Mark your calendars: Pre-historic creatures are set to invade the Louisville Zoo in March 2010.
A new adventure will be stomping into the city of Louisville and heading straight for the Louisville Zoo in March. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we’re very lucky here in Kentucky for a great number of reasons and one of them is the outstanding Louisville Zoo. There’s always something extra-special going on at this amazing zoo. Just check out what’s coming in a few months!
From the Louisville Zoo:
Precautions are being taken as the Zoo prepares Dinosaurs Alive!, a temporary dwelling for a herd of 16 robotic dinosaurs never before seen at the Zoo—including the giant Brachiosaurus, the menacing Tyrannosaurus rex, the fierce Deinonychus whose name means “Terrible Claw,” and the Cryolophosaurus which is often referred to as the “Elvisaurus” because the large crest atop its skull resembles the iconic hair of Elvis Presley.
Through the magic of incredible, futuristic technology, the mammoth, life-like animatronic creatures that roar, snarl and move will offer a full-blown dino-reality experience to visitors as they travel back in time along a lush, winding pathway where these enormous primeval creatures lurk at every turn. There, guests will encounter adult dinosaurs, youngsters and even a nest with eggs and hatchlings.
The robotic dinosaurs are built on steel frames by Billings Productions of McKinney, Texas, and high-tech electronics and air pistons power the dinosaurs’ menacing claws and gnashing teeth while a booming sound system gives them their distinctive roars and chirps. One of the animatronic creatures can even be operated by visitors using a remote control box.
In addition, kids can excavate dinosaur fossils at a paleontologist dig site using brushes and sifters to search for clues about the lives of dinosaurs.
“Guests of all ages will be transported back in time as the world’s largest and most advanced collection of high-tech, life-size animatronic dinosaurs come to life here in Louisville,” Zoo Director John Walczak said. “This Dinosaur exhibit will be a fun and educational learning adventure for the entire family. We’ve lost many animals from this planet over the course of history, and unfortunately animals are still becoming extinct today. Conservation and preservation are at the heart of the Zoo’s mission and it is our hope that visitors will come away from this exhibit both excited and more aware of the need to conserve animal species living today.”
In a revenue-sharing partnership with Billings Productions, Dinosaurs Alive!, is similar to other new attraction partnerships at the Zoo like Sky Trail High Adventure Course and the 4-D Ride Theater.
Dinosaurs Alive! will open mid to late March and will continue through the end of September. A special attraction fee of $5 applies for non-members in addition to regular Zoo admission and $4 for Louisville Zoo members. Children age 2 and under are free. Groups of 15 or more may call (502) 238-5348 in advance for group discounts.
Shopasaurus—a new gift shop at the exhibit’s exit—will be fully stocked with “dinorrific” toys, games and souvenirs to help visitors take home a reminder of their amazing experience.
***
The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
*** Get up-to-date information about the Zoo’s upcoming Glacier Run exhibit by checking out our new Glacier Run blog. You can also show your love for the Louisville Zoo by becoming a fan on Facebook.
One of the things we Kentuckians are most proud of is celebrated in the slideshow above – our beautiful horses. Enjoy the beauty of an adorable colt at the beginning of the slideshow, followed by horses grazing on beautiful horse farms from Frankfort Pike and Paris, Kentucky. Then the slideshow moves on to the greatest horse race in the world, The Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs! Finally, we appropriately end on a statue of the legendary Man O’ War, born at the Nursery Stud in Lexington, Kentucky, shortly before midnight on March 29, 1917.
Maybe the little beauty at the start of the slideshow is dreaming of becoming the next great legend!
The gorgeous, gorgeous pictures used in this slideshow are courtesy of Kentucky Tourism.com.
One of the most amazing cities in the world is trying to let everyone else know about it’s greatness. Louisville Kentucky has a controversial, edgy campaign going on that has people talking. Call me crazy, but isn’t that the idea behind a campaign? Why have one that gets people…. I dunno… not talking?
At any rate, love the campaign or hate the campaign – few will ignore the campaign.
Pip Pullen, an accounts director for the Louisville-based marketing and advertising firm that worked on the campaign, said the ads have received “an incredibly positive response.”
“Except,” he said, “some members of the Metro Council took umbrage.” Well, that’s what council members do, they take umbrage. In fact, they’re considering changing the job description from Council Member to Umbrage Taker.
True story.
Few things are as relaxing and enjoyable as sitting down with a cup of hot coffee and watching Kentucky Life on KET. Below are some of the upcoming programs. Since I currently live in Owensboro, Kentucky and once called Louisville, Kentucky home – the November 21/22 dates totally jumped off the page for me.
