My Old Kentucky Homepage

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale

2012-09-14T17:30:00.002-05:00

These are cell phone pictures taken at All-Tech's Lexington Brewery where they make Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, one of my favorite beers. The brewery tour was a "team building event" at our Lexington, Kentucky site project kickoff.

Sugartit, Kentucky

2012-02-17T16:00:00.004-05:00

About a year ago, we moved to just outside of Florence, Kentucky. My wife's new iPhone posts to facebook say she is "posting from Sugartit". Even though my parents lived near Florence for nearly 20 years, I'd never heard of Sugartit, Kentucky. Everyone on facebook keeps asking her where is Sugartit?

A little research turned up the answer. Apparently Sugartit was once a community at the corner of Pleasant Valley (Hwy 237) and Dixie Highway (US42). It unfortunately no longer exists. The last remnants were the "Sugartit Asphalt" plant, which has since been removed/renamed.

Ice Storm Hits

2009-01-30T15:03:00.002-05:00

This is a picture of my front yard. Every other house on my street has a tree down. I drove into the center of town yesterday and it appears that the entire city has experienced the same devastation. Like 600,000 other Kentuckians, my power is out. The electric company tells me that it will likely be two weeks before they get it back on. Several years ago, we were hit by a similar storm and at that time, my house was one of the last in town to get back their power.

New Haven, Kentucky

2008-10-01T09:07:00.005-05:00

New Haven is a small town with lots of character. It's home to a large railroad museum at which you can ride in a train pulled by an old coal burning steam engine. New Haven also has an annual Iron Horse Festival. This is a celebration of Rolling Fork Valley traditions through train rides, antique car show, music, parade, arts and crafts and much more.

Here are some pictures of the parade...

Some of the antique cars just couldn't make it....

Bluegrass Railroad Museum

2008-09-07T15:20:00.004-05:00

The Bluegrass Railroad Museum offers rides in antique coaches build in the 1920's. The ride takes you through scenic thoroughbred horse farms. It's located in the Woodford County Park on Beasley Road in Versailles, Kentucky. The museum is an all volunteer non-profit organization.

View of Kentucky from Cincinnati Red's Stadium

2008-07-20T21:54:00.002-05:00

The Great American Ballpark, home of the Cincinnati Reds, is located just across the river from Newport and has a great view of Kentucky.

A Civil War Fort at Boonesboro

2008-07-20T21:44:00.003-05:00

This is not to be mistaken for Fort Boonesborough.... My wife and I ran across this while driving the back roads. It's a nice walk with informative signs along the way. Apparently an earthworks structure once existed here overlooking the river.

Newport Bridges

2008-06-27T17:27:00.003-05:00

This bridge spans across the Ohio River in Newport, KY

May Day Festival

2008-05-10T20:02:00.003-05:00

May 10th, 2008 wrapping the May Pole in Gratz Park, Lexington, Kentucky.

Kentucky Horse Park

2007-10-30T11:59:00.000-05:00

After nearly ten years in Lexington, I finally visited the Kentucky Horse Park...

The Red Mile

2007-10-01T12:42:00.000-05:00

The Red Mile is known for its red clay and mile long race track. Harness racing has been taking place at this Lexington track for over 130 years.

Bourbon County Fair

2007-08-13T06:48:00.000-05:00

Tractor Pull at Bourbon County Fair, June 30, 2007

Bourbon Country Drive-In Theater

2007-05-27T22:27:00.000-05:00

The Bourb0n County drive-in theater is a great way to mix a retro scene with a modern movie. It's a great place to take the family or to have a romantic evening. While you are there, try some good old fashioned hamburgers and deep fried pickles.

Hutchinson's Drug Store in Lexington

2007-05-21T10:47:00.000-05:00

Established in 1926, the Hutchinson drug store is a great place to sip a malt or shake. Inside you will find mosaic tiled floors, metal ceilings, and antique glass cabinets filled with vintage apothecary equipment. And, incredible as it may seem, it is still a functioning drug store.

Hutchinson's is located at the corner of Broadway and Short in Lexington, Kentucky.

A little Kentucky trivia...

2007-05-07T08:22:00.000-05:00

According to Ask Yahoo, Lexington resident Henry Earl (A.K.A. James Brown) holds the record for being arrested more times than any other person. As of January 2007, Henry is said to have been arrested 937 times. The What's up with Earl web page keeps tabs on his arrests and claims that Earl has spent almost twice as much time in jail as he has out of jail. An article in Newsweek says that Earl has achieved an almost cult-like following and has even been on various talk shows because of his disgraceful record.

