By Lisa Coburn

If you’ve ever dreamed of having a space to let your creativity run wild, without worrying about the cost of tools, materials, or the mess, you’re about to have your wish come true in White Sulphur Springs. Enter Creekside Foundry, a vibrant new makerspace where imagination meets accessibility.

I recently sat down with Nicole Ramsey, the Executive Director, who radiates excitement as she walks through the bright, organized, and inspiring space. “A makerspace is simple,” she says. “It’s a place for people to come in and create, make, learn, and grow.” But as Nicole explains, Creekside Foundry is far more than just a room with equipment. It is a hub of possibility.

From 3D printers, including one that automatically switches colors mid-print, to a full textile area with sewing machines and surgers, yarn, and crochet hooks, to a ceramic studio with three pottery wheels and an in-house kiln, Creekside Foundry offers tools and supplies for nearly any craft, all included with a $20-a-month membership.

But Creekside Foundry isn’t just about having the right tools. Nicole envisions it as a place for lifelong learning, mentorship, and community connection. The makerspace will offer classes and orientations, led by volunteers and experts, to teach everything from sewing and pottery basics to more advanced skills. “We want people to try things without fear,” she says. “What’s the worst that can happen? You try, you learn, you grow, and maybe you fail a little, but that’s part of the process.”

Beyond personal growth, Nicole hopes Creekside Foundry will nurture small businesses and local innovation. Members might discover a hidden talent, refine it, and even take the steps to sell their creations. The space is intentionally flexible. If someone wants to paint, work with leather, or explore other mediums, they can bring their own materials and use the space to create without constraints.

Nicole emphasizes that Creekside Foundry is for the community, by the community. She’s intentionally focused on listening, learning, and evolving alongside the people who use the space. “We’re here for them. And if something doesn’t flow well, or the space could be better, we want to know so we can adjust. That’s how a community succeeds, by learning and growing together.”

The space will also eventually expand into woodworking and metalworking areas, offering even more ways to learn and create. And for those who want higher-level instruction, visiting artists from across the country, and beyond, will lead special workshops, with fees going directly to the instructors, not Creekside Foundry.

Creekside Foundry officially opens its doors to the public on May 1, with a soft opening planned for early April. Visitors can explore hands-on demonstrations of 3D printing, pottery, sewing, and more, and even share ideas for future classes.

Nicole’s energy and dedication are contagious, but her message is simple: this space is for everyone. “I just want people to come in and create,” she says. “Whatever you make, whatever you try, that’s where great ideas are born.”

Creekside Foundry is more than a makerspace. It is a place where ideas take shape, skills grow, and communities connect. Whatever your passion or curiosity, the Foundry is waiting to help you make, explore, and create without limits. That is where the magic happens.

Creekside Foundry is located at 750 Main Street East in White Sulphur Springs. For more information, membership details, or to reach out to Nicole, visit creeksidefoundry.org or email admin@creeksidefoundry.org.