By CLARKE STACKHOUSE / Staff Writer

HELENA— A new event venue has opened on highway 13 in Helena. ShellB Acres spans across 13 acres of land and hosts three separate venue areas.

“13 acres on highway 13,” said ShellB Acres co-founder, Bonnie Goodman.

Goodman and her friend Michelle Bennett decided to create the new venue when the property was made available to them “by surprise.”

The previous owner of the property was a family friend of both Goodman and Bennett. He was liquidating his assets and was able to give the women a deal Goodman said “was too good to pass.”

“We weren’t looking for it,” she said. “But it found us, and we love it.”

Goodman said they kept the existing buildings on the property, but they needed a cosmetic touch-up since they were built in the 1970s.

Goodman and Bennett plan to keep the property open as a venue for weddings and private parties while their children are young.

The 13-acre property houses the Gentry House, Blink Barn and multiple ceremony venues available for rental. In the future they plan to use the property as a private getaway, Goodman said.

“Right now our kids are young and in school,” she said. “This allows a chance to give back to the community.”

ShellB Acres has also partnered with several non-profits and created ShellB Shares, which gives 5 percent of every rental booking fee in honor of the client to a few selected non-profits the client can choose from.

“I’m excited to be able to give back to charities that mean a lot to us,” Goodman said.

Goodman said her mother had breast cancer, so the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama is one of the charity options.

For more information and pricing information, visit Shellbacres.com, email  Shelbacres@yahoo.com or call (205) 767-8385.