Community Highlights: Meet Corey & Misty Shadd of The Village Play Place

Today we’d like to introduce you to Corey & Misty Shadd.

Hi Corey & Misty, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
We are Corey & Misty Shadd with our three kids:

Hazen (age 9), Hutton (age 4) and Holland (age 2) and we have been in the Lebanon, TN area for almost eleven years now. We moved back to Louisiana for a short stent between 2020 and 2022, however Tennessee was calling us back home! While in Louisiana the concept of what is now The Village Play Place began as a pipe dream in the notes section of our phones and has grown into the brick and mortar it is today! When we moved back to Lebanon in June of 2022, Misty joined a few mom’s groups on Facebook and every week saw others posting looking for “mom friends.” Many of these families had recently moved to the area and did not have immediate family close by to help care for the kids; very much like us!

There was such a need for something like The Village Play Place for community and bringing families together that, after bringing the idea back up to Corey, we decided to move forward! Now that pipe dream has become a reality. Corey and Misty both have a passion to for children having served as Children’s Ministers for many years. Misty has a background in health education and is a nurturer by nature and Corey has a background in sales and marketing for Fortune 4 and 20 companies, as well as ministry and nonprofits. The combination of their experiences, plus their passion to serve families helps make The Village Play Place a special place. The programs offered are educational, fun and is rooted in their Christian faith.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Anything in life that’s truly worth doing is rarely easy—and that couldn’t be more true when it comes to the journey of opening The Village Play Place. The road here was anything but smooth, but looking back, every challenge and unexpected turn shaped what this space has become.

It all started in October 2023, when Corey was unexpectedly laid off from his job. It was a shock—but in hindsight, it was the push we needed to turn a long-standing dream into something real. While Corey began searching for a new full-time position, the process was draining: application after application, silence, occasional interviews, ghosting—it felt like an uphill battle.

By February, we decided that if there was ever a time to chase our vision, it was now. So, we got to work. We drafted a business plan, searched for a space (that wouldn’t break the bank), explored funding options, and started sketching out the big picture. Then, another major setback hit: in March, Corey was in a serious car accident that resulted in head and neck injuries, causing memory issues, brain fog, and chronic headaches, as well as a herniated disc in his neck causing issues that would last over a year. Even then, we pressed forward.

One of the toughest challenges came with securing funding. As a startup with no stable income, most banks and lenders weren’t interested. Many told us it was a wonderful concept—but they just couldn’t help. Still, we persisted. From February to May, we fought to find a way—and eventually, we did. We secured funding and found the perfect space, both functional and affordable.

In June 2024, renovations began. We had the pleasure of working with Matthew Whitaker of Whitaker Construction, and he turned out to be the perfect partner for the job. If you ever need a contractor—commercial or residential—we can’t recommend him enough.

We were also incredibly lucky to have landlords like Ed and Susie James. From day one, they believed in our mission and have been more than landlords—they’ve been true partners in our journey. Like any build-out, there were unexpected costs and adjustments along the way, but we made our final push and prepared to open our doors.

On September 14, 2024, we held our grand opening and welcomed the community in with a free open house. Over 300 people walked through our doors that day. The turnout—and the overwhelmingly positive response—left us feeling grateful, inspired, and even more determined to keep going.

In the months since, Corey and Misty have worked side by side to grow and adapt The Village Play Place to better serve our community. We’ve launched a Pre-K and Kindergarten drop-off program, added weekly enrichment classes like music, dance, food school, and storytime, and hosted countless special events.

What began as a dream, born from uncertainty, hardship, and hope, is now a thriving space full of joy, imagination, and connection. And this is only the beginning.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Village Play Place?
At its core, The Village Play Place was created to offer space for five important things: for kids, for parents, for celebrations, for education and for relevance.

A space that is safe for kids to play, learn and, frankly, just be kids. A space for the parents to find support, other same-stage families to go through life with and feel connected to their community.

A space for celebrating life’s greatest & simplest moments. Not just birthdays or baby showers, but also a little one’s first steps or when a child conquers their fears!

A space where families can learn about ongoing trends or hear from various health professionals to best help support their children.

Finally, a space for relevance. To not just form a community but one that listens to the needs of the families we serve.

We can’t wait for you to find your village with us!

What does success mean to you?
At The Village Play Place we define success in the number of smiling faces and connections made that turn into meaningful relationships outside our walls. While we need the money from the operations of the business, we are mainly interested in creating a space that families can feel welcomed and find their village to do this thing called life.

Pricing:

• Open Play costs $15 for first child and $10 for each sibling. You get 2 hours of play time.
• Memberships – 1 Child is $29 a month, 2 Children is $45 a month & 3+ Children is $65 a month
• Party Rentals range from $249 to $699
• Pre-K & Kindergarten Program is $40 a day

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thevillageplayplace.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevillageplayplace/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevillageplayplace/