Coming to fruition
After many stops and starts, the Blue Willow Village in Social Circle has finally opened its doors — well, almost.
Two shops are now open in the Village — The Gallery of Creation and Georgia Originals.
When fully built out the Village will include an 11,000-square-foot creationist and natural history museum and nine shops. The Village is owned by Louis VanDyke, owner of the famous Blue Willow Inn.
Featuring merchandise to go along with the creationist museum next door, The Gallery has an eclectic range of gift items including a tapestry of the famous Leonardo da Vinci painting of The Last Supper and a framed glass map of the world with 11 clocks set to different international time zones.
Laurie Bradford, a co-owner of the shop, said most of the items have been picked up through the travels of her parents. Bradford’s father, Joseph Hurt, is the creator of the animatronics that will be used in the creationist museum.
The museum and gift shop were formerly located in Stone Mountain. The museum is expected to re-open in mid-November.
“I just know it’s one-of-a-kind,” said Bradford of her father’s museum. “[It’s] completely different.”
Animals and angels abound in the gift shop. Animals leap out at the viewer from throw pillows and throw rugs. They can also be found in stone and wood carvings scattered around the shop. Angel cards, angel figurines and books on angels can also be found in great supply.
A sampling of the rest of the shop’s merchandise includes semiprecious stones, perfume bottles, jigsaw puzzles, Buffalo horns and Pakistanian-carved onyx pillars.
