By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
Nestled along the hills in northeastern Saline County is a creative oasis known as Harmony Hideaway. It is a place for listening to live music performances in an intimate atmosphere. It is a gathering space for meetings and company retreats. It is a haven for musicians, visual artists, authors and poets, and basically anyone who needs some time away.
Harmony Hideaway is the brainchild of Milt Allen and his partner, Nancy Steele.
"It's not a bed and breakfast. It's our home that we share is how we look at it," Allen said.
Born from longtime family ties
Harmony Hideaway has its roots in the longtime family ties of Allen's and Steele's families.
"We've known the Stephensons (Steele's family) forever. That is the first family that my family ever knew," Allen said.
When Allen's parents, Deane and Cora May Allen, were killed in a car wreck in 2013, Milt and his family stayed with Keno Stephenson (Steele's father) at what is now Harmony Hideaway. Milt Allen said that during that stay, he was walking around the property.
"I came back and I was talking with Nancy Steele, and I said, "I don't want to be morbid, but what's going to happen to this place when Keno passes?'" Milt said. "She goes, 'why do you ask?'"
Milt went on to explain that he thought the home and property would be an ideal location for an artists and writers retreat, with lodging and events. Steele agreed.
When Milt returned to Salina about three years ago to serve as chair of the music department at Kansas Wesleyan University, he ended up staying with Keno Stephenson, who was living on the property by himself.
While Stephenson was out of state for health reasons, a fire at the residence in May of 2020 forced Allen to live in a trailer on the property.
"Eventually, Nancy and I formed a social relationship, as it were, so we were really working hard and wanted to get Keno back home. His health wasn't good, and we just kept running into problem after problem with the contractors and Keno never made it back," Milt said.
Stephenson died in August of 2021.
It was then the couple decided to create Harmony Hideaway, and in September 2021, they were able to move back into the spacious residence.
A unique concept in the area
Harmony Hideaway is open for a variety of events, including meetings, weddings, office retreats, family gatherings, and lodging. The arts, however, are at the heart of Harmony Hideaway.
For instance, Kansas Poet Laureate Emeritus Huascar Medina recently did a reading at Harmony Hideaway.
Additionally, house concerts, smaller, more intimate performances are offered regularly at Harmony Hideaway.
"We're recognized as an official house concert venue, which means that any artist who plays here, all the performing rights are protected by BMI and ASCAP," Milt said.
He went on to explain that because Harmony Hideaway is an official house concert venue, the address cannot be included as part of the promotion of the house concerts.
"When we advertise, people have to text us or respond to get a reservation and then we can give our address," he said. "We generally, depending on the artist, charge $20 per person, but it's a 100 percent donation to the artist. It all goes to them."
Milt said that the performers who are brought in for the house concerts are vetted.
"So they're either big award winners or I-know-a-musician-who-recommended-them-who-recommended-them kind of thing," he said.
Those attending are invited to bring a dessert for sharing at intermission.
"It's really cool. There's nothing like this around, because it's an extremely intimate performance. You get to talk to the performers, you get to mingle with them afterward, and the focus is directly on music. So it's really a very neat different kind (of event). And we're actively pulling people from all kinds of different genres."
For more information about upcoming house concerts or Harmony Hideaway itself, go to the Harmony Hideaway Facebook page or email [email protected].