All of the programs sound like Must-See TV, though. Be sure you don’t miss a single one!
Oct. 17/18: The Evergreen Hills Maze in Flemingsburg, an “Our Town” visit to Adairville, and Cricket Press of Lexington. Also, “Dave Does It” features Dave working at Dahl & Groezinger Scrap Iron and Metal.
Oct. 24/25: Buffalo Soldiers camp, Magee’s Bakery in Maysville, an “Our Town” visit to Midway, and the Kentucky Book Fair in Frankfort.
Oct. 31/Nov. 1: An alien abduction legend from Kelly, Ky., an “Our Town” visit to Hell for Certain, ghost hunter Patti Starr, and the reintroduction of the Bourbon Red Turkey, once America’s most popular turkey.
Nov. 14/Nov. 15: Dog Scout Troop 107, a tasty recipe using locally grown produce, and the Flaget High School Alumni Association.
Nov. 21/Nov. 22: An “Our Town” visit to Greenup, Diana Earle and the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, and Henrietta and Jeff Scott’s Highland Raku Studio. Also, “Dave Does It” features Dave working at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory.
A Few Did You Knows About Kentucky Life:
- Dave Shuffett is from Greensburg and graduated from Murray State University in 1982.
- The first five seasons of Kentucky Life were hosted by Byron Crawford. Byron’s grew up in Lincoln County.
- Kentucky Life’s episodes are story driven and profile the lives of Kentuckians from each of our distinct regions.
- Kentucky Life debuted in 1995. By 1996, it had become KET’s most watched local production.
- If you love animals like I do (okay, I admit it, I’m obsessed!), you’ll love Paw Pals – a photo album on KET’s website where you can enjoy the pictures of Kentucky pets and even upload your own. Click HERE to see some of the most beautiful faces you’ll ever see.
Visit Kentucky Life for more information and perhaps to even challenge Dave Shuffett to do your job!
The Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky
The original Waverly Hills Sanatorium was a two-story wooden structure which was opened in 1910.
The larger brick and concrete structure you see today was built in 1926. The hospital has always been dedicated to the treatment of tuberculosis patients, a disease that was fairly common in the early 20th Century.
Reports estimate that as many as 63,000 people have died in this sanatorium. Furthermore, there have been many reports or patients being horribly mistreated. Oh, it gets worse… there were (again reportedly) highly questionable experiments and procedures conducted.
If these occurences don’t set the stage for a haunted location, nothing does!
Get this: Ghost and paranormal experts and investigators who have ventured into Waverly have reported a host of strange paranormal phenomena, including voices of unknown origin, isolated cold spots and unexplained shadows. Screams have been heard echoing in its now abandoned hallways, and fleeting apparitions have been encountered.
Screams, isolated cold spots (indicating a paranormal being….oh, Lord, I’m sleeping with the lights on tonight…), voices of unknown origin, shadows!?!? I could not be more creeped out right now.
Click HERE for more information… if you dare.
The Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky
Kentuckians have so much fun with Halloween – no one seems to celebrate the fun of autumn quite like we do.
Below is a news release from Kentucky’s Department of Tourism all about a ghostly tour that’ll have you shaking in your sneakers.
Fall, the best time of year for stories of ghosts and other haunting, is upon us. From now through early November, take a trip to where your spine gets tingled by tales of paranormal activity throughout Kentucky.
A new ghostly tour gets underway this weekend in Newport, where accounts of the city’s racy and mobster past come together to raise your fright quotient. The new “Ghosts and Gangsters Tour,” developed by the group that started the Newport Gangster Tours last spring, is an hour-long exploration of haunted sites in downtown Newport. The tour, which costs $20 per person, starts and ends at The Syndicate night club, whose violent past as a casino and speakeasy during Prohibition has led to tales of haunting by the spirits of slain gangsters. For more information, visit www.newportishaunted.com.
Uncanny sights and sounds are the subject of a jaunt through the historic Old Louisville neighborhood, where several of the impressive Victorian mansions are said to be haunted. The 90-minute tours, based on author David Domine’s books on the neighborhood’s ghostly history, depart Fridays from the Old Louisville Visitors Center at 7:30 p.m. and cost $25 per person. For reservations, call 502-637-2922 or visit www.ghostsofoldlouisville.com.
