[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 144 (Thursday, September 8, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S4511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE HITCHING POST AND OLD COUNTRY STORE OF AURORA, KENTUCKY

 Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as a ranking member of the Senate 
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize 
an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American 
entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize The 
Hitching Post and Old Country Store of Aurora, KY, as the Senate Small 
Business of the Week.
  For generations, Land Between the Lakes has been one of the premier 
travel destinations in Western Kentucky. The gorgeous strip of land 
nestled between lakes Barkley and Kentucky contains breathtaking nature 
scenes, a plethora of outdoor activities, and numerous local businesses 
that visitors travel from far and wide to enjoy. A local favorite among 
those many businesses is The Hitching Post and Old Country Store. 
Located on 4 and a half acre property on the western side of Kentucky 
Lake, The Hitching Post and Old Country Store first opened their doors 
to customers in 1941. The structures themselves are over 200 years old, 
but starting with the Perryman family in 1941, three families of 
stewards have maintained these stores in all their historic glory. 
Today, the stores are owned by Su Festen and her husband Tom Trenkle, 
who ventured south from Illinois to buy the property in 2008. In the 
years since, Su will tell you that she has grown a Southern heart, 
which is more than evident in the warm hospitality she shows to all who 
dawn her doors.
  Though The Hitching Post and the Old Country Store needed some 
notable maintenance when it came into Tom and Su's hands, they both 
decided to maintain the old-fashioned nature to the interior of the 
stores. Su was inspired to perpetuate the historic feeling of the of 
the property on her first day on the job as one of the very first 
patrons to come in was a fourth-generation customer with an abundance 
of love for these two stores. From then on, Su and her husband ensured 
that The Hitching Post and Old Country Store would be a place where 
everyone from out of town travelers to generational customers and 
locals could come to reminisce, remember, and enjoy the simpler things 
that only a small-town small business could provide.
  When travelers traverse the beautiful land between lakes Barkley and 
Kentucky, they are confronted with the abounding beauty of the 
landscape surrounding them. Given this gorgeous scenery, it would be 
easy to overlook the charming shops around them. This is not the case 
for patrons of The Hitching Post and its neighboring Old Country Store. 
Customers are struck by the old-fashioned interior which harkens back 
to memories from a simpler time. From the stacks of local fruit 
preserves and canned country favorites, to spiced apple cider, 
customers are reminded of a time when local produce was the all that 
was available before the days of instant gratification fostered by 
online shopping and rapid delivery.
  Not only are the two stores brimming over with charm, the two provide 
a wide variety of products to satisfy every traveler. If you are 
looking for something sweet to snack on for the trip home, you will 
find a delightful selection of homemade fudge and crates filled to the 
brim with saltwater taffy and old-fashioned candy. However, there is 
one offering that sticks out above all the others. As soon as you enter 
the Old Country Store, your eyes are immediately drawn to the towering 
wall of old-fashioned glass bottled sodas that line the back wall of 
the store. With over 200 different flavors offered, ranging from 
classic root beers to seasonal soda recipes, it is nearly impossible to 
choose what unique sodas to try, which is one of the many reasons why 
customers often return to The Hitching Post and Old Country Store year 
after year. To brighten up the weekends of their customers, Su and Tom 
created their weekly All-American Soda Showdown. From May to September, 
the most indecisive or adventurous customer can come in Sunday 
afternoons to sample both new and old flavors of soda the Old Country 
Store has to offer.
  However, both The Hitching Post and Old Country Stores have more than 
just sweet treats for the car ride home. Customers can also find a 
collection of retro toys and trinkets that introduce new generations to 
the beloved pastimes of their parents and grandparents. Family of some 
of the previous owners of the stores were avid collectors of unique 
items and oddities. Customers are encouraged to peruse their treasure 
trove of antiques and vintage novelties great for giving as gifts or 
keeping for home decor. One notable item on display is a moonshine 
still designed by Casey Jones, a famous Prohibition-era moonshiner 
whose brew was enjoyed by notable mob-boss Al Capone. Even upon exiting 
the stores visitors will encounter an array of impressive chainsaw 
carvings of forest creatures and mythical characters hand-crafted by 
talented local artisans.
  There is something about family vacations that is uniquely American. 
The places that families travel for both relaxation and recreation hold 
a special place in the hearts of those who visit them. All across the 
country are areas like Land Between the Lakes whose beauty is enjoyed 
by generations of families who bring their children and grandchildren 
to relish in the wonder they themselves appreciated as children. Part 
of this landscape are small businesses like The Hitching Post and Old 
Country Store that bravely confront the onward march of time. Though 
their original customers have aged over the 81 years that they have 
been open, the stores themselves remain ageless, as they look just like 
they did since that first year of operation in 1941. For decades, these 
stores have been serving local Kentuckians and travelers alike, and it 
is clear that they will be cherished for generations to come. 
Congratulations to Tom Trenkle and Su Festen, along with the entire 
team at The Hitching Post and Old Country Store. I look forward to 
seeing your continued growth and success in Kentucky.

                          ____________________