About Us

The Grayson Springs Inn restoration project is being led by Lizard Branch LLC, a team of celebrated chefs, artists, farmers, and educators with decades of expertise in business, culinary arts, nonprofit leadership, weddings and events, agriculture, education, community and economic development, and the military.

Half of our team members are rooted to Grayson County, some to the property adjacent to Grayson Springs, and all reside in Kentucky.

Meet our Team

  • Savannah Barrett

    Savannah works to celebrate and sustain small communities across the nation as the Exchange Director of Art of the Rural and the co-founder of the Rural-Urban Exchange. She was raised in Grayson Springs, and helped to start the Grayson County Arts Council and Fallin for the Arts festival in high school. Restoring Grayson Springs is her lifelong dream.

  • Carl Filip

    Carl is a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the US Army and Federal Government with over 35 years of leadership and program management experience. He has lived and worked in Grayson County for over 25 years.

  • Matt Filip

    Matt has been working in the service industry for the past 13 years. He currently co-owns and operates New Wave Burritos and Toasty’s Tavern in Louisville KY. He is a class of 2003 alum of Grayson County High School.

  • Loretta Filip

    Loretta is a retired Grayson County educator and librarian. She was born, raised and still lives in Grayson County with deep roots and a commitment to our community.

  • Joseph Manning

    Joe works in nonprofit publishing and oral history and has a background in natural areas restoration and building renovation.

  • Daniel Martin Moore

    Daniel is a musician & producer originally from Elizabethtown, KY with deep family roots in Grayson County.

  • Christy O'Connell

    Christy is the co-owner and operator of Pure Pollen Flowers, a farm to florist business in Crestwood KY, and is a long time lover of and visitor to Grayson Springs.

  • Damaris Phillips

    Damaris is a chef and Kentucky native best known for her work on The Food Network.

  • Sarah Thrall

    Sarah works as the Director of Artistic Operations at the Lexington Philharmonic and has a background managing and curating arts and cultural events.

  • Richard Young

    Richard is the founder and Executive Director of CivicLex, a nonprofit which helps residents understand how local government works. He lives in Lexington and has a decade+ background working in Community and Economic Development.

  • Darrick Wood

    Darrick is a teacher and musician. He is the host of the radio show, “Inside A Question.”