Following a year of limited travel, leisure and adventure, the state of Kentucky is thrilled to announce new offerings that make the commonwealth a distinctive destination for safe, socially distanced travel in 2021. Highlighted by the release of the 2021 Official Visitor’s Guide, which promotes the many safe and unique travel opportunities throughout the state, Kentucky features fresh accommodations for travelers from near and far and has new developments in its cultural attractions and culinary experiences.
Arts & Culture:
Unfiltered Truth Collection, Louisville
Visitors and locals alike are invited to explore Louisville’s rich and engaging Black history, heritage and culture with a new tour collection that shares stories of the extraordinary people that helped shape the city. Highlighting the African American influence in the state with a special focus on the bourbon and horse racing industries and Muhammad Ali Tourism, the “Unfiltered Truth Collection” is scheduled to launch publicly in March 2021. Two tours are currently open, with all opening by spring 2021. For more information, please click HERE.
Art Events at the Gateway Regional Arts Center,
Mt. Sterling
The Gateway Regional Arts Center (GRAC) in downtown Mt. Sterling recently unveiled its exhibition schedule for 2021. Visitors can look forward to immersive exhibits like HerSTORY: Fortitude, a multi-generational exhibit of female strength and resilience, and Gate City Art Guild’s Uncharted Territory display, among others. For more information on the GRAC and the 2021 exhibition schedule, please click HERE.
EQUITANA, Lexington
As one of the world’s largest gatherings for equestrian sports, EQUITANA USA will take place in-person at the Kentucky Horse Park Oct. 1-3, 2021 and will continue to connect the equestrian community digitally throughout the year. EQUITANA USA invites equestrian professionals and enthusiasts of all riding levels, ages, disciplines and breeds to celebrate horses through education, entertainment, instruction and shopping.
Multicultural Exhibits at Kentucky Derby Museum, Louisville
The Kentucky Derby Museum is introducing three new multicultural exhibits this year, celebrating the accomplishments of African Americans and women in the racing industry. The new African Americans in Racing Tour at the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville offers guests a unique experience of walking through the Churchill Downs Racetrack while hearing incredible stories of African Americans who made an impact on the industry. Visitors can also participate in the Proud of My Calling immersive experience that revisits the past with costumed actors, historic paintings, photos and objects from the past. The new female jockey exhibit Right to Ride, celebrates the legacy of the brave who fought to create a better future for female jockeys and guarantee their right to ride in professional thoroughbred horse races.
Monument honoring woman educator Nettie Depp, Frankfort
A monument honoring education reformer Miss Nettie Depp is set to be unveiled at its new home, the State Capitol in Frankfort, on August 21, 2021. Lexington sculptor Amanda Matthews, and Depp’s great-great niece, was commissioned to create the bronze statue for the Capitol rotunda to commemorate Depp, who was a teacher, principal and school superintendent in Barren County, Kentucky in the early 1900s. Depp is remembered for involvement in education reform and suffrage for women.
International Museum of the Horse debuts “African American Horse Stories,” Lexington
The International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington has launched a new collaborative history website, Chronicle of African Americans in the Horse Industry. Building upon the museum’s permanent exhibit Black Horsemen of the Kentucky Turf, the site relies on archival materials as well as stories, photos and memorabilia and is designed to increase awareness, education and access to African American history, specifically in relation to the horse industry.
Mills Springs Battlefield becomes part of National Park System, Pulaski County
The Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument in Pulaski County is Kentucky’s newest addition to the National Park System. Spanning a 9-mile distance between Nancy and Mill Springs, the battlefield marks the location of a significant Union victory early in the Civil War. Visitors can select to explore the area with a driving tour consisting of 10 stops with interpretative signs at each site, or by hiking a designated trail through the battlefield to explore more than 14 interpretative signs. The attraction also features a visitor center and museum in Nancy. In Mill Springs, visitors can explore the Brown-Lanier House, which served as a headquarters for generals, and the West-Metcalfe House, which acted as a hospital following the battle.
