gets a Makeover
Berea’s Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant has been hosting visitors since its establishment in 1909. As guests’ needs have evolved over time, Boone Tavern has eagerly adapted to meet and exceed them.
The building’s last renovation took place over 15 years ago, making it the perfect time to reimagine the space. In order to create a fresh new look, students from Berea’s Student Craft program partnered with Boone Tavern to enhance the Tavern’s dining experience for guests. The goal was to create a space that felt warmer, more welcoming, and more representative of Berea College as it is today, not as it was a century ago. Now, visitors can finally experience Crafted at Boone Tavern. Soft lighting elevates teal walls, and the simple but bold wall coloring paired with the original herringbone-patterned wood floor creates a contemporary feel. Continuity meets change throughout the room and combines with a refreshing look at Appalachian tradition provided by all the new artworks on display. Click here to read tailored descriptions of each contribution.
Crafted serves several purposes. To some, it’s a reminder of Berea’s commitment to supporting locally sourced food, work learning, hospitality, and community. For others, it reflects an era of renewal and innovation. Every guest who walks into the new dining room is not only surrounded by warmth, but also greeted by the creativity and craftsmanship of Berea’s students and staff. As Boone Tavern enters its next chapters, it does so with a reinvigorated spirit born of the hard work and artistry of Berea’s Craft students, and the generosity of those who believe in them.
Click here to visit the official Crafted website to learn more or to make a reservation.
Built in 1909, this timeless hotel is the heart of the Berea College Square. For over a century, it has served as both a working hotel and a living symbol of Berea’s values: sustainability, education, dignity in labor, and Appalachian hospitality.
Like many important campus features, it was created by Berea College students. The hotel’s brick-and-wood foundation was laid by students of the Woodwork Department, carrying on the long tradition of student involvement in College projects.
Every Berea student works to enhance their education, and the students at Student Craft are no exception. Student Craft’s weaving, ceramics, woodcraft, and broomcraft departments all contributed to this project. After months of designing, testing, and finishing, carefully hand-crafted items such as dining tables and broomcorn displays are now ready for visitors to enjoy.
Items made by our Craft students, including some of the pieces on display at Crafted, are available for purchase through the Student Craft Catalogue.
According to Chef Kyle Klatka, about 95% of the new menu at Crafted is different from the previous one, now focusing on Southern comfort foods, like fried chicken and chicken and dumplings, with a Kentucky flair.
One thing that hasn’t changed? The spoonbread. Delivered with new, hand-crafted ceramic butter dishes slated to arrive in late-December, our complementary spoonbread service is always sure to leave guests smiling.
Watch How the Space is Transformed
Artisans in Action
While many Craft students contributed to this project, some were given the extraordinary job of designing their own pieces for the new space. From large, hanging quilts to a three-stringed wooden banjo, many students created all sorts of pieces that reflected their artistic passions and technical skills. These students are taking traditional Appalachian arts and crafts and expressing them with a modern voice, achieving something entirely new—personal, meaningful artwork that is completely Berean.
For an example of how this opportunity helped students grow, here are the stories of Iris Gibson ’25 and Diliara ’26.
Thank you for supporting Berea students. Click here to learn about philanthropy at Berea.