Horses, History & Hospitality in Paris, KY
Want to go to Paris? The question is which one! I have been to Paris France, Paris, Tennessee, Paris, Illinois, and now Paris, Kentucky! The town is known for horses, history and hospitality. The actual motto for this town located in the heart of Bourbon County is “Thoroughbred Capital of the World”. Almost everything, everywhere in Paris, KY is connected to horses!
Tractor Show
We traveled to Paris to attend the 52nd Annual Central Kentucky Antique Machinery Association tractor show. This is the longest running tractor show, and according to the planners at the show, the largest also in the state of Kentucky. We enjoyed our visit to this fun show featuring John Deere this year. We happened to be there on the HOTTEST day of the year! But some of the attendees found wonderful ways to stay cool. For example, there was a gentleman that hooked up a huge fan to a Farmall tractor!
We loved visiting with the wonderful people and seeing new tractors and a new tractor show! At the show I loved the engine built in 1910 that worked at the former Spears warehouse.
Downtown Paris
On the Paris, KY Tourism website they share, “Tucked away in the heart of Kentucky’s famed Bluegrass Region, Paris is the county seat of Bourbon County. Settled in 1776 and named after France’s capital, Paris is home to an abundance of historical sites.”
I am a history lover. To learn more, I sent a message to the tourism bureau. I asked what I shouldn’t miss. They were wonderful, and responded with a list of ideas. One of those ideas was a visit to their version of the Eiffel Tower. The tower is located right on the historic main street!
The Kentucky version was completed in July of 2021. This tower stands 20′ tall. It also lights up at night. This Eiffel Tower is a tourist draw that worked wonderfully for us!
More downtown gems in Paris, Kentucky
The Eiffel Tower stands next to what Ripley’s Believe It or Not claims “Is the tallest three-story building in the world!”
A bit further down the street is the in-construction Secretariat Park . Plans for the park include a life-size bronze sculpture of Secretariat running in the field at legendary Claiborne Farm. Already completed is a three-story mural of him winning the 1973 Kentucky Derby. A quote on their website from the Washington Post shares, “Fifty years after his Triple Crown, Secretariat remains an immortal wonder.” The park will open on Nov. 11, 2023, which happens to be 50 years to the date the Triple Crown champion arrived at Claiborne for his breeding career.
While downtown we saw the outside of the cool Duncan Tavern. This is the oldest standing tavern in Kentucky, built in 1788! I hope to tour it one day soon!
We had lunch at Lil’s Coffee House which has their original 1950’s lunch counter. I tried for the first time some amazing tomato pie and had a bite of Keith’s scrumptious Coconut Cream pie! The diner is located in the old J.J. Newberry’s (dime store) building that is also home to Ardery’s Antiques. Before we headed out of town, we had an equally delectable breakfast here!
We stayed locally at the Best Western which was nice. I would have loved to try out Paula Doyle’s Farmhouse Peaceful bed and breakfast, perhaps next time! For dinner, we went to the wonderful Trackside Restaurant & Bourbon Bar. Located in the Paris Train Depot built in 1882, the food and service both were wonderful.
Bourbon Story in Paris, Kentucky
At the tourism office where we stopped in, they told us that Bourbon County where Paris is located is where Bourbon began. Online at Explore Kentucky History, I read a bit about the history of this special whiskey. They share the wording on a marker found in Paris. “BOURBON WHISKEY/JACOB SPEARS, named after Bourbon Co. because of quantity and quality of whiskey produced within its borders. Made from a fermented mash of at least 51% corn, with less wheat, rye, or barley, yeast and limestone water. Distilled at no more than 160 proof and aged in charred oak barrels. In 1964, Congress recognized bourbon as a distinctly American product.”
Jacob Spears was a farmer and according to information from the Hopewell Museum (which I hope to tour someday),” a dealer in blue grass seed and breeder of fine horses.”
From Pennsylvania, Spears was listed as one of the first distillers of bourbon whisky. Downtown bourbon aficionados will enjoy the Hatfield & Co Distillery.
Claiborne Farms in Paris, Kentucky
Noting at each establishment, horse races are on the TV screen, and everyone has a horse picture or , statues. There are even horseshoes depicting horse history located embedded in the sidewalk downtown. With this background, we were excited to tour a real live horse farm.
We were especially delighted to tour Claiborne Farms, because this is the farm where Secretariat retired for his breeding career, and where this legendary horse is buried.
Our guide, William “Billy” Buckler provided a great tour of this 3,000-acre farm. The farm has raised 63 champions and 17 horses of the year. “This 113-year-old farm has been run by the Hancock family since 1910,” Billy said.
One of the famous horses we had the chance to meet up close and personal is War Front. We learned that he has a current breeding fee of $100,000, and it was once as high as $200,000.
As Billy said, the story of the farm begins in Virginia with Civil War Veteran Capt. Richard Hancock who raised Thoroughbreds. The next generation of Hancock’s, the Capt.’s son, Arthur Hancock started a farm on his wife’s property in Kentucky and named it Claiborne. Today, the farm is still in the family and run by Seth Walker Hancock Jr. Several famous horses have come from this beautiful place, and it is an honor to be able to visit.
We toured the barns, saw the former tobacco barn where stallions breed during the breeding season. Billy said breeding season runs from July – February. We were able to see a few stallions up close before wrapping up the tour at the cemetery where Secretariat’s grave is among several, many famous horses.
Last minute stops before heading home.
We love covered bridges, and we had heard that the Colville Covered Bridge is lovely, so we decided to check it out. This bridge is one of only 11 covered bridges left in the state of Kentucky. The Colville bridge was built in 1877 in Bourbon County near Paris, Kentucky. The bridge spans Hinkston Creek. It is of Burr trust construction. The single span is 124 feet long, and 18 feet wide. It was extensively renovated after it was damaged by floods in 1997. The bridge is amazing because you can drive through it, which in covered bridges is a rarity!
On our way back to Paris, Kentucky we spied I loved this beautiful Ruddle’s Mill Methodist Church.
Best of all is the little blessing box located near the church. Have you seen one before?
The small town of Ruddels Mill was interesting because there is a historic sign sharing that Issac Ruddle built a gristmill here way back in 1788!
Paris, Kentucky was a beautiful town and surrounding area. With a new tractor show, horse information, historic sites, and wonderful hospitality, I recommend a stop in your future!
