Changes have been made at The Hitching Post and Old Country Store, as employee Sarah Trevarthen was promoted to manager of the store over the store’s offseason.

Located in Aurora, Kentucky, The Hitching Post has been a staple for both locals and tourists alike.

Roughly five miles outside of the Land Between the Lakes sits The Hitching Post. What was initially a roadside inn and general store, now features things like clothes, old toys, bottled sodas, and home decor. 

After a few decades of owning and managing the store, owners Tom Trinkel and Sue Festen decided to step back and hand the role of day to day operations over to Trevarthen. Trevarthen has worked at the store since the summer of 2020 and has also been enrolled in Murray State University’s occupational safety and health program.  She plans to apply what she has learned in the classroom to her new position as manager of The Hitching Post. 

“As an OSH major, I think it’s really important to look at the finer details of how things operate,” Trevarthen said. “We don’t have OSH breathing down our necks because we are a small facility, but we do have liabilities and we have to take care of the customers in there and consider their safety… There are ways to build off of the standards that OSH supplies for us and kind of fit them to this setting and I think that’s really important.”

Originally from Louisiana, Trevarthen enrolled in Murray State’s occupational safety and health program in January 2019. Her perspective of workplace safety is one that can come in handy as the manager of the store.

Customers and employees are just a few more things for Trevarthen to look after. 

“I’m a mom of three little girls,” Trevarthen said. “So that definitely keeps me busy. And then school and work. I try to make time for relaxation in any way possible.”

Trevarthen is occupied by many things, all of which require her to be firing on all cylinders. Though she has a lot on her plate, she has powered through it all. The promotion to manager is a token of appreciation for her hard work.

Her dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed, she earned her new role as manager. Not only have the owners of The Hitching Post appreciated Trevarthen, but she has the appreciation of a former peer as well. 

“I’m really happy for Sarah,” The Hitching Post employee Ashley Mika said. “When I see her car as I’m getting into work, I get excited. She has been great to me. If I’ve needed a ride, she’s helped me out. I’m excited to work for her and I know she is going to do some really good things.”

Trevarthen has helped do it all at The Hitching Post. She worked wherever she was needed, whether it be The Hitching Post, the Old Country Store, or serving ice cream. She knows the store inside and out.

Her four years at The Hitching Post have helped her see what works at the store and what doesn’t. As the store prepares to open back up for the spring, customers may notice a few new items for sale. 

“I’m excited to maybe see some new products,” Trevarthen said. “New sweets and cookies and things that we’re going to try to incorporate into the sales.”

The store will have a soft opening on Saturday, March 9. The official opening of The Hitching Post will come in mid-March. They have allowed customers to call in and order coffee, people are eagerly waiting for the store to reopen. 

“I like the individuality of the items,” longtime shopper Laura Darge said. “ I love their flavored coffees. Their ice cream is homemade too.”

The offseason is a busy time for employees of The Hitching Post. Each item is individually stocked and priced, requiring hours of work each week. 

Though customers will have to wait a few more weeks to visit The Hitching Post, they can expect all of the things that they have loved about the store in the past. They are still littered with novelty items, old-timey sodas, Land Between the Lakes items, and all kinds of clothing.

As Trevarthen settles into her new position and the opening of The Hitching Post and Old Country Store for the new season approaches, be sure to keep an eye out for the official opening date for The Hitching Post. The Old Country Store, which features their soda wall and numerous antiques, will open up soon after.