The otherworldly residents of Bardstown are the subject of the Bardstown Ghost Trek Saturdays from 8-10 p.m. The $15 tours, led by paranormal expert Patti Starr, start outside the Old Stable Restaurant. For more information, go to www.ghosthunter.com/ghosttrek2.htm. Starr is also organizing a Ghost Hunting Getaway Weekend Nov. 6-8, 2009. Call 859-576-5517 for info and reservations.
Experience the Haunted Frontier at Old Fort Harrod State Park, where you will be guided through the graveyard, hear a ghost story and then navigate a large maze, where spirits of long-ago residents of the fort in Harrodsburg may still linger. The volunteer-led tour of the fort’s otherworldly side is $5 per person. For more information, call 859-734-3314 or visit the park’s web site at www.parks.ky.gov.
One of the reputedly most haunted sites in Kentucky is the Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville. Although the former tuberculosis hospital closed in 1980, the spirit world remains rampant. The Waverly Hills Historical Society hosts a haunted house every Friday and Saturday in October from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. To learn more, visit www.ghosteyes.com/waverly-hills-sanatorium.
Get in touch with the spirits at Camp Nelson, a Civil War training facility just south of Lexington, with the help of a mother-daughter ghost-hunting team from Nicholasville, Jessi and Starr Chaney. Friday and Saturday tours for $15 per person provide hands-on experience on how to use ghost-hunting equipment and communicate with spirits from the other side. For more info, go to www.ghosthunter.com.
Wide-ranging information about ghost tales and legends throughout Kentucky can be found at www.prairieghosts.com/hauntky.html.
For more information on the Kentucky Department of Travel, visit their Web site at www.kentuckytourism.com.
*** To Read more about The Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky, click the link. I dare you.
This warms the heart, feeds the spirit, and makes you want to make haste to your nearest KFC.
At a KFC in Louisville, Ky. (KFC’s hometown), Tuesday afternoon, the restaurant closed its doors to the public for two hours. It was for a very, very good cause.
This KFC became a “World Hunger Relief Kitchen” for two hours. Employees served Kentucky Grilled Chicken meals to about 110 residents from local shelters.. It was the first of several closings planned around the country for the 15,000-restaurant chain.
The event kicked off the company’s fund-raising and awareness-raising activities with World Hunger Relief, including fundraisers, food drives and car washes at KFC locations around the country.
The Press Release:
September 29, 2009
KFC TO CLOSE RESTAURANTS COAST TO COAST
World’s Largest Chicken Chain Closes Restaurants to Help Raise Money and Awareness for Issue of Global Hunger
Brand Converts Stores into Noontime “World Hunger Relief Kitchens”
LOUISVILLE, KY – KFC is closing restaurants across the country for a good cause as the company feeds those most in need, for free. Today’s closing of a KFC restaurant in the brand’s hometown of Louisville, Ky., is the first of several temporary closures that will convert the restaurants into “World Hunger Relief Kitchens” during the lunch rush. The closures kick off KFC’s World Hunger Relief fund- and awareness-raising activities, which will take place through the end of October.
Employees of each closed store will help serve free Kentucky Grilled Chicken™ meals to hundreds of residents from area shelters. The store closings are aimed at not only feeding the hungry but also raising awareness for fundraising efforts which will take place over the next several weeks. From Philly to Portland, KFCs across the country will be collecting donations for World Hunger Relief now through the end of the October. The restaurants will hold food drives, host car washes and work with local political leaders and celebrities to raise funds and awareness for the issue of global hunger.
Global hunger has reached epic proportions this year – with more than 1 billion hungry people around the world – due to the convergence of the global economic slowdown; high food prices; increased competition for products that produce energy; severe droughts and floods due to climate change; and increasing demand from growing economies in Asia and South America.
“While KFC feeds the hungry every day, closing restaurants is a bold step in helping to raise money and awareness of world hunger,” explained KFC President Roger Eaton.
“From employees to customers, KFC is passionate about motivating and educating everyone who is in a position to help the more than one billion undernourished people in the world today.”
Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM), the world’s largest restaurant company and parent of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, is launching its annual World Hunger Relief campaign to help stop world hunger. World Hunger Relief is the world’s largest private sector hunger relief effort, spanning 110 countries, 36,000 restaurants and over one million employees, to raise awareness, volunteerism and funds for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and other hunger relief agencies.
Since Yum! Brands and KFC’s World Hunger Relief efforts launched in 2007, more than a million of the company’s employees, franchisees and their families have volunteered more than nine million hours to aid hunger relief efforts in communities worldwide. The effort has raised $36 million for the World Food Programme and other hunger relief organizations and is helping to provide approximately 160 million meals and save the lives of about four million people in remote corners of the world.
