Second Life

Restored iconic Lilly Rose Barn hosts weddings and community events

At Lilly Rose Barn, Tamsi Tucker keeps the cherished and unexpected gifts her family has received since renovating the historic landmark as a venue for weddings and community events.

A colorful handmade quilt called Grandmother’s Flower Garden hangs on a wall.

“Brenda Vinson told us it took her a year to make, and she felt like it was an honor to place it in our historic venue,” says Tucker, who lives in a century-old home nearby and owns the venue business.

Last fall, during an Alabama Barn Quilt Trail workshop in Troy, a group of participants knew exactly what they would paint for the towering red barn near Goshen.

“We were presented a stunning 8-foot-square floral lily rose quilt painting,” Tucker says. “We’re so touched by these projects to say the least.”

Tucker is grateful for the many ways the community has shown support — the quilts, reserving the barn, residents sharing with her the property’s history and comments written on the Lilly Rose Barn’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

Celebration central

During the barn’s five-year restoration, Tucker envisioned it as a gathering place for residents to celebrate milestones and for organizations to hold special events.

“Since May 2025, we’ve been fully booked for two seasons,” Tucker says. “This is exactly what I had hoped and prayed for. We’re so grateful to be a part of this wonderful community.”

She and her staff have hosted weddings, showers, surprise engagements and a 50th wedding anniversary for her neighbors.

“We’ve also had the privilege to host the garden club’s ladies brunch and two proms,” she says.

To express her appreciation for such solid community support, Tucker donated the venue to the Junior League to sponsor the Spring Gala this past March.

“We hope to sponsor another local charity again next year,” she says.

Uncovering history

During the renovation, Tucker learned about the history of the 20-acre picturesque property.

“We were told the barn was built in 1893 and is one of the last and largest gambrel-type barns left standing in the area,” she says. “It’s listed on a historic registry.”

In 1916, the Parke Thompson family built the two-story house Tucker lives in.

“It’s been an honor to personally meet a few of their family members and hear them talk about their memories of the place,” she says.

The property eventually came into Tucker’s family in the mid-1990s. Her maternal uncle, Gene Sykes, married Bonnie Sue Holland, who lived there with her mother.

Bonnie was a caterer who wrote cookbooks, preserved flowers and hosted many events on the property.

“She grew the most beautiful lilies and roses all over the property,” Tucker says. “That’s what led me to the barn’s name — to honor her love of flowers.”

Restoration

After Holland and Sykes passed away in 2018 and 2019, respectively, the property was bequeathed to Tucker’s mother, Betty Quick, and sat vacant for about a year. At the time, Tucker was living in northern Florida and working as a sales rep for Patterson Dental. When she came through the area for business meetings, she often brought her mother.

“When we checked on the property, we always felt a sense of peace walking around there,” Tucker says. “We both agreed that the barn and house were a jewel in the community and needed to be saved.”

Tucker’s husband, Delwyn, agreed with them and spent hours helping restore the barn and home. Contractors helped retain many of the original characteristics of the structures during restoration.

“As the barn came to life, it was magical — like a piece of history resurfacing,” Tucker says. “I was told that Bonnie and her mother used to cater in what is now the bridal suite. For weddings, people walked through a tree-lined pathway to an altar. That spoke to me the most. I liked the idea of sharing the barn for a meaningful purpose.”

When renovations started in 2020, contractors focused on the bridal suite and the area that used to be animal stalls. The next additions were a large patio, a catering prep kitchen, a bathroom on the porch, a groom’s cottage and a bathhouse.

As work progressed, Tucker needed to be at the property and took a job as a sales territory manager for CAE Healthcare.

“We sold our Florida home in 2021 to fund the rest of the project,” she says.

During phase two, the second-story floor was removed. The third-story loft was rebuilt with a banister overlooking the lower story.

“Those two phases took four years,” Tucker says. “Our daughter wanted to get married here and be our first wedding. It took place in November 2024 and was beautiful and magical.”

For the barn’s next big event, the grand opening, Tucker hosted a bridal expo.

“I’ll never forget how the community came out and supported us that day,” she says. “I knew we had made the right decision and that our beautiful barn was here to stay.”

As more reservations came in, Tucker left her full-time career in 2025.

“Managing events at the barn is a full-time job that keeps me very, very busy. I’ve always loved flowers, too, and provide floristry service at the events. It’s my passion.”

By May 2025, the third phase was completed — a new roof, a cover over the patio, a dance floor, an outside saloon and a fourth bathroom.

“After five long years, our dream had come true. Our vision was to use the barn for a purpose, and it came to life,” Tucker says. “We would like this project to honor the memories of not only our dear relatives but the Parke Thompson family, too. We hope Lilly Rose Barn will be here another 100 years. Every day, I thank those who were here before me and the Lord above for giving us this opportunity.”