Bourbon & Culinary:
Wild Turkey Distillery Virtual Tasting, Lawrenceburg
The Wild Turkey Distillery created the first-ever guided tasting for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voiced by the legendary Russell family. The new virtual experience is for both the novice whiskey drinker and mature connoisseurs, as the Russell family shares about the distilling process, the palate, glassware and Wild Turkey craftsmanship.
James B. Beam Distilling Co. Renovations, Clermont
The James B. Beam Distilling Co. is undergoing renovations to upgrade its visitor experiences, set to be unveiled in late summer 2021. New highlights include: The American Outpost, a new visitor and retail center; The Kitchen Table, a 5,000 square foot restaurant and gathering space championing local farmers; “Beam Made Bourbon,” an immersive consumer tour showing how bourbon is made the “Beam Way”; and the Fred B. Noe Craft Distillery, a new functional production facility that will offer special distillation process sessions with Freddie Noe, 8th generation Beam Distilling, plus hands-on activities in the blending lab, a tasting bar and state-of-the-art classroom.
New African American-owned Fresh Bourbon Distilling Co., Lexington
With a mission to welcome everyone to the bourbon world, Fresh Bourbon Distilling Co. is celebrated as the first African American-owned distillery. Opening in early 2021, this 34,000 sq. ft. distillery will employ what is expected to be the state’s first African American Master Distiller to produce their line of grass-to-grain spirits. To create an all-encompassing bourbon experience, the distillery will also feature a music hall and retail space.
Heaven Hill Expansion + Restaurant Renovation Plans, Bardstown
Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown is undergoing an extensive, multi-million-dollar renovation that will add an entirely new two-story wing, bringing the visitor center to about 30,000 square feet. This new wing follows the recent debut of the distillery’s first phase of its visitor center expansion, which included three new themed tasting rooms. One room pays homage to Prohibition times and John Fitzgerald, another is more rustic and designed to invoke thoughts of Elijah Craig, and the third is a new retail area meant to have visitors feeling like they have been invited into the owner’s home. The new wing will feature a restaurant, a lounge-type area and a hands-on experience called “You do Bourbon” where guests will receive product education before getting to select, fill and label their own bourbon bottle to take home.
Discover the unbridled spirit of the Bluegrass State by visiting www.kentuckytourism.com.
Log Still Distillery, Nelson County
Central Kentucky will welcome a new distillery to the area – Log Still Distillery. While the facilities are brand-new, Log Still features a storied bourbon pedigree. Owner J.W. “Wally” Dant and family were inspired by the legacy of their forefather Joseph Washington Dant, whose journey with bourbon began back in 1836 when he crafted his first still out of a hollowed-out poplar log. Today, the Dants are reviving their family’s legacy with Log Still Distillery, which will be located at Dant Crossing, near Gethsemane, in Nelson County. The distillery, along with a restaurant and bar, event venue, outdoor amphitheater and train depot, will open at Dant Crossing, which already features a renovated bed and breakfast, fishing lake and walking trails. For more information, please click HERE.
New Non-alcoholic distillery Spiritless, Louisville
Spiritless is Kentucky’s 74th licensed distillery, but doesn’t make bourbon; instead, it produces a non-alcoholic drink that can be enjoyed on its own or as a mixer in cocktails. The distillery’s first product on the market, Kentucky 74, delivers a high-quality smooth finish with notes of caramel, vanilla and oak. Made with a grain-neutral spirit to first produce an extremely high-proof and intensely flavored spirit, Kentucky 74 is then reverse-distilled to evaporate all but .5 percent of the alcohol. For more information, please click HERE.
New Restaurant: Morning Fork, Louisville
Fostering an environment where families gather, husband-and-wife duo Chef Geoffrey Heyde and Emily Heyde have opened Morning Fork, a new restaurant featuring local ingredients, craft cocktails and unmistakable southern hospitality. Located on historic Frankfort Avenue in one of Louisville’s most charming neighborhoods, the newly opened Morning Fork offers classic breakfast, brunch and lunch favorites with Chef Heyde’s signature twists. For more information, please click HERE.