Yum! and its brands have been fighting hunger for more than a decade by donating over $46 million of prepared food annually to the underprivileged in the United States. Since the company went public in 1997, it has donated more than $550 million of its food to hunger relief agencies in the U.S.
For more information about KFC’s commitment to World Hunger Relief, visit www.KFC.com or www.fromhungertohope.com.
About KFC
KFC Corporation, based in Louisville, Ky., is the world’s most popular chicken restaurant chain specializing in Original Recipe®, Extra Crispy®, Kentucky Grilled Chicken™ and Original Recipe Strips with home-style sides, Honey BBQ Wings, and freshly made chicken sandwiches. There are more than 15,000 KFC outlets in 109 countries and territories around the world serving some 12 million customers each day. KFC Corporation is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., Louisville, Ky. (NYSE: YUM.) For more information, visit www.kfc.com.
Well, I know where I’m having lunch. How about you? I love to support businesses that try to make the world a better place for everyone.
Matthew Pinkham is an adorable little 8 year old. He is a YouTube guitar star, thanks to his musical hero, Keith Urban.
Matthew and his mom attended a recent Keith Urban show in Louisville, Ky. Matthew held up a sign from his second row seat that read, “I want to play ‘Kiss A Girl’ with you.” When his hero saw the sign, he didn’t look the other way. He did what any other hero would do, he motioned for Matthew to come up onstage!
“They were literally mosh-pitting him to get up there!” his mom, Becky, told WAVE3.com. “He walked up there, put his guitar on like it was nothing, like he had been doing it for years!”
After the hoopla, when little Matthew was being swamped with picture requests, he said, “Mom, I should have brought a hat and sunglasses!”
Fans began posting videos of the collaboration on Youtube, and Keith Urban, himself, called Matthew “the bomb” on his own website. The adorable and talented little boy’s electric guitar now features an autograph from Keith, along with signatures from Dierks Bentley (I have a daughter who’d give all her make-up, hair paraphernalia, Hollister tops, and cell phone for that guitar) and others he got at a special event at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Unfrotunately, Matthew is very familiar with Vanderbilt’s Children’s Hospital, due to a bone disease that left him unable to run or play outside with his friends, which is why his mom first encouraged him to take up guitar.
Watch Matthew, the YouTube Superstar HERE.
We’re lucky in Kentucky for many reasons – John Calipari, Rick Pitino, the weather, seasons, scenery, friendly people, beautiful birds, lakes, and wildlife are hard to beat. We also have a great number of fun things to do and great places to eat. Did I mention Calipari and Pitino, yet?
Those of us who are extreme animal lovers also love the fact that Louisville, Kentucky is home to one of the most remarkable zoos in the country. I’m especially excited right now, because I have a thing for arctic animals. (You should see our computer room – polar bears, arctic foxes and white seals everywhere.) So I’ve been anxiously watching as the Louisville Zoo has been working on their Glacier Run project. I learned some really incredible news this morning – The Louisville Zoo received an additional $2 million for the Glacier Run project from the J. Graham Brown Foundation.
Glacier Run is going to be BEYOND magnificent. The Seal and sea lion section is set to open in 2010 and the much anticipated polar bears will be ready for me (oh, and you, of course) in 2011.
I can’t even tell you how excited I am!
“James Graham Brown was the first, original contributor to help fund a Zoo in Louisville, and the foundation that bears his name has been a longtime supporter. We are excited that the Foundation continues to invest in the Zoo’s programming and exhibits,” Louisville Zoo Director John Walczak said. “The James Graham Brown Foundation has once again acknowledged the Zoo’s value to the community and Commonwealth and the important role the Zoo plays in educating our youth.”
With this gift, the Zoo has raised more than $20.2 million for the Glacier Run project, the most money ever raised for a new exhibit in the Zoo’s 40 year history.
In September 2008, the Zoo broke ground on the Glacier Run Village, the “heart” of Glacier Run, which will feature pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) and polar bears.
The pinniped portion of the exhibit is scheduled to open in the spring of 2010 and the much-awaited polar bear portion is scheduled for 2011. The other originally planned components of the project, including Steller’s sea eagles, sea otters and the Glacier Run animal outreach center, will be added soon after the main area is complete.
Another $8.9 million is still needed to complete all portions of project as well as provide an endowment to ensure its legacy.
