Hurricane Hill Botanicals, Salt Cave of Parke County helping people feel better

What began as an idea after a trip to a store on the Outer Banks has developed into two business endeavors that have helped people from around the world look and feel better. 

"About 12 years ago, my wife walked into a little gift shop and she saw a display of handcrafted soap and said she wanted to try that. We got home and sure enough, about a month later, she is making soap in the kitchen and it turned out pretty good. She decided to sell it and it took off like a rocket. Our spare room turned into a store room because we had to buy a lot more supplies as people were buying it like crazy," Steve Brucken, owner of Hurricane Hill Botanicals and Salt Cave of Parke County, told The Parke County Post. 

Brucken admits he wasn't surprised when his wife, Doris, decided to try her hand at soaps.

"I can't say I was surprised because she has always been hands on with anything she does. I am the guy at home who is always doing the new thing she wants to get done. It is no surprise with her drive and determination to bring this about," he said. 

Today, Hurricane Hill Botanicals, owned by Steve and Doris, has become quite the business, as Brucken notes he had to build a small shop on the end of their garage because it "overwhelmed the house."

"She got into other lines like Essential Oils, body care products. Before she makes anything, she does a lot of research because she wants that quality to be there. She wants the best possible product for her customers," Brucken said. 

Brucken said when he looks back on how much the business has grown, he scratches his head. 

"To this day, we ask ourselves how did this happen. Because of her drive and determination to put out a good product, she got a five star rating on Etsy. We make sure all the products are made correctly and shipped as quickly as possible. Today, if you google our name, it has a five star rating," he said. 

And, the fact that Hurricane Hill Botanicals has been around for 11 years is also something that makes Steve and Doris pause and look back.

"It is hard to believe it has been 11 years already, but knowing her and her drive and determination to have the very best out there, it doesn't surprise me at all that she is where she is today. She is the brains behind the business, and I am the grunt. I am surprised that it has been so widely accepted and people are flocking to her products. People always come back for more. This whole business in this beautiful Parke County has just taken us to new heights. We are in an area known for handcrafting, and being here and being one of the top sellers in this area has tickled us to death. There are a lot of great people here making a lot of great products," Brucken said. 

People can get their hands on the products during the upcoming Parke County Covered Bridge Fest, as the Bruckens will be at four different locations this year. In addition to the soaps, there are body care products to improve skin conditions, dough bowls, a salve that will help with poison ivy, as well as pain management items. 

"We normally set up in Bridgeton in the 1870 barn, and we will be there again. That is a great venue. We have also decided to be in Rockville this year at Off the Square Artisans and Rockville Retro, and we are at the gift shop in the Inn at Turkey Run. We are quite busy getting ready for that," Brucken said. 

In addition to Hurricane Hill Botanicals, the Bruckens also own and operate Hurricane Hill's Salt Cave of Parke County.

The idea of the business, which allows customers to experience relaxation in a dry salt environment, came about three years ago after a conversation with a friend in West Virginia. 

"She told my wife we needed to look into opening a salt cave. My wife inquired about that and that lady told her it was helping a lot of people with breathing issues. My wife came to me one day and said we were going to build a salt cave. I said, "okay, what the heck is a salt cave?" I did my research and it is a room that mimics salt mines. Dry salt therapy got its start in the late 1800s in Poland. Salt mining was a big industry, and they noticed the workers were extremely healthy people and attributed it to the salty environment they were working in and it scrubbed their lungs of bacteria. One thing led to another and we laid out a plan," Brucken said. 

The floor of the salt mine is 4,000 pounds of pink himalayan salt, according to Brucken and it is being utilized by people looking for cures for breathing issues, anxiety and skin issues.

"It is a very relaxing experience. There's about eight of these in the whole state of Indiana. We do something a little different, as we take people on a virtual trip anywhere in the world while they are in the salt cave. A lot of folks come in groups to sit and catch up and relax. It is something that has surprised us with how quick it took off, but it has been very beneficial to a lot of folks. It is very satisfying to us to know we are helping people," Brucken said. 

Brucken said owning two businesses that help people improve their health and lives is something he and his wife take a lot of pride in.

"I think it is very important. I came up with a tagline for the business, it is about health and happiness and we want to create both. We have a lady that is coming in doing massages and we have added red light therapy. We feel so satisfied that people have taken to it like they have and are getting help and having a great time," Brucken said. 

Owning two small businesses can be challenging at times, as Brucken said both and his wife also work full time outside of the two business endeavors in Parke County. 

"Sometimes, there are a lot of 10,11 and 12 o'clock nights where we are planning for the next day, but it's alright. Living here in Parke County has been so fulfilling to us. This may be one of those things where we finally retire into and run it full time," he said. 

And, he has a piece of advice for anyone looking to start their own business. 

"A lot of planning goes into it. Know what you want to do, and determine what is best for you. Quality of what you are doing is priority number one. People look at that and something unique is always a big help. Talent and determination to bring out a good product is what sets handcrafters apart," Brucken said. 

To get in touch with the Bruckens or learn more about the businesses, you are asked to visit www.hurricanehillbotanicals.com or parkecountysaltcave.com.