Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Farm Stays in Kentucky are as diverse as the geographic regions of the Commonwealth.

In metropolitan northern Kentucky, 20 minutes from downtown Cincinnati, First Farm Inn near Petersburg is a rural oasis offering horseback riding as well as riding lessons on the 21-acre horse farm.

In the rolling hills of central Kentucky, historic 1851 Maple Hill Manor Bed and Breakfast near Springfield is surrounded by a 15-acre farm. It is home not to horses but to more than 50 head of alpacas and llamas.

In the foothills of the Appalachians in eastern Kentucky, Antler Ridge Farm in Morgan County offers hiking, horseback riding and, next spring, turkey hunting on this 200-acre farm featuring a variety of four-legged and winged critters -- sheep, horses, chickens, and ducks.

In southern Kentucky, Good Spring Farm in McCreary County is so serene that you can sometimes hear Cumberland Falls and the rapids of the Cumberland River, both of which are nearby. Adding to the seclusion, the 84-acre cattle and timber farm is surrounded by the Daniel Boone National Forest.

In the lakes region of western Kentucky, 20-acre Wildflowers Farm in Marshall County is known as a romantic wedding and honeymoon getaway nestled in a scenic wooded valley with a winding creek.

What used to be an overnight stay at a rustic bed and breakfast inn has morphed into “farm stays,” with each featuring its own unique outdoor activities in addition to lodging.

“Farm stays are more than just spending the night on the farm,” said Todd Allen, president of the Bed and Breakfast Association of Kentucky and the Central Kentucky Agritourism Association. “It’s a farm setting that can be used for a wide variety of purposes” such as corporate retreats, business socials, family reunions, weddings, and receptions.

“Right now is a tremendous opportunity for our farms to diversify in this manner,” said Allen, the owner and innkeeper at Maple Hill Manor. “We are combining tourism and agriculture, the top two industries in Kentucky.

“We hope the Department of Agriculture and the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet continue to work together to promote agritourism in Kentucky,” Allen said. “It’s a great fit.”

Following is a look at the five aforementioned farm stays, each in a different region of the state. To find others, go to the Bed and Breakfast Association of Kentucky website at www.kentuckybb.com and click on the “Find Lodging” icon.

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet operate the state’s agritourism office, which promotes and supports a vast array of farm destinations in the Commonwealth. For more information, go to www.kentuckyfarmsarefun.com.

 

Read more about:

1851 Maple Hill Manor Bed and Breakfast

First Farm Inn

Farm House Inn

Wildflowers Farm

Antler Ridge Farm