‘Revolution’ in Red River Gorge includes new outdoor music venue. Next concert this weekend

He was already creating music, crafting agate jewelry, penning novels, caring for his newborn child and more, but now Ethan Wayne Hunt can add operating a music venue to his resume as well.

Earlier this spring he opened outdoor stage The Kilns on his in-law’s six-acre property in Campton, drawing nearly 200 people for its first show on May 13. With plenty of space to draw even larger crowds, The Kilns could one day position itself to become the biggest stage for live music in the Red River Gorge, an area that one day hopes to add a high-end $135 million resort with a 170-room lodge, cottages, potential house sites, a distillery and trails.

“There’s a revolution going on in the Gorge right now, and we’re excited to be a part of it,” says Hunt, whose new outdoor music venue will host its next show July 29 honoring 24 “Characters of the Community” who regularly support each other.

Red River Gorge’s growing tourism dollars

Located just off the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway near Pine Ridge, The Kilns is only a mile away from Sky Bridge Station restaurant. It’s also not far from attractions like Rock Bridge, Creation Falls, Chimney Top, Princess Arch and Sky Bridge. It’s also positioned to become the biggest stage for live music in the Red River Gorge, surpassing smaller venues like the Pit House at Thatcher Barbecue Company, Hop’s and Sky Bridge Station.”

Private investors buy land to build upscale resort near the Red River Gorge

For now Hunt plans to host concerts at The Kilns every other month, with the hopes of moving to a monthly schedule in 2024. He also is looking to organize intimate acoustic shows with a seated audience under its roofed stage along with making it available to rent out for private events, like weddings.

Hunt says the diversification is all a way to capitalize on the Red River Gorge’s growing tourism dollars that will only continue with the added development — including the $135 million luxury resort — forecasted in the years to come.

“We just want to be prepared to make it for the long haul,” says Hunt. “Having this double as a wedding venue will take advantage of the rising popularity of ceremonies taking place nearby while also offering folks a more affordable option for doing so that still immerses them in the beauty of the gorge.”

How The Kilns music venue was created

Hunt said the idea to build a stage came last summer when he had a vision while tending to a garden on the plot.

“I got to looking around and started imagining a stage sprouting up in the same spot,” says Hunt. “I went home and stayed up all night putting together a folder with a plan to do just that. A few weeks later Scott and Kim (Johnson, Hunt’s in-laws) came to me with pretty much the same idea and not long after we were working to make it a reality.”

On Jan. 14 Hunt and a team of three others broke ground, finishing up the epic project less than four months later despite him not having any professional building experience. Among those helping were Clay Case — a musician who also played during The Kilns’ maiden event — avid concert goer Darren Campbell and his son Caleb Campbell. In total, Hunt estimates the crew wasted no more than five boards during construction, making the entire process not just a cathartic one, but an efficient one too.

“There was a lot of fellowship in building it,” says Hunt. “We all wanted the same thing, which is a place to share art. Our hope is that the same sense of fellowship and community will be felt by those who attend and perform at our shows here.”

Next concert: ‘Characters Of The Community’

That sense of fellowship and community will further come to life during “Characters Of The Community”, The Kilns July 29 gathering aiming to give appreciation to those in the local music community who regularly attend shows and support artists, like Roger Combs and Campbell. Beginning at 2 p.m., it will include performances from the genre-bending collective Brother Smith, jamgrass group Dark Moon Hollow, the traditional plus stylings of The Laurelys, and others.

“These are all folks who are picking you up, making sure that your soul is good and not just your pockets,” says Hunt of the 24 people the show will honor. “I’ve always wanted to do something to say ‘thank you’ to those people. This show is our way of doing that.”

The Kilns

What: Characters of the Community concert

When: July 29 at 2 p.m.

Where: 300 Johnson Lane, Campton

Tickets: $25 plus fees at Eventbrite.com