Breese Road reception center has ribbon cutting
SHAWNEE, TOWNSHIP — It took Ashley Blackburn and her sisters two years of convincing and a detailed business proposal to get them to Whitetail Acres wedding venue’s grand opening and ribbon cutting on Saturday.
She and her sisters Amanda Hefner and Taylor Lucas tried selling their parents Scott and Laurie Lucas on the idea of going into business together for a few years. Mom and Dad resisted because they didn’t see a big enough need until Blackburn put together a business proposal that changed their minds.
“We were trying to talk our parents into helping us for two years, but it wasn’t working. And so, I finally wrote up a five-yearly financial plan for my dad. And then he agreed, so we started looking and found this in September of 2020,” Blackburn said.
The business is already on a path to success; if pre-opening day curiosity is an indicator of success, Whitetail Acres will be a hit in the region. Blackburn says the venue already has 35 dates booked, and new inquiries coming in daily.
Whitetail Acres hosted its first event well before its ribbon cutting on Saturday and served as a motivator for a speedy remodel. At the same time, transforming the structure into their idea of the perfect wedding venue, a couple wanted to reserve the new facility on Dec. 11, so the family agreed and finished getting the property ready the day before.
“It put a lot of pressure on us to finish on time,” Blackburn said. “It’s a great feeling to know that they trusted us to be ready and to provide an unforgettable experience.”
The wedding venue is a much-needed addition to the area. There aren’t many venues that offer a capacity of 450 and is along the I-75 corridor to accommodate both Allen and Auglaize counties.
“I can’t overstate how grateful we are as a community for this investment. Having an event center like this is vital to a community, especially in this location, an underserved market; the size of the venue in such a beautiful woodland setting is something we are lucky to have,” Wapakoneta Area Chamber of Commerce executive director Jackie Martell said.
Martell added the family’s resolve was extraordinary given the climate they decided to open the business in.
“There was a pandemic,” she stated. “There was a shutdown all while they had already decided to do this. Their courage and focus was something that you see in so many of our local small businesses, especially those who are family ventures.”
Three generations of the Lucas family hold a ceremonial ribbon-cutting Saturday at their new West Breese Road location in Lima.
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