Lexington Legends Baseball

2007-05-04T09:22:00.000-05:00

Lexington has their own baseball team called the "Lexington Legends". Elly (left) is Big L's wife, one the Legends mascots.

Lexington Farmers Market

2007-05-04T09:10:00.000-05:00

During the summer, Lexington has a farmers' market each Saturday on Vine Street. Early spring brings vendors with flowers and exotic heirloom vegetable plants. Later in the season, you will find locally grown vegetables and fruits. Cheeses, wines, and meats can be found all season. You may also see an occasional street musician.

Louisville Zoo

2007-03-26T07:03:00.000-05:00

For more pictures of our trip to the zoo, click here.

Valley View Ferry

2007-03-17T23:41:00.000-05:00

(click on image to enlarge)

This ferry, opened in 1780, is the oldest continuing business in Kentucky. It is located on Tates Creek Road, South of Lexington.

Cattle Under Tree

2007-03-17T23:37:00.000-05:00

I took this picture from my car window just outside of a small town called Paint Lick, Kentucky.

Big Bone Lick State Park

2007-03-12T08:15:00.000-05:00

Big Bone Lick State Park is located in Northern Kentucky, 22 miles southwest of Covington on Kentucky Highway 338. At this site, in 1739, pioneers discovered fossilized remains of giant mastodons, woolly mammoths, and giant sloths. Some of these fossilized remains are on display at the park's museum. The unusual name for the park is a reference to these giant bones located at a place where animals gather to consume salt (called a "salt lick"). The suspension bridge pictured below is located in the park's play ground area.

Big Bone Lick is also the home of a small heard of Bison. The American buffalo is the biggest of all North American land mammals. Great herds of bison once roamed this part of Kentucky and provided food, clothing and shelter for Native Americans and early pioneers. Bison were hunted to near extinction and the last wild buffalo was seen in Kentucky around 1800. This park’s herd is an effort to reestablish these animals at Big Bone Lick.

Click here for more information on Big Bone Lick State Park.

Old McHargue’s Mill in London

2007-03-05T11:12:00.000-05:00

In Levi Jackson State Park, McHargue’s Mill was built on the banks of the Little Laurel River where it intersects Boone’s Trace. This mill is a working reproduction and has authentic interior works, including millstones. It is surrounded by what is said to be the largest display of millstones in the country. I visited here in hopes of getting a pretty picture of a water wheel. But, the wheel lays flat, hidden under the building.

Red Bird Petroglyph in Clay Country

2007-03-05T10:58:00.000-05:00

#89001183 on the National Register of Historic Places, is the Red Bird River Shelter Petroglyphs (15CY52) which are located in the Stinson-Rawlings Park of Manchester, Kentucky. This stone is said to display ancient text in 8 old world alphabets. Nobody is certain of its origins.

A sign at this site reads:

This is the famous Red Bird Petroglyph known since pioneer days and enrolled on
the National Register of Historic Sites.
On December 7, 1994, this historic stone fell from a sandstone cliff and rolled onto Highway 66 on Lower Red Bird. On December 9, 1994, it was transported here and set up in its home.
At least 8 Old World alphabets are engraved on it. These alphabets were extinct when Columbus arrived in the New World in 1492.
The alphabets are first century Greek and Hebrew, Old Libyan, Old Arabic and Iberian-Punic which probably dates from the 9th century B.C. Ogam, Germanic Runes, and Tiffinag-Numidian are also on this stone.
Of all the hundreds of important, translatable, and published inscriptions in the U.S.A, this is the first one to have been given official protection. Clay County and the City of Manchester have granted protection to this Stone. In doing so, they have obtained a good name and public esteem worldwide.

More information:

New Discoveries Related to the Red Bird Petroglyph

Thoroughbred Park, Lexington

2007-02-27T15:38:00.000-05:00

I have lived in Lexington for almost 9 years. I have driven past these awesome bronze sculptures a hundred times. On Sunday, I decided to take a closer look. Never before had I realized that there was more park just over the wall, behind the fountains. Just out of sight from the road, are several more beautiful bronze sculptures. A paved walkway through the park is dotted with bronze plaques memorializing notable people in the horse industry. There is also a small bronze statue of "Lexington", the famous 19th century racehorse.

Thoroughbred Park is located at the corner of Main and Midland Streets in Lexington , KY

Click here to learn more about the artist Gwen Reardon.

Click here for a funny look at Thoroughbred Park!