Mike Wolanin | The Republic April Williams, co-founder of Que Sera Farms, points to photos her and her husband Troy’s parents and grandparents on the wall of the men’s room at Que Sera Farms in Nashville, Ind., pictured, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023.
BROWN COUNTY — What had been a 70-year-old tobacco barn has been transformed into south central Indiana’s newest event venue.
Que Sera Farms, 8255 Bellsville Pike, Nashville, is situated on 17 acres of prime farm land with a forested back drop. It can be found about a mile west of the Brown-Bartholomew County line, between Harrison Ridge and South Duncan roads.
When proprietors Troy and April Williams sold their Columbus home in 2017 to move to the farm, they were fully aware they had their work cut out for them, April Williams said. Immediately, the couple began working on their residence, historic barns, landscaping and demolishing decayed outbuildings.
The concept of the event venue came to the wife, an avid bicyclist, as she was riding along Bellsville Pike. As Williams looked at the old tobacco barn in the valley, she had a vision that the family could transform the building into a place that can be shared with others, she said.
Beginning in 2019, work began on turning Williams’ vision into reality. After an engineer assured the couple the barn was structurally sound, they still had to put on a new roof, as well as install concrete flooring with heating elements under it, she said.
The beams are the original wood used to construct the tobacco barn in 1952, Williams said. While the wood wasn’t stained, they have been “organically weathered’ to provide an aesthetically-pleasing rustic look, she said.
“We have tried to preserve the integrity of the barn,” Williams said.
From there, Williams and her daughter, Elle, used their talents in design and style to create a plan for the actual venue.
New vertical windows were placed throughout the building to allow a cooling breeze in the summer, according to Williams. The large structure is illuminated by mid-20th Century light fixtures originally used by a church in Indianapolis, she said.
The design was to present a mix of historical, modern and industrial within the venue, she said.
Industrial aspects includes an outdoor ceremony gazebo created from an historical structure purchased from the town of Nashville, as well as a recycled shipping container converted into an outdoor bar, Williams said. The Que Sera Farms website shows a patio area next to the bar where guests can sit and enjoy cocktails and conversations.
The new event venue hosted its first on-site wedding on June 17, followed by another wedding on July 8, she said. Several more are booked for the fall, with a few 2024 reservations already in the books.
While Que Sera Farms will often be used as a venue for weddings and receptions, Williams said it is designed for any celebration of life such as family reunions, anniversaries, corporate events and birthday parties.
For example, several small businesses will use Que Sera Farms for a runway event with live music called “The Modern Affair.” The event on Sept. 29, from 6-9 p.m., is open to the public, but an RSVP is required on the Que Sera Farms website under the heading Upcoming Events.
So what advantages did the Williams family have in creating this new event venue?
First, both decided to keep their day jobs during the years of renovation. Troy Williams work in beverage sales, while April Williams is employed by a private foundation in Hamilton County. That meant they had to do much of the renovation work in their off-time for years, she said.
Since April Williams has organized fundraisers and activities for philanthropies, she said she has accumulated substantial practice in event planning.
While the barn was being renovated, the family did several off-site events to get practical experience in planning weddings and receptions, she said. Williams says she and her daughter both have a passion for helping brides and grooms play out their special day.
But perhaps the most important talent mother and daughter have learned is to listen to soon-to-be brides, as well as others interested in renting the event venue, to see what their vision is.
Other advantages include Troy Williams’ background in construction, as well as advice and assistance received from April Williams’ brother, who owns a construction company in Georgia. She also said the Board of Zoning Appeals, as well as municipal planners in Nashville, provided them with encouragement and valuable tips.
While the Williams may have done much of the work, both knew to stay out of specialized complex areas and hire subcontractors from both Columbus and Nashville when needed, she said.
Despite efforts to be fiscally conservative and spread the work out over time, the couple still invested between $150,000 to $200,000, with more likely to be spent in the future, she said.
“Now, I would never say we’re done because we are constantly evolving,” Williams said. “We have bigger plans.”
Finally, many young couples in 2023 have no idea what ‘Que Sera’ means. In 1956, vocalist Doris Day released a chart-topping hit titled “Que Sera, Sera” (Whatever Will Be, Will Be).
April Williams’ grandmother and beloved mentor, Louise Reynolds, enjoyed singing that song all her life, so the couple said they chose the song title as a tribute to her.
For more information
For further details on Que Sera Farms, visit queserafarms.events.