“From the beginning, this exhibit was created to be ‘phasable,’” Walczak said, “and the two strategic openings of pinnipeds in 2010 and polar bears in 2011 will continue to support our business plan which hinges on opening a new Zoo element each year to keep visitors engaged and attendance growing.
“The Louisville Zoo is known for its award-winning, innovative exhibits and Glacier Run will continue that tradition. Not only will it communicate one of the most relevant conservation issues of our time, global climate change, it will also be the high quality, exciting experience that our visitors and community have come to expect. It will fundamentally advance the Zoo’s mission of ‘bettering the bond between people and our planet’ through education, recreation and quality family fun.
“We have every confidence in this project and are continually seeking new funding sources from every feasible avenue. Our Glacier Run Steering Committee is energized to see this project through to its completion. We have been successful thus far in pursuing opportunities to get funding for this project, and we will continue to be responsible stewards of that investment.”
Once Glacier Run is totally complete, the estimated economic impact of the Zoo on the region will increase to $33.6 million while adding more than 400 new jobs to the local economy.
“The Zoo and Glacier Run are part of the solution to strengthen the economy of our community,” Walczak said. “We exist for the citizens of Louisville and the Commonwealth and are committed to do our part to help the community and state. The Zoo is a place dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. It is also a place where families can escape and not have to worry about their day-to-day problems. In this economy, we provide a quiet respite and quality family fun at an excellent value.”
GLACIER RUN OVERVIEW
Glacier Run will not only tell the dramatic story of the polar bear, one of the most charismatic species on the planet becoming more threatened every day, it will also engage visitors of all ages and educate them about the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Glacier Run will inspire visitors to actively participate in the Zoo’s mission of bettering the bond between people and our planet.
Glacier Run will be a truly unique experience where one can visit the animals, talk to the keepers about conservation and become temporarily immersed in life on the tundra. The exhibit will recreate the natural habitat for some of the Zoo’s most popular residents including polar bears, seals and sea lions. The addition of sea otters and bird species like the Steller’s sea eagles will add to the feeling of being surrounded by wildlife. The town of Glacier Run will include a schoolhouse and general store. A spacious amphitheatre will make viewing the seal and sea lion enrichment demonstrations more enjoyable.
The first three phases of Glacier Run have already opened. They include the Australian Walkabout, Calistoga Splash Park at Glacier Run and Alice S. Etscorn Tiger Tundra exhibit.
For more information on Zoo’s upcoming Glacier Run exhibit, visit http://www.louisvillezoo.org/glacierrun/.
Can’t wait!
As an established part of southern culture but with regional flare and famous hospitality, Kentucky has more than its share of renowned eateries and accomplished chefs. For starters, several long-established restaurants have a history for great Kentucky dishes that have visitors and natives alike scrambling for more.
Here, to whet your appetite, are thumbnail sketches of seven well-known dining spots that are part of the Bluegrass State’s culinary traditions.
Boone Tavern
100 Main St. N
Berea, KY 40403
800-366-9358
www.boonetavernhotel.com/
The Tavern, naturally named for Daniel, celebrated its 100th anniversary in March and continues to provide guests with traditional and creative southern cuisine. Their signature “Chicken Flakes in a Bird’s Nest”— a rich, creamy dish served in a nest of crispy potatoes — and the much-loved, melt-in-your-mouth spoon bread served piping hot, maintain prominent positions on the menu. The restaurant is part of the hotel that was originally built to accommodate visitors to internationally famous Berea College. Berea students have always played a big role in Boone Tavern, which was constructed from bricks made by students and built by the college’s Woodwork Department. Nowadays don’t be surprised if you are served by friendly and courteous students in the dining room. The college provides a tuition-free education in exchange for student’s work at the Tavern and other venues. For more information about the charming Appalachian foothills town of Berea, visit www.berea.com/.
Doe Run Inn – Brandenburg, Kentucky
Doe Run Inn
500 Doe Run Hotel Rd.
Brandenburg, KY 40108
270-422-2982
www.doeruninn.com/
Doe Run Inn’s menu includes lots of Southern fare like fried chicken, pulled pork, smoked brisket, and country ham balls with lots of sides from which to choose. Sundays feature an all-you-can-eat buffet that includes a wide range of “comfort food”. Constructed around 1780 as a mill near Doe Run Creek, Thomas Lincoln, father of our 16th President, is recorded as a stone mason for the structure. Over the years, the inn has been a family resort, and when the restaurant was begun in the late 1940’s the name was changed to Doe Run Hotel. About a decade later, owners dubbed it Doe Run Inn. It’s now owned by Jim and Opal Greer. Find out more about Brandenburg at www.visitmeadecounty.org/. (Click HERE for a downloadable menu.)