Ouita Michel’s Honeywood adds new Japanese sandwich shop, CurryCury Katsu, Lexington
In December 2020, Chef Ouita Michel’s acclaimed Honeywood restaurant in Lexington added a new Japanese sandwich shop – CurryCurry Katsu. Run by Honeywood Chef Lawrence Weeks, CurryCurry Katsu operates out of the Honeywood kitchen but offers Japanese comfort food with a southern twist. Menu highlights include sandwiches or “sandos”, Japanese curry and other tasty sides and snacks. For more information, please click HERE.
Hotels & Lodging:
Camp Bespoke, Williamstown
Set on 31 acres, the luxury glamping campground is the first majority Black female-owned glamping site in the region. Bespoke Campgrounds can accommodate up to 20 guests in deluxe cabins, cottages and glam tents made from upcycled materials and is in the process of expansions to add additional lodging, a conference center, event pavilion and an outdoor amphitheater, set to be completed in Spring 2021. Experiences such as horseback riding and distillery tours can also be arranged through Camp Bespoke. For more information, please click HERE.
Cambria Hotel, Louisville
Located on Whiskey Row in Louisville’s downtown, Cambria Hotel is slated to open summer 2021. The floorplan includes 128 guest rooms along with nearly 2,000 square-feet of meeting space. The hotel will house two full-service restaurants, Social Circle serving American cuisine and the Irish-inspired Jackdaw, and a bar which serving rotating local beers and spirited cocktails. Cambria Hotel will offer upscale amenities including an indoor heated pool, a grab-and-go market and sundry shop. For more information, please click HERE.
Galt House Hotel, Louisville
Louisville’s only riverfront hotel, Galt House Hotel recently underwent an $80 million-dollar renovation to enhance all guest spaces. The hotel features modern guest rooms, as well as updated ballrooms and meeting space. The Trademark Collection Wyndham property also houses three dynamic restaurants including the new Walker’s Exchange, Swizzle, a retro-style supper club and Jockey Silks, a popular bourbon centric lounge. For more information, please click HERE.
Mixed Use Developments:
Longest Pedestrian Bridge in North America, Breaks Interstate Park
The Breaks Interstate Park in eastern Kentucky is planning to build a 725-foot pedestrian swinging bridge across the Russell Fork Gorge. The bridge will start on the Virginia side of the park and end on the Kentucky side, with a planned 2021 opening. For more information, please click HERE.
Waterfront Botanical Gardens, Louisville
The 23-acre urban botanical garden is now open to the public and offers free admission. The Mary Lee Duthie Gardens extend to the west of the new Graeser Family Education Center and contains the Pollinator Garden and Kentucky Native Garden. Enjoy the beauty of native and non-native trees, shrubs, perennials and ornamental grasses that contribute to local pollinator health and bird habitat. For more information, please click HERE.
Greyline Station, Lexington
After sitting vacant for more than 20 years, Lexington’s Greyline Station springs to life this year with its transformation into a year-round public marketplace featuring a farmer’s market, local restaurants, retail shops, office space and outdoor entertainment venue. This new cultural hub features space for 70 stores and restaurants as well as the Julietta Market, which offers stalls that local business owners can rent during special events. For more information, please click HERE.
About Kentucky
Kentucky may be best known for its famous bourbon and legendary horse country, but the Bluegrass State offers much more, including a world of outdoor adventure, an explosive culinary scene, fascinating cultural heritage sites and a vibrant arts and music scene. From the longest known cave system in the world to its pristine lakes and attractions like the Muhammad Ali Center, African American Heritage Trails and the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Kentucky invites you to come visit, listen and explore. Discover the unbridled spirit of the Bluegrass State by visiting www.kentuckytourism.com or take a virtual tour with these Mini Episodes from around the state. For more, follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.
