Versailles’ major makeover includes outdoor stage, Kentucky’s first hotel/distillery
Downtown Versailles is about to get a serious makeover, with major new amenities coming over the next two years.
The changes come as a new upscale restaurant, Vallozzi’s, opens downtown next to a bourbon bar.
“We’re in the middle of the largest private capital infusion in 40 years, with a lot of folks investing in downtown restaurants, bourbon bars and shops,” said Ken Kerkhoff, chairman of the Versailles Downtown Revitalization Committee.
He said that the city is hoping that the changes will appeal to locals and to tourists with new features. More than $10 million will be spent over the next two years on upgrades. Some of the investment is coming from city government, some from a federal block grant and some of private fundraising.
“Woodford Reserve alone brings in 200,000 people to the county and we need to capture some of that traffic,” he said. Additional attractions to the area include major Thoroughbred horse farms, the local theater and proximity to two major airports.
New projects, amenities coming to Versailles
▪ Behind Vallozzi’s, a new Italian restaurant opening in September, the city is building an outdoor stage that will have weekly entertainment programming including live music and theater. The stage is expected to be completed by July 2024.
▪ The city also is building a pavilion that will serve as a permanent home to the farmers market. Once completed next summer, it will have 4,000 square feet of covered space outside and 1,753 square feet of climate controlled indoor space that also can be used as a venue.
▪ A new water feature will be built over Glenns Creek, the headwaters of the source of water for Woodford Reserve and Castle & Key distilleries, both on McCracken Pike off US 60. The spot, which is where Elijah Pepper and Dr. James Crow built their first distillery, will be a photo opportunity for tourists too.
▪ An ADA-compliant accessible trail will connect Main Street to the 17-acre Big Spring Park, which will be getting a $6 million revitalization in coming years.
▪ A 44-room boutique hotel, The Rickhouse, is being created in a former bank building at 151 S. Main St. by the owners of The Amsden at 151 S. Main St. Versailles Mayor Brian Traugott said the city helped secure a community development block grant that be used to purchase equipment to set up a microdistillery, creating Kentucky’s first hotel/distillery. It will joins a new Holiday Inn Express & Suites and an upscale Airbnb, the Woodford Hotel, for lodging in Woodford County.
▪ Chef Ouita Michel, who opened her Holly Hill & Co. Cooking Studio at 167 S. Main St. in July, is working with Bite of the Bluegrass to create a Versailles walking food tour.
Traugott, the mayor, said the catalyst was private investment that kickstarted the makeover.
“We always knew how special we were but it’s nice to have people take notice,” he said. “The problem was they had no place to spend the night, then no place to eat. Now we’ve got the Holiday Inn, the Airbnb, and the hotel coming. Now we’ve got more shops, more restaurants opening. One hand washes the other. That’s the catalyst.”
This story was originally published September 5, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
