Business Booming for Upper Cumberland Bed and Breakfasts

Bed and Breakfast owners said when the pandemic hit it was devastating for their business.

But now, things seem to be back and better than ever once people started to get out and look for safe places to visit. Co-Owner of The Garden Inn, Mike Kopec said he saw the change this Summer.

“Absolutely phenomenal, people are wanting to travel and we are absolutely sensing from what our guests are telling us that they want to avoid the big cities, they want to avoid the normal tourist areas and come to the Upper Cumberland,” Kopec said.

The feedback seems to be the same for Granville Bed and Breakfast Owner Randall Clemmons. Clemmons said keeping dining tables six feet apart and Saturday night’s live music at half capacity gives his guests comfort.

“It’s people that just stayed in, and they would just like to get away for a weekend or whatever looking for something to do, and we’re actually busy through the week as well, so people are just wanting to do something different but be sure that they’re safe at the same point in time,” Clemmons said.

It was not always this positive for Upper Cumberland Bed and Breakfasts. The pandemic shut down hit right at the start of bed and breakfast season.

“It was terrible for us because it actually hit at when we were just fixing to have our reopening weekend for the 2020 season,” Clemmons said.

“When COVID first hit, we closed down so there was no absolute any chance of there being any guests,” Kopec said.

Coming back from a shutdown, Kopec said he wants guests to know from the start, they are in a safe place to stay.

“We greet everybody at the door with a mask on,” Kopec said.

Both bed and breakfasts said they require masks inside. Both Clemmons and Kopec said the mandate creates a safe environment they want to provide during the pandemic.