Chosen for: Surviving Personal Loss - C. Elise Buckley Innkeeper of A Storybook Inn
After being a wife and mother and taking care of a farm, and though educated as a nurse an unexpected divorce led Elise into Real Estate. Though her first 2 years were award-winning, the devastation of 9-11 brought her successful Corporate Relocation business to a crawl. The following 2 years were financially painful. Having a strong unpinning of faith, she began to pray in a focused manner to see if this was the time to pursue another direction vocationally. As a Realtor, during the time of seeking the next step, Elise previewed a lovely historic property for a client. She felt strongly impressed that she was to buy it to turn it into a B&B. In what was a giant leap of faith she purchased it. Renovations followed. As in the case with old properties, there were many set-backs, plumbing leaks and challenges. Giving up was never an option. During that year she married a very charming southern gentleman who tragically perished in a commercial plane crash two years later. The Inn had opened in April, 2005. Serving guests out of extreme heartache became part of her healing process. Elise then lost her "cheerleaders"- her mother, her only sister and her father within a short time. How did she continue to run the tremendously demanding inn, accommodating guests and weddings and overseeing her staff? Elise’s faith gave her strength, “As I have told many, I "decorate, design and cook for my guests from the “inner flow”... in other words, I pray a lot and ask the greatest Creator of all how to achieve synergy and beauty in what I put my hand to do so that others will be blessed. I am also grateful for a wonderful staff that I could not do what I do without them.”
877-279-2563 / 859-879-9993
277 Rose Hill Avenue, Versailles, Kentucky
Chosen for: Overcoming Adversity - Shane Burry Innkeeper of Serenity Ranch B&B, Jerseyville, Ontario,
Shane Burry began washing dishes and bussing tables when he was 15 years old, in Newfoundland. From bartending to restaurant management to interior design to hair styling,
and a knack for East coast hospitality, Shane was perfectly qualified to operate a bed and breakfast. From the outset, he decided to offer only the finest cuisine in house. Shane and his
business partner Alan Campbell Moscrop created Serenity Ranch out of a house foreclosure in 2008. The severely damaged property on the edge of Hamilton had potential which Shane
recognized immediately. They opened for business providing 3 guest suites by celebrating with a grand gala. Right from the beginning, problems arose when a neighbour made it clear in
many ways that an adjacent bed and breakfast was not wanted. Multiple emails, text messages and late-night phone calls were received, and the situation began to take on nightmarish
overtones. The long driveway, belonging to the neighbour, was shared access for the bed and breakfast. Though not required to do so, Shane paid the total cost of $2,500 each year for maintaining the driveway by arranging snow plowing, grass cutting and grading as needed. He never requested
any compensation. Evidently not wanting a bed and breakfast near their property, when Shane applied for a minor variance to permit the operation of 5 rooms, the neighbours immediately
objected. Thankfully, the City unanimously agreed to allow the zoning change, but not before Shane and Alan had incurred an expense of several thousand dollars in legal and professional
fees to defend against the objection. Serenity Ranch is now one of the few B & Bs in an Ontario Greenbelt which is permitted to operate 5 bedrooms for guests. The year was not without
stress, added to which Shane underwent three surgeries while Alan survived a stroke. Throughout the entire ordeal, Shane's professionalism and composure has prevailed. Despite
ongoing intermittent concerns expressed by his neighbour, Shane has never lost hiscomposure. Last winter that neighbour became stuck in her snowy shared driveway. Shane dug her car out and paid for the plow to clear her portion of the driveway. Afterwards he brought homemade soup to her house for her dinner, because the power was out. This is the neighbour
who doesn't want a B & B next door to her property. When you ask Shane why he would stillshow any compassion for these neighbours, he just says, "I am who I am, they are who they
are. I have to be me. I am a part of the hospitality industry!"
289-346-0278 / 800-659-3714
2171 Wilson Street West, Jerseyville, Ontario
http://www.serenityranchbb.com/
Shane Burry
Serenity Ranch
Elise Buckley
A StoryBook Inn