Guidebook for Estill County, KY

Jay & Vic
Jay & Vic
Guidebook for Estill County, KY

Food Scene

Great pizza and salads. Comfortable atmosphere. Variety of beers on tap. ~15 min
Steam Engine Pizza Pub
206 Main St
Great pizza and salads. Comfortable atmosphere. Variety of beers on tap. ~15 min
Some of the best margaritas I've ever had. They take care of you! ~15 min
La Cabana
214 Main St
Some of the best margaritas I've ever had. They take care of you! ~15 min
Good coffee with a hip college atmosphere ~45 min
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Berea Coffee & Tea Co.
124 S Main St
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Good coffee with a hip college atmosphere ~45 min
Iconic greasy spoon... a Diners and Drive-Ins type of experience ~15-20 min
Wigwam Drive-In
419 3rd St
Iconic greasy spoon... a Diners and Drive-Ins type of experience ~15-20 min
If you grew up in Irvine and moved away, this is the restaurant you'll probably say you miss most. Great burgers and milkshakes. ~15 min
Burger Barn Drive-In
1375 Richmond Rd
If you grew up in Irvine and moved away, this is the restaurant you'll probably say you miss most. Great burgers and milkshakes. ~15 min
A more special meal/night out in an historic hotel. Many ingredients sourced from local farmers. ~45 min
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Historic Boone Tavern Hotel and Restaurant
100 S Main St
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A more special meal/night out in an historic hotel. Many ingredients sourced from local farmers. ~45 min
Just a couple miles down the road, Snug Hollow, a very popular B&B that has been highlighted in magazines, radio, and television, is happy to invite Harmony Hollow guests to join them for breakfast or dinner. Dine in the beautiful main house and take in Snug Hollow's beautiful gardens and property. If our 250 acres aren't enough, add Snug Hollow's 350 acres to your adventure! By reservation only... must call in advance. Vegetarian. ~5-10 min
Snug Hollow Farm Bed and Breakfast
790 Cr-1221
Just a couple miles down the road, Snug Hollow, a very popular B&B that has been highlighted in magazines, radio, and television, is happy to invite Harmony Hollow guests to join them for breakfast or dinner. Dine in the beautiful main house and take in Snug Hollow's beautiful gardens and property. If our 250 acres aren't enough, add Snug Hollow's 350 acres to your adventure! By reservation only... must call in advance. Vegetarian. ~5-10 min
An iconic pizza restaurant that is the central gathering spot for rock climbers and hikers in the Gorge. Meet travelers from around the world.
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Miguels Pizza
1890 Natural Bridge Rd
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An iconic pizza restaurant that is the central gathering spot for rock climbers and hikers in the Gorge. Meet travelers from around the world.
Local soft serve ice cream shop
Twin
63 River Dr
Local soft serve ice cream shop
A local favorite serving burgers, fries, and other typical American fair. Hippie Hut is next door, serving ice cream treats in a fun outdoor atmosphere.
Backstreet Grub
109 Collins Street
A local favorite serving burgers, fries, and other typical American fair. Hippie Hut is next door, serving ice cream treats in a fun outdoor atmosphere.

Sightseeing

Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center is at the location of Fitchburg Furnace, which is an historical landmark, highlighting the role of Estill County in the development of railroads. Fitchburg Furnace is most in-tact and much bigger than you'd expect! ~35 min
Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center
125 Aldersgate Camp Rd
Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center is at the location of Fitchburg Furnace, which is an historical landmark, highlighting the role of Estill County in the development of railroads. Fitchburg Furnace is most in-tact and much bigger than you'd expect! ~35 min
The drive from Irvine to Beattyville is beautiful. Be careful driving up and down the mountains! ~45 min.
Beattyville
The drive from Irvine to Beattyville is beautiful. Be careful driving up and down the mountains! ~45 min.
Drive straight through a single lane tunnel that leads to the Red River Gorge area in Daniel Boone National Forest.
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Nada Tunnel
Nada Tunnel Road
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Drive straight through a single lane tunnel that leads to the Red River Gorge area in Daniel Boone National Forest.
Unique experience of one of the largest remains of an iron furnace. Picnic tables at the site.
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Fitchburg Furnace Historical Site
1875 Fitchburg Rd
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Unique experience of one of the largest remains of an iron furnace. Picnic tables at the site.

