The transformational journey at The Sparkle Barn started with damaged paint. When Stacy Harshman peeled off a Christmas decal in her Wallingford barn and took the wall paint with it, she faced a choice: repaint or get creative. She chose mosaics. Then added glitter. Then opened up an entire upstairs space. What began as covering paint damage evolved into The Bloom Room - an immersive retail art installation within The Sparkle Barn that's drawing visitors from hundreds of miles away to this unique Vermont destination.
Stacy moved to Vermont from flat Illinois cornfields with a mission that sounds almost impossible: create "unrelenting beauty everywhere." When she emails herself project goals, that's literally what she writes - unrelenting beauty everywhere. It's the kind of artistic manifesto that could mistakenly sound pretentious, except when you experience what she's built, you understand she means it authentically and completely.
After selling her paintings on Facebook gained traction in 2016, she found this 1800s barn through a simple Google search and opened The Sparkle Barn six months later. The retail space came first - a curated collection that reflects her unique artistic eye. "I want it to be fun, colorful, surprising, humorous," she explains about her merchandising philosophy. "Everything has to tickle my funny bone or make me happy."
But the real transformation happened when that Christmas decal damaged her upstairs wall.
Step through stained glass windows from an 1880 French bakery and you're immediately inside a retail space that would be impressive on its own merits. This converted 1800s barn creates an atmosphere of cozy exploration - exposed beams overhead, thoughtfully lit displays, and that indefinable sense of discovery that only comes from spaces with genuine history and character.
The barn's natural architecture provides the perfect canvas for Stacy's vision. Themed rooms flow organically - a "crow room" installation filled with crystals and mystical treasures, woodland creature sections, aquatic displays, and carefully curated collections that feel more like gallery exhibitions than traditional retail. Even without what's upstairs, this would rank among Vermont's most engaging shops.
But then, you notice the stairs to your left.
Climb those stairs and prepare for sensory transformation. The Bloom Room hits you like stepping into a living dream - visitors regularly pause at the top of the stairs, mouths slightly open, absorbing what their eyes can't quite process. Multiple groups emerge with the same reaction: "Whoa. This is something special."
This is immersive in ways photographs can't capture. Breathing flower sculptures pulse with hidden motors. Massive crepe paper chandeliers - installed using engine jacks and pulley systems - frame intimate seating areas draped in fabric that creates an all-encompassing embrace. The space simultaneously overwhelms and calms, like forest bathing but with a side of retail therapy.
What makes Stacy's vision so extraordinary is how she balances sensory abundance with deep tranquility. "I want to make it as beautiful as possible to wow myself," she explains, "because I want to have fun." This isn't art for art's sake - it's designed specifically to transform how you feel. One guest book entry captured it perfectly: "I'm a 93-year-old child who finally found her wonderland."
The space and concept draw inspiration from Meow Wolf's immersive installations, but Stacy has created something uniquely Vermont - intimate, handcrafted, and focused on joy rather than spectacle. Every detail serves the mission of transformation, from the 35 historical stained glass windows, each representing a different artist's vision, to the carefully positioned seating that invites lingering.
Here's what sets this apart from any other attraction: you don't observe the art, you inhabit it.
The downstairs barn space showcases why Stacy's artistic sensibility transforms everything she touches. This isn't your standard gift shop filled with generic tourist items - it's a carefully orchestrated shopping experience that would be destination-worthy even without the upstairs installation.
The historic barn's natural charm provides the foundation: original exposed beams, generous spaces that invite browsing, and that sense of stepping into Vermont's authentic past. But Stacy's curation elevates it into something unprecedented. Every piece gets selected through her artistic filter - everything must be "fun, colorful, surprising, humorous, and beautiful."
Dig deeper and you'll find fair trade companies in Colombia employing women with disabilities, Thai artisans representing 20 master metalsmiths and two villages, and hand-illustrated cards from England that showcase craftsmanship you can't find anywhere else.
Amy, Stacy's partner in retail magic, handles merchandising with an artist's touch, creating what feels like "an art installation of its own," as Stacy puts it.
The Sparkle Barn has evolved into something unprecedented - a retail space that's also a community hub. Their monthly "Singo" musical bingo events sell out immediately, packing 40 to 45 people upstairs for sing-along bingo. Their recent 8th anniversary party drew 500 to 600 attendees, complete with cake and celebrations that spilled throughout the property.
Events range from sound baths with crystal bowls to comedy shows, from short plays to educational "Sparkle Shorts" on topics like biomimicry. The space hosted everything from improv to bands before COVID, and they're ramping back up with carefully curated experiences that match the magical atmosphere.
Before venturing inside, explore the front property's Magical Garden - an outdoor wonderland featuring the star attractions that helped start this whole journey. When families began showing up after COVID with their children dressed in their "sparkliest outfits," Stacy realized she wanted to offer more than just retail. "I want to give them more than just a store," she decided.
The garden features life-sized dragons and unicorns that create Instagram moments and spark pure childhood joy. But there's substance behind the whimsy - a thoughtfully designed space where "what brings happiness to kids" guided every decision. Dragons, unicorns, mermaids - Stacy tapped into timeless sources of wonder and made them tangible.
The Dragon Story Walk winds through this magical landscape, featuring a collaborative tale written by four people (including a Dungeons & Dragons master). Follow the path with blow-up dragons marking each chapter, reading along or listening to the audio tour. The journey culminates in a discovery box and honorary membership cards for the "Land of Sparkle Dragons" - interactive storytelling that extends the indoor magic into Vermont's natural beauty.
The Sparkle Barn operates year-round except Tuesdays, with each season bringing fresh energy and new discoveries. Summer has been particularly buzzing since Yankee Magazine featured the Bloom Room as editor's choice for top 10 things to do in Vermont this summer with a full-page spread.
Pro tip: children often arrive in their "sparkliest outfits," so encourage kids to dress the part. The space welcomes families but appeals equally to adults seeking beauty and wonder. "We have a lot of people say it's calming," Stacy notes. "We have a lot of people who come up here, they don't buy anything and I'm fine with that. For it to be people's happy place to get away from this mad world - it makes me feel good."
Stacy's not stopping with the barn. She's 70% complete on converting a 26-foot moving van into a "bloom room party truck" featuring custom restaurant booths and, naturally, unrelenting beauty everywhere. The bright pink wrapped truck will serve as a mobile version of the experience, potentially for weddings, events, or simply spreading joy throughout Vermont.
Even bigger dreams include expanding bloom rooms to children's hospitals and creating festival spaces on their 17-acre property. When asked about her ultimate goal, Stacy lights up: "I really want to figure out a way to take bloom rooms to children's hospitals or places where people need uplifting." We have absolutely no doubt that she will succeed in this pursuit - the vision extends beyond retail into community healing and joy creation.
Location: 1509 US Route 7 South Wallingford, VT (~20 minutes north of Manchester)
Hours: Year-round except Tuesdays - call for exact hours.
What to bring: Sense of wonder, camera for magical photos, patience for browsing unique treasures
Best for: Families, art lovers, couples, individuals, anyone seeking Instagram-worthy experiences, rainy day activities.
The Sparkle Barn proves that the most magical experiences often begin accidentally - with damaged paint, creative solutions, and an artist's willingness to follow inspiration wherever it leads. In a world of corporate retail and manufactured experiences, this feels authentically transformative.
Reserve time for both levels, bring your sense of play, and prepare to see retail reimagined as art installation. Just don't blame us when you start planning your return visit before you've even left.
Visit The Sparkle Barn and discover why visitors travel hours for this one-of-a-kind experience.
