Top 15 Attractions in Georgetown, Kentucky

Summary:

Near the center of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region, Georgetown is nestled within some of the most picturesque countryside. Surrounding the town are rolling, fertile pastures intersected by stone fences, in a region long associated with thoroughbred horses.

One of the world’s premier equestrian attractions, the Kentucky Horse Park, is located just beyond Georgetown, along with facilities for horseback riding and the Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm, where champion horses can enjoy their retirement.

A significant development in Georgetown’s contemporary history occurred in the mid-1980s when Toyota selected the city for what is now the manufacturer’s largest factory outside of Japan. This modern facility can be experienced through guided tours.

1. Kentucky Horse Park

Located on the border of Georgetown and Lexington, the Kentucky Horse Park combines a working horse farm, a competition venue, an educational amusement park, and an equine office environment within a single 1,224-acre site.

The amusement park, operational from April through October, stands as the largest attraction operated by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, drawing in over 500,000 visitors annually from around the globe.

Key attractions at the park include the International Museum of the Horse, engaging live equine presentations, and a variety of horse-drawn tram tours, trail rides, and pony rides.

The park also features a campground with 260 sites, providing amenities such as a swimming pool, tennis courts, playgrounds, and convenient biking access to the Legacy Trail.

2. Georgetown Scott County Museum

Situated in the historic 1915 Post Office building downtown, this complimentary local history museum provides a comprehensive overview of Georgetown and Scott County.

The museum begins with a detailed timeline of the county’s development from 1773 to the present day.

Visitors can explore a variety of exhibits, including quilts, information about the Underground Railroad in Central Kentucky, details regarding the Native American peoples along Elkhorn Creek, an impressive collection of equine portraits, and much more.

An engaging feature is Pete the Crow, an animatronic representation of a real-talking crow that gained legendary status in Georgetown during the early 1830s.

3. Downtown Georgetown

Dominated by the impressive Scott County Courthouse (1877), Georgetown’s Main Street exemplifies the charm of small-town America.

The street is lined with an array of ornate Victorian façades, housing restaurants, boutiques, galleries, gift shops, and craft supply stores.

These are among the 200+ buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Georgetown.

Despite its rich history, downtown Georgetown is vibrant, particularly in September when the Festival of the Horse features live music, parades, and family-friendly activities.

4. Ward Hall

Currently under the care of a foundation, this antebellum Greek Revival villa is raising funds for an extensive restoration. You can visit on the first two weekends of each month from April through November.

This graceful residence was constructed as a summer retreat for planter Junius Richard Ward (1802–1883) and his wife Matilda (Viley) Ward in the mid-1850s.

The plantation, which employed enslaved individuals, cultivated hemp and tobacco, and also bred thoroughbred racehorses.

The grandeur of Ward Hall remains evident, particularly in its portico, featuring Corinthian columns standing 27 feet tall.

During your visit, you will also learn about the Ward family, particularly Junius Ward’s adventurous niece, Sallie Ward (1827-1896), recognized as a prominent socialite and quintessential Southern Belle.

5. Whispering Woods Riding Stables

It seems almost necessary to explore the Bluegrass Region on horseback. One excellent option is Whispering Woods Riding Stables, located on 250 wooded acres just north of Georgetown.

Whispering Woods presents a network of trails traversing hills and creeks, all beneath a canopy of hardwood trees. The local wildlife is abundant, and during your ride, you may encounter deer, raccoons, skunks, wild turkeys, and foxes.

Guided trail rides are available for 45 or 90 minutes, while children under eight can enjoy pony rides, either in a yard setting or through the woods for an introductory experience.

6. Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm

This 136-acre farm in the southwestern part of Georgetown serves as a retirement sanctuary for more than 150 thoroughbred racehorses.

Old Friends is distinctive as the only retirement farm that frequently accepts retired stallions, showcasing a number of world-renowned horses leisurely grazing in its pastures.

Notable residents at the time of writing include Silver Charm (1994), who triumphed in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 1997.

Other illustrious residents have included Amazombie (2006), who won the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and Sarava (1999), who secured victory in the 2002 Belmont Stakes, boasting the most significant upset in the race’s history.

You can visit the farm on a 90-minute guided tour, meeting as many as 15 retirees, including classic winners like Silver Charm.

7. Toyota Factory Tour

A major milestone in Georgetown’s recent history occurred in 1985 when Toyota designated this city as the location for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Inc.

This facility now represents the largest Toyota manufacturing plant outside of Japan, employing over 10,000 individuals and encompassing an area of 7.5 million square feet, roughly equivalent to 156 football fields.

The extensive factory complex requires tram tours rather than walking tours for visitors. A free tour will provide insight into a highly advanced manufacturing process, producing a new vehicle approximately every 55 seconds.

Tours are offered Monday through Friday, featuring a 10-minute plant overview video along with a variety of interactive displays at the Visitor Center.

8. Bluegrass Country Driving Tour

If you are eager to fully experience the beauty of the Bluegrass Region, visit the Georgetown/Scott County Tourism office to obtain a map for a self-guided driving tour.