Shopping

Local arts and crafts in a beautiful, unique town ~45 min
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Berea
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Local arts and crafts in a beautiful, unique town ~45 min
Watch potters at work and browse beautiful pottery ~20-30 min
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Tater Knob Pottery & Farm
260 Wolf Gap Rd
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Watch potters at work and browse beautiful pottery ~20-30 min
Antique store with a surprising amount of variety ~10-15 min
Pickers Paradise
105 Richmond Rd
Antique store with a surprising amount of variety ~10-15 min
Antiques, furniture, and treasures.
The Real McCoy
5193 Richmond Rd
Antiques, furniture, and treasures.

Parks & Nature

Ride the ski lift to the top of Natural Bridge, hike easy or difficult trails. ~45-60 min
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Natural Bridge State Resort Park
2135 Natural Bridge Rd
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Ride the ski lift to the top of Natural Bridge, hike easy or difficult trails. ~45-60 min
Learn about Kentucky as a frontier. Well done reconstruction of Fort Boonesborough. Park has swimming pool, playground, and access to Kentucky River. ~60 min
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Fort Boonesborough State Park
4375 Boonesboro Rd
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Learn about Kentucky as a frontier. Well done reconstruction of Fort Boonesborough. Park has swimming pool, playground, and access to Kentucky River. ~60 min
Tour Shaker houses and grounds. Excellent restaurant and gift shop. In the summer take a steamboat ride through the Palisades on the Kentucky River. Often has special events. A truly unique experience. A longer drive but worth it, especially as you drive past many horse farms. ~90 min
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Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill
3501 Lexington Rd
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Tour Shaker houses and grounds. Excellent restaurant and gift shop. In the summer take a steamboat ride through the Palisades on the Kentucky River. Often has special events. A truly unique experience. A longer drive but worth it, especially as you drive past many horse farms. ~90 min
If you love horses you will love the Kentucky Horse Park. Well worth the drive. ~75 min
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Kentucky Horse Park
4089 Iron Works Pkwy
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If you love horses you will love the Kentucky Horse Park. Well worth the drive. ~75 min
Horseback rides ~45 min
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Whisper Valley Trails
5819 KY-52
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Horseback rides ~45 min
Hike to the waterfall that is the source of locally bottled Climax Water, bottled by King Bottling, Inc. Take home free spring water to enjoy later! Anglin Falls Trail is a 1.7 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Mt Vernon, Kentucky that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is accessible year-round. Visit kingbottling.com for information about Climax water or schedule a tour of the bottling plant! ~30-45 min
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Anglin Falls
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Hike to the waterfall that is the source of locally bottled Climax Water, bottled by King Bottling, Inc. Take home free spring water to enjoy later! Anglin Falls Trail is a 1.7 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Mt Vernon, Kentucky that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is accessible year-round. Visit kingbottling.com for information about Climax water or schedule a tour of the bottling plant! ~30-45 min
Red River Gorge attracts visitors from around the world. Locally referred to as just “The Gorge”... because it’s gorgeous.
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Red River Gorge
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Red River Gorge attracts visitors from around the world. Locally referred to as just “The Gorge”... because it’s gorgeous.
Selected as the best hike in Kentucky. Hike to the West Pinnacles for an amazing view into our valley.
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Indian Fort Mountain Trails at the Pinnacles
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Selected as the best hike in Kentucky. Hike to the West Pinnacles for an amazing view into our valley.
A perfect waterfall like you might see in movies... swim in the waterfall pool, hike the area. It’s like you discovered a well kept secret. Never crowded, even on holidays. Has bathroom, picnic, and camping facilities.
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Flat Lick Falls Recreational Area
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A perfect waterfall like you might see in movies... swim in the waterfall pool, hike the area. It’s like you discovered a well kept secret. Never crowded, even on holidays. Has bathroom, picnic, and camping facilities.
Did you know wild horses roam the mountains of Appalachia? Now you can get a guided tour to find the horses and learn about the history of our region. Booking is also available through AirBNB experiences.
Appalachian Horse Center
Kentucky 1098
Did you know wild horses roam the mountains of Appalachia? Now you can get a guided tour to find the horses and learn about the history of our region. Booking is also available through AirBNB experiences.
Estill County Golf Club
1602 Kirkland Ave
A guest recently recommended this activity. Kayak, paddleboard, or take a boat tour in an underground cave.
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Gorge Underground
2478 Glencarin Rd
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A guest recently recommended this activity. Kayak, paddleboard, or take a boat tour in an underground cave.
A popular activity for many of our guests.
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Red River Gorge Zipline
455 Cliffview Rd
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A popular activity for many of our guests.
Beautiful lake about 30 minutes down the road. Always peaceful with no gas powered boats allowed. Kayak rentals available at getoutsideky
Owsley Fork Reservoir, Kentucky, Yhdysvallat
Beautiful lake about 30 minutes down the road. Always peaceful with no gas powered boats allowed. Kayak rentals available at getoutsideky

