Touring the Area
Within a few minutes drive of our town you'll find unspoiled natural beauty with scenic views, historic waterways, Civil War sites, nature preserves, majestic limestone cliffs, the High Bridge railroad trestle (featured in the Smithsonian Institute), and endless horse farms and stone fences.
Click here to see a document of outdoor recreation close to Wilmore
The following is a continuation of favorite sites to visit:
The Palisades
The Palisades are the majestic limestone cliffs bordering the Kentucky River between Frankfort on I-64 west of Lexington and Clays Ferry on I-75 east of Lexington. Some of the most dramatic cliffs are found in the area surrounding the Jim Beam Nature Preserve, around Camp Nelson and High Bridge.
(You may click on any underlined attraction name below to visit their Internet site.)
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill
Shaker Village offers six visitor services: touring, dining, lodging,
meeting facilities, shopping and riverboat excursions. It is the only
site in America offering this range of activities; all in historic buildings.
With 33 restored buildings and 2,800 acres of original land, it is the
largest of all restored Shaker communities. In 1972, Pleasant Hill was
the first historic site designated a National Historic Landmark from
boundary to boundary. U.S. Highway 68 was rerouted to bypass the village
in 1965 and the village road was restored to its 19th-century original
appearance in 1968. The most recent acquisition, purchased in 1986,
was the West Lot including 480 acres and three Shaker buildings. Restoration
of this area was completed in 1992.
Camp Nelson
The Camp Nelson Civil War site is located along US 27 in extreme southern
Jessamine County, Kentucky about five miles south of Nicholasville.
The original camp covered 4,000 acres with some 300 buildings and fortifications.
The Union Army turned the rolling pasture land of Jessamine County into
an enormous base of operations. All of the buildings, save an officers'
quarters, were dismantled and sold following the closure of the base.
This immense complex was sandwiched between the natural defenses of
the palisades that rise over 400 feet from the Kentucky River and Hickman
Creek to the south, east and west. The northern boundary of Camp Nelson
was protected by a line of eight earthen fortifications and breastworks.
Another fort, Fort Bramlette was constructed on a hill south of the
main complex where it overlooked the Kentucky River and Hickman Creek.
Watch could be kept for any enemy force that might attempt to attack
the depot from the rear.
Highbridge Park
This railroad trestle, built in 1877, an engineering marvel that
is featured in the Smithsonian institution, has a breathtaking view of
the Kentucky River Gorge. Home to a camp meeting for many years, High Bridge Park has recently been restored to its original state.
Directions: From Wilmore, go south on Lexington Ave. (route 29) for about five miles until you come to the entrance of the park.
Ichthus Music Festival
A nationally acclaimed contemporary Christian music festival that draws
more than 20,000 youth and adults each year in June.
Other Kentucky Festivals
You can find out about other festivals in Kentucky by visiting this exterior Web site.
Kentucky Horse Park
Located in Lexington, Kentucky, the heart of the Bluegrass, the
Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm with 1,032 acres surrounded
by 32 miles of white plank fencing. The Park is like none other in the
world. Dedicated to man's relationship with the horse, the Park features
two outstanding museums, twin theaters and more than forty different
breeds of horses. All of these elements combine to make a visit to the
Park an enjoyable learning experience for everyone - from those unfamiliar
with the horse to the horse expert.
Valley View Ferry
Turn back the clock and experience yesterday! The Valley View Ferry
has been transporting people across the Kentucky River since 1785. It's
where the history of the region began and where it is still alive. It's
Kentucky's oldest continuous business. The view from the river is gorgeous
with green hillsides on each bank reaching up the Palisades where birds
are circling and chirping in the trees. For information on the operating
status of the ferry call Lexington Traffic Information Network Recording at
859-258-3611 or Madison County TINR at 859-626-8143.
For more information about touring Jessamine County and Southeastern Kentucky, please click here.