This route will guide you along less-traveled back roads, offering numerous opportunities to stop and admire the lush rolling hills, sprawling pastures with grazing horses, and charming stone fences.

The map also provides detailed insights about the region’s geography, history, and renowned equestrian heritage.

9. Bourbon 30

Additionally, you can indulge in Kentucky’s signature beverage at a craft distillery located opposite Royal Spring Park in downtown Georgetown.

Bourbon 30’s spirits are meticulously prepared by a seasoned master distiller. With the guidance of welcoming staff, you can arrange a detailed tasting session that lasts an hour or longer, allowing you to explore the intricate flavors that distinguish each bourbon.

For a unique Kentucky souvenir, enthusiasts can sample from various barrels at the facility to create a personal blend for their own bottle.

10. Evans Orchard & Cider Mill

The only cider mill in Central Kentucky is located in the serene countryside east of Georgetown.

Evans Orchard spans over 300 acres, originally used for cattle and tobacco until the early 1990s, when it began cultivating fruits and vegetables, including apples, peaches, and pears.

Throughout the season, these fresh produce items can be purchased in the Farm Market & Gift Store, housed within a charming old tobacco barn. Visitors can also find homemade jams, honey, decorative items, and refreshing fresh-pressed cider.

From spring to fall, the farm offers a variety of activities, featuring a children’s play area and barnyard, alongside U-Pick options for strawberries, blueberries, sunflowers, pears, apples, and pumpkins.

11. Yuko-En on the Elkhorn

The official Kentucky-Japan friendship garden resides in Georgetown, nestled at a bend in North Elkhorn Creek.

Comprising six acres, Yuko-En is designed as a traditional Japanese strolling garden, landscaped in 2000 as a collaborative project between Georgetown’s citizens and its sister city, Tahara, located in Aichi Prefecture.

Unlike its flat historical terrain, the garden now features gently rolling hills, with paths guiding visitors through a Zen rock garden, a classic water garden, and along the banks of Elkhorn Creek.

The centerpiece of the garden is a koi pond, nourished by the Upper Waterfall at the base of a small conical mountain, inspired by Yashima Island in southern Japan.

Near the lower falls stands a sculpture honoring the scholar, painter, and statesman Watanabe Kazan (1793-1841), who hails from Tahara.

12. Equus Run Vineyards

In 1998, Cynthia Bohn, a veteran of IBM for 31 years, transformed a tobacco and cattle farm into the area’s inaugural vineyard.

Although winemaking is a relatively recent endeavor in this region of Lexington, the Bluegrass possesses excellent characteristics for viticulture, including fertile soil, rolling hills, and a climate defined by four distinct seasons.

Equus Run enjoys a prime location with rich loamy soil over a limestone shelf-rock and clay. On a self-guided tour of this idyllic 38-acre vineyard, you can observe various grape varieties grown, noting the diverse trellising methods used.

For an inside perspective on production, guided winery tours, set in a repurposed tobacco barn, are available, along with tasting opportunities featuring samples of six different wines from Equus Run.

13. Bi-Water Farm & Greenhouse

A family-owned establishment since 1959, Bi-Water Farm is situated in a scenic location where the Dry Run Creek converges with the North Elkhorn Creek, north of Georgetown.

Bi-Water Farm opened to the public in the mid-1990s, featuring a farm store and hosting the annual Autumnfest. The farm operates from spring through fall, starting with greenhouses and a spring market at the beginning of the growing season.

During summer, fresh produce varieties abound, leading into fall with seasonal favorites like apple cider donuts and pumpkins. The Autumnfest, running from mid-September through October, has become a local tradition and ranks among the largest fall festivals in the state.

Highlights include a corn maze, a 20-acre pumpkin patch, hayrides, and popular attractions like the Spooky Farmhouse and Sky High Slide.

14. Georgetown College

Located southeast of downtown Georgetown, Georgetown College is a private Christian institution established in 1829, tracing its origins back to an academy founded by Baptist preacher Elijah Craig (1738-1808) in the late 18th century.

Even those who are not prospective students can appreciate this attractive campus, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A self-guided visit allows you to admire distinguished antebellum buildings such as Giddings Hall, Pawling Hall, and Highbaugh Hall.

Georgetown College also boasts competitive varsity teams within the NAIA. The football team, playing at Toyota Stadium, is recognized as one of the strongest in the NAIA, having won the Mid-South Conference Championship 19 times since 1987.

15. Festival of the Horse

Given Georgetown’s heritage in horse rearing, it is fitting that the most eagerly awaited event of the year should be the Festival of the Horse. Each September, this three-day celebration highlights the charming downtown area through an array of activities.

The festival features iconic events such as the Colt & Filly Review Parade, Toyota’s Grand Parade of Horses, and a Horse Show.

Having been celebrated for over 40 years, the festival has also included a Chili Cook-Off that precedes the main events.

Additionally, marquee performers grace the Country Boy Stage at Courthouse Square, alongside craft, food, and display booths, carnival rides, and a midway.