The Lost River Educational Foundation is in process of creating a Hardy County Barn Quilt Trail. Hanging painted wooden Barn Quilts on buildings along the byways and highways throughout the county, particularly in Moorefield, Wardensville and the Lost River areas, will increase interest in our region’s rich culture and history. It will be a visualization of our Appalachian Heritage and recognition of the contributions of rural women, as well as another attractive asset for visitors to our county.
The Barn Quilt Trail phenomenon has grown in popularity around West Virginia, as well as in many other states. Funding for the start-up came through grants from the Hardy County Tour and Craft Association and the Hardy County Community Foundation. Additionally, The Hardy County Convention and Visitors Bureau will be offering 4 grants each year to assist individuals to hang their very own Barn Quilt. Hardy Telecommunications has volunteered to hang the Barn Quilts.
This introduces you to the concept of the Barn Quilts and how much they can contribute to our continued effort to increase county tourism. The Barn Quilt Project expects to have 3 to 5 painted Barn Quilts up for viewing and inclusion on the initial trail map by Heritage Weekend 2018. There will also be a map noting existing Barn Quilts. Come by and see examples of other Barn Quilts and get information about how to get yours, how to participate, a schedule for classes for learning to paint them yourself, and the initial trail map. All of these will be available at three locations during Heritage Weekend: in Moorefield at the Visitors Center in the library, in Wardensville at the Garden Market, and in Lost River at the Lost River Artisans Cooperative. Pick up a Barn Quilt Trail map and be one of the first to follow our Barn Quilt Trail in Hardy County.