Arts & Culture

Great shows ~45 min
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EKU Center for the Arts
822 Hall Dr
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Great shows ~45 min
For over 30 years, Meadowgreen Appalachian Music Park in Clay City has played host to old-time and Bluegrass musicians including legends like Bobby Osborne, Ralph Stanley and Bill Monroe. It's helped foster traditional music and given traveling musicians a place to play on cold winter nights. Only 30 min away in a red non-descript barn, you’d never know so much history happened here.
Meadowgreen Music Park
313 Forge Mill Rd
For over 30 years, Meadowgreen Appalachian Music Park in Clay City has played host to old-time and Bluegrass musicians including legends like Bobby Osborne, Ralph Stanley and Bill Monroe. It's helped foster traditional music and given traveling musicians a place to play on cold winter nights. Only 30 min away in a red non-descript barn, you’d never know so much history happened here.

Drinks & Nightlife

Richmond is a college town with the typical college town bars and clubs ~45 min
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Richmond
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Richmond is a college town with the typical college town bars and clubs ~45 min
Following the path of popular musician, Tyler Childers, who is a resident of Estill County, many emerging musicians are bursting into the mainstream after practicing their craft and gaining a loyal fan base in local venues across our region. One of the top venues is at the Steam Engine in Irvine. Call ahead to find out if they are hosting a music night... typically weekends only.
Steam Engine Pizza Pub
206 Main St
Following the path of popular musician, Tyler Childers, who is a resident of Estill County, many emerging musicians are bursting into the mainstream after practicing their craft and gaining a loyal fan base in local venues across our region. One of the top venues is at the Steam Engine in Irvine. Call ahead to find out if they are hosting a music night... typically weekends only.
Closed on Sundays
Liquor World
11 River Dr
Closed on Sundays

Essentials

~10-15 min
Save A Lot
1290 Richmond Rd
~10-15 min
Closest national chain grocery store. If you don't want to drive to Richmond to shop in person, this Kroger offers Hometown Pickup in downtown Irvine, sometimes with same-day delivery (groceries are delivered in a truck to a local parking lot for pickup).
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Kroger Marketplace
890 Richmond Plaza
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Closest national chain grocery store. If you don't want to drive to Richmond to shop in person, this Kroger offers Hometown Pickup in downtown Irvine, sometimes with same-day delivery (groceries are delivered in a truck to a local parking lot for pickup).