Jan. 13—JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP — A tour business that started in 2013 changed hands last year, and is run by a mother-daughter combo, seeking to meet local and national needs.
Karen Rocker and Alison Baker run Barrels and Bridges Tours. Rocker was a driver for the company for seven years, and was able to buy it from the former owners, who wanted to see the company continue with some of the same flavor.
“We took over as owners in July,” Baker said.
She said the company owns four buses and seeks to meet customers needs.
Baker said she returned to the area from South Carolina, where she had lived for 10 years, to run the business with her mother.
“Our biggest thing is customization,” Baker said, “We can operate anywhere in the state of Ohio.”
While the company provides a variety of services, local wine tours remain the most popular.
The company also leads tours to the county’s 19 covered bridges. She said specialty tours are also popular, and include trips to thrift stores for those who love shopping.
Baker said people have come from all over the East Coast, Chicago and many other places. She said local residents also enjoy the option of not having to worry about driving.
“We have good relationships with the wineries,” Baker said.
She said the company lets the wineries know when the party will be arriving, so there is good communication between everyone involved.
Rocker said all the drivers know a lot about the wineries and other places they may travel.
“It is not a taxi service,” Baker said. “It is a tour service.”
During the winter months, the company tries to be as creative as possible. Baker said they have taken people to the Cleveland Zoo to observe Christmas lights, and to a golfing range in suburban Cleveland.
The buses have a sound system that the customers can control, Baker said. She said food and drink, including alcoholic beverages, may be served on the busses.
The company has a Facebook page and website where potential customers can collect information.