English Grill
The Brown Hotel
335 West Broadway
Louisville, KY 40202
502-583-1234
www.brownhotel.com/dining
The English Grill is a AAA Four-Diamond restaurant in the heart of downtown Louisville that features an eclectic menu ranging from grilled to perfection beef rib eye steak to curry marinated seared tofu —all grounded in Kentucky-based cuisine.
Hailed as the best restaurant in Louisville by a member of the food press, this is where the famous “Hot Brown” open-faced sandwich of turkey, bacon, and tomatoes smothered with a béchamel cheese sauce originated decades ago.
An extensive wine list includes more than 200 selections. Business casual attire is highly encouraged in a historic setting that is warmed by wooden pillars and stained glass windows. Cell phones are not permitted.
For more information about Louisville, visit www.gotolouisville.com/.
Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum
1002 W. Dixie Hwy.
Corbin, KY
606-528-2163
www.corbinkentucky.us/sanderscafe.htm
Order up your favorites at the site where Kentucky Fried Chicken icon Colonel Harland Sanders began perfecting his 
recipe and preparation technique for his world famous chicken in 1930.
By 1937, the Colonel had built Sanders’ Café in Corbin after discovering that the fried chicken on his menu, coated with his secret eleven herbs and spices, was the most popular selection. His franchise business soared to 200 restaurants in the 1950’s when the finger lickin’ good chicken began its journey to becoming an American icon.
While in Corbin, visit the museum that tells the history of the chain, and inspect the original kitchen and a recreation of a lodging room that was part of the early business.
Check www.corbinkytourism.com/ for more information.
Oakroom
The Seelbach Hilton Louisville
500 Fourth Street
Louisville, KY 40202-2518
502-585-3200
www.seelbachhilton.com/
The Oakroom at the historic Seelbach Hilton Hotel takes a New American approach to innovative cuisine that is presented with excellent service.
Classic ethnic cuisine gets a modern interpretation with ingredients that are naturally grown or raised and then infused with Mediterranean, Asian and European influences.
Kentucky’s only AAA Five Diamond restaurant for 11 consecutive years, the Oakroom supports local farmers and preserves the best of the region’s food traditions. Guests experience world class dining as a keystone to enjoyment, culture and community.
Presidents, celebrities and even gangster Al Capone frequented the Oakroom over the years since the Seelbach opened in 1905. See www.gotolouisville.com/ for more information about Louisville attractions and events.
Old Stone Inn
6905 Shelbyville Road
Simpsonville, KY 40067
502-722-8200
www.old-stone-inn.com
At Old Stone Inn between Shelbyville and Louisville, pore over an extensive and taste-tempting menu with choices that range from bourbon barrel pork chops to pasta with pesto. Dine in a beautiful historic setting where attentive service is combined with polished, traditional Southern preparation. Construction of the inn is thought to have been completed in 1817, and since that time the inn has served as a stagecoach stop, tavern, residence and since the 1920s, a restaurant. Said to be one of Shelby County’s oldest continuously occupied buildings, Old Stone Inn is listed as a national historic landmark and has a long list of famous visitors including former President Andrew Jackson. www.shelbyvilleky.com/ has more information about the area.
Old Talbott Tavern
107 West Stephen Foster
Bardstown, KY 40004
502-348-3494
www.talbotts.com/
Favorites like savory burgoo, fried-to-perfection catfish and slow-simmered pot roast are consistent choices at Old Talbott Tavern, said to be the oldest western stagecoach stop in America. Since the late 1700s the Old Talbott Tavern has served travelers with food, beverage and shelter. Filled with legend and lore, the tavern is located downtown on Bardstown’s old courthouse circle. Special lunch and dinner menus are available for large groups and parties including tour groups. Stay overnight at the bed and breakfast. Information about Bardstown’s other attractions is available at www.visitbardstown.com/.
Other Kentucky historic restaurants operating since the 19th century include Wolf’s Restaurant & Tavern in Henderson and Bianke’s Restaurant in Cynthiana.
The Kentucky Department of Travel’s web site lists scores of dining establishments throughout the state at www.kytourism.com/thingstodo/dininginterests.htm. Make a point to stop for taste-tempting selections at signature restaurants throughout the Bluegrass State. Whether you’re traveling across town or across the country, the experience of dining at any of these historic and flavorful locations will leave you wanting more.
