How a father fulfilled his daughter’s wedding wishes and boosted the local economy
Finding the perfect wedding venue can be a challenge, but what if you could create the setting of your dreams? With a vision in hand and the right tools at his fingertips, Cliff Elder did just that for his daughter. And what he accomplished was more than he ever envisioned.
True to its name, Overlook Barn sits atop Beech Mountain, offering a panoramic view of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Nestled within the crests of the Appalachians, the town of Banner Elk swells with tourists in the winter, when visitors flock to the ski slopes on Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain.
Elder took on the role of general contractor for the ultimate upcycling project – transforming a horse barn his father built in the 1960s into a destination event venue. Elder had only eight months to complete the renovations, so he turned to Lowe’s to help him get the job done.
“Without Lowe’s, it would’ve been a lot harder to do this project,” Elder said.
He relied on the expertise of employees at his local Lowe’s store (#1834 in Banner Elk, NC), who helped him find the right tools and materials based on the diagrams he drew. With his daughter’s wedding fast approaching, Elder also took advantage of the capability to order items online and pick them up in store the next day. And in the last mile, Lowe’s helped him special-order lighting to add the final touches to the barn.
The renovated barn has made a lasting impression on more than just his family. Beech Mountain has also seen an influx of visitors during the summer as Overlook Barn attracts weddings and other events. Now, local hotels and restaurants are filling up during the summer, too.
Local business owner Fred Pfohl, owner of Fred’s General, said his store has seen an uptick in shoppers with each event the barn hosts.
“It’s bringing people into our community for their events,” Pfohl said. “We feel it opens the eyes of a lot of people who haven’t been to Beech Mountain before to see what a great town it is, to see what an ideal place it is from spring to summer to fall.”
Elder succeeded in giving his daughter an unforgettable wedding gift, and at the same time, gave back to his community too.