The Serenity Hill Bed and Breakfast is located in Brownsville, Kentucky. The property is situated about nine miles—roughly 15 minutes driving—from the tourist attraction of Mammoth Caves, which span over 450 miles within the Mammoth Cave National Park. The bed and breakfast has four units available for rent, in addition to a wide assortment of exterior amenities and features.
The lodging property known as the Serenity Hill Bed and Breakfast rests on five and a half acres of the woodlands outside of Brownsville, Kentucky. The bed and breakfast sits roughly halfway between Brownsville and the entrance to Mammoth Cave National Park. The area surrounding Serenity Hill is dense with trees and other greenery.
As its name suggests, the Serenity Hill Bed and Breakfast is situated on an incline. This provides guests with views of the small hills and valleys of the region. The building is a quaint, 1900s home with two stories and an assortment of porches. Specifically, there is a large deck on the front of the house that spans 40 feet, a lower deck, and a side deck that wraps around the side of the house. In front of the house, a sizable garden has the purpose of trying to give off a peaceful ambiance—in particular, the roses that line the entire length of the building. There is a firepit in Serenity Hill's backyard, free to be used by guests at their own pleasure.
Within the house, there are four guest rooms, two of which are frequently rented out together. These rooms are the Jack and Jill rooms (previously known as the Hillside and Heritage rooms, respectively). One of the main reasons for the conjuncture of the two units is the fact that they share a bathroom. The other two rooms on the property—the Serenity Suite and the Garden Room—each have private bathrooms. All three bathrooms in the building have jacuzzi tubs. Additional amenities at Serenity Hill include televisions, DVD players, Wi-Fi, additional sitting chairs, and bathrobes.
Breakfast at Serenity Hill is cooked by Tina Burr, who is one of the property's owners. She typically serves farm-style breakfasts such as pancakes, oatmeal with berries, freshly baked bread, fresh sausage, and bacon. The breakfasts are supplemented by fresh vegetables, which are harvested weekly from nearby Amish farms. One of the more unique aspects of the property is its views, as explained by Serenity Hill's current owner Bill. Mammoth Caves are also a unique draw of the area, considering that they are the longest system of caves in the world. So far, over 400 miles of caverns have been surveyed, which is almost twice as extensive as the world's second-largest cave system. Other activities of the region include kayaking, horseback riding, or visiting the Diamond Cavern.
The culture surrounding Serenity Hill Bed and Breakfast strives to adopt feelings of relaxation and convenience. The word "Serenity" in the property's name is an intentional reference to the goal of the home, which is to have a peaceful nature. Due to the fact that the property is a few miles outside of town, it allows guests to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life for a while. Even when visiting Brownsville, Kentucky, guests will likely find the town smaller than wherever they live. Bill Burr, who owns Serenity Hill, explained that Brownsville is so tiny that "if you sneeze on your way through it, you're already gone."
Not surprisingly, then, the main reason people come to the area is to witness the Mammoth Caves firsthand. The caves have gained worldwide fame, owing to the status of being the world's longest known cave system. Bill has hosted guests from places as far away as Africa and South America. "I want people to have a beautiful and peaceful experience," he explains. "This is an oasis on the mountain. I want people to feel like family: very welcomed."
Guests are encouraged to socialize while they are on the property, but guests who come specifically to avoid other people are still treated with respect, and their desires are granted. Most of the guest reviews of Serenity Hill are positive, especially in regards to the breakfasts and the comfort of the beds. One guest stated, "Owners, Bill & Tina, bring friendly warmth & gracious hospitality! Both of us slept very comfortably in two private rooms. [Mattresses were much more comfortable than hotel stay previous four nights.] Breakfast is homemade & tailored to our palate/dietary concerns." The beds are all on antique frames, though the mattresses are modern. Bill explains that many people come to the bed and breakfast saying that they don't often sleep well, only for them to end up sleeping in well past their regular schedules.
The Garden Room is the most popular room in the home, perhaps because it has views of the garden and is known for an occasional hummingbird flittering by the window. The Serenity Hill Bed and Breakfast is open year-round, though they have found that the summer months are their busiest. This is mostly an estimate, considering that the owners are new to the property, and their only full year of operation has been during COVID-19 conditions.
The Serenity Hill Bed and Breakfast has been operating as a bed and breakfast for 15 years, having opened its doors in 2005. The first owners of the property are unknown, but ownership was eventually passed down to Richard and Stephanie Shull. They owned the home for a number of years, eventually selling the deed to Bill and Tina Burr, who own the bed and breakfast today.
Bill and Tina were looking for a place that would get them back to the countryside. Additionally, they wanted a larger home than what they had been living in previously. Upon discovering the Serenity Hill Bed and Breakfast, their interest was piqued in becoming the new owners. The Burrs became the new managers of the property in late April of 2019.
Tina handles most of the lodging duties, owing to Bill being occupied with a different career. Tina also cooks all of the breakfasts at the inn, and has enjoyed her short time as the owner. Bill explained that "every day I come home, my wife tells me that she loves it." The experience of meeting people from all over the world is something that has interested both Bill and Tina. Prior to being a bed and breakfast, the history of Serenity Hill is somewhat unknown. Future plans for the bed and breakfast include the construction of three extra cabins, which would serve as more convenient lodging for entire families and those seeking extra privacy.
(Mammoth Cave National Park), 3600 Mammoth Cave Rd
Brownsville, Kentucky 42210
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Bill & Tina Burr
Richard & Stephanie Shull
