Young entrepreneur Krista Sparks hopes to cultivate a better community
‘Alright, alright, alright’ — the moment Matthew McConaughey coined his famous catchphrase — loudly projected over a large outdoor movie screen in the heart of Mineral Wells, the easternmost town of Palo Pinto County.
A group of friends, a couple and a few others quietly watched Dazed and Confused, the 1990s classic selected for the fifth showing of the Friday Night Downtown Movies’ debut year.
In their hands were street tacos from a nearby food truck and free frozen-and-fresh margaritas, courtesy of 24-year-old Krista Sparks.
Born and raised in Mineral Wells, Sparks said she wants to change the large rural community for the better.
Community engagement
The young entrepreneur, for years, has worked to create a unique tourism industry for Mineral Wells and Palo Pinto County.
While she helped orchestrate the city’s community garden and local farmers market, she has recently shifted her focus on the plant-shop-yoga-studio business she founded.
Due to the nature of her services, Sparks hopes to create an inviting, bright place where all her customers can enjoy themselves and feel comfortable. With the permission of the building owner, the exterior and interior capture this vision with bold murals that Sparks painted herself.
A peacock, outlined in blue, green and yellow hues, welcomes visitors on the outside wall of The Sill, located at 402 South Oak Avenue, which took hours for Sparks to complete.
On the side, in big letters, she wrote, “Why blend in when you were born to stand out?” — a variation of the famous Dr. Seuss adage.
Inside the studio, a large mural, in bright pink lettering, reads: “Create.” Sparks wanted to inspire creativity and imagination.
Thick black and white stripes travel across the floor, complementing the rich green colors of the nearby plants for sale.
Sparks, who is also a part-time server at the local Mesquite Pit, said her goal is for everyone to radiate an aura of vibrant colors and peace by the time they leave.
Each week, she creates different event opportunities to entertain locals — outdoor yoga, macrame classes, paint parties, anything she thinks others would enjoy.
For the weekend that cusps the end of July and beginning of August, Sparks came up with a series of events to commemorate the launch of ‘Spooky Szn,’ as young adults begin to celebrate Halloween earlier and earlier each year.
Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice played on the movie screen Friday night. Saturday’s Sip ‘n’ Paint was inspired by ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ animated film. And Sunday included Jack-o’-lantern carvings — but with watermelons instead.
Sparks said she strives to become the next go-to entertainment venue for visitors, tourists and residents.
“I want to redefine the locals’ definition of our town,” Sparks said.
Sustainability
In addition to community engagement, Sparks hopes to make Mineral Wells a better place through sustainability efforts.
With a passion for plants, she wants to see a greener town that still embraces its agricultural-centered heritage.
“I hope to preserve and conserve all of our natural attractions and keep our small-town charm,” she said.
She also wants to help cultivate a niche agritourism industry, which would bring more outdoor recreation opportunities, such as horseback riding, pumpkin patches, fishing and hunting in a guided setting, to the region.
She even hopes, at some point, to see the hike and bike trails in Mineral Wells connected to the Trinity Trails in Fort Worth — winding through Millsap, Cool, Weatherford, Hudson Oaks, Willow Park and Aledo.
While she recognizes her plans are bold, Sparks said she’s worked too hard to give up now.
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