Our Story: How Barren Breeze Became Home. A Kentucky Bed & Breakfast that focuses on southern hospitality in your southern stays.

There are dreams that are meant to stay just that, something you daydream about but never expect to become reality. And then there are the dreams that quietly insist on being noticed, the ones that weave themselves into your daily thoughts until they refuse to be ignored.

As our children were graduating from college and Dan was approaching retirement after nearly thirty years in law enforcement, we found ourselves in a new season of life. For the first time in a long while, we had space to dream, to explore, to travel, and to imagine what the next chapter might look like. Our shared love of travel, cooking, and hosting, combined with a deep desire to create a life we truly wanted to live, made owning a bed and breakfast feel like the natural next step. Growing up watching Newhart probably didn’t hurt either.

Serendipity is the only rational way to explain how we found Barren Breeze.

One Saturday night, laptops open and curiosity leading the way, we began researching bed and breakfasts. We stumbled across an old listing for Barren Breeze, and something about it immediately caught our attention. We looked at dozens of properties, yet we kept coming back to this one. Feeling a bit bold, I reached out to the owners, only to be told they were not interested in selling. So we continued our search from Vermont, but nothing else sparked our imagination or stirred our creative spirit.

Then the magic happened.

The owners called back and said they were willing to talk, in person, at the bed and breakfast. We booked a flight for what would be our very first trip to Kentucky. Some people thought we were moving too fast. Others thought we had lost our minds. But just like in the movies, it was love at first sight. The property, the rolling hills, the quiet beauty, and the lifestyle wrapped themselves firmly around our hearts.

There was healthy trepidation, of course. But for two fairly conservative people, we found ourselves unable to suppress the hope, excitement, and emotion that Barren Breeze stirred in us. We explored the area and were mesmerized by Barren River Lake, with its expansive marina, recreational boats, bass fishermen, and kayakers. We wandered the quaint square in Glasgow, enjoyed lunch at Fine Arts Bistro, and spent time talking with locals whose warmth and kindness left a lasting impression.

Everything we discovered only deepened our love for southern Kentucky. We hadn’t just found a property. We had found our home, our business, and the beginning of our next chapter.

Innkeepers Dan & Erika Trudeau

On March 18th, we officially began the exhilarating and overwhelming journey as owners and innkeepers of the serene and stunning Barren Breeze Bed & Breakfast and Wedding Venue. When we pulled into the driveway with our vehicles packed full of personal belongings, we both knew instantly, this was home.

That first night, we floated from room to room with big, goofy smiles, hardly able to believe what we had done. By day two, the projects began. Renovations, planning, and the process of putting our own personal stamp on Barren Breeze were underway. It was the beginning of hard work, meaningful change, and a dream finally realized.

Today, Barren Breeze is more than a place to stay or celebrate. It is a reflection of our journey, our love of hospitality, and our desire to create a space where others can slow down, connect, and make memories of their own.

We’re so glad you’re here.

Warmy, Dan & Erika