Fairfield Inn And Suites Remodels And Repurposes With Purpose
Written by Kathy Witt
Ever wonder what happens to all the old décor when a hotel renovates and remodels and brings in new? The pictures on the walls, the furniture in the rooms? the sheets on the beds?
In the case of one hotel—Georgetown’s Fairfield Inn and Suites—all these items and more have been repurposed as donations in support of area organizations.
“We have donated artwork to the Scott County Humane Society for fundraising through silent auctions,” said General Manager Anthony Pompa. “We have donated pillows and blankets to both the AMEN House here in Georgetown as well as the Boys and Girls Haven in Louisville where one of our regular guests is a trustee.
“We also donated artwork to the AMEN House to sell at their thrift store in downtown Georgetown so the funds can go into feeding the community.”
Fairfield Inn and Suites began remodeling on November 7, 2022. The expected completion date for all aspects of the redesign is April 1. In the meantime, the hotel plans to continue finding ways to repurpose items the property can no longer use, such as the linens from the double beds which are being phased out.
“Additional furniture or art pieces that we can’t utilize in our other hotel properties will also be offered for donation to local charities,” said Anthony.
For Fairfield Inn and Suites, the inspiration for and commitment to serving its community lies in Marriott International’s Serve 360 initiative, which is guided by the company’s 2025 Sustainability and Social Impact Goals as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“As a hotel that represents Marriott, we are committed to the Serve 360 initiative, which sets outs to do good in every direction,” says Anthony. “‘Serve Our World’ is one of our core values and guides how we do business.
“Through volunteerism, fundraising, cash and in-kind donations, we are impassioned to do good in our communities and make a meaningful impact.”
Globally, goals Marriott plans to achieve include reducing its environmental footprint; contributing 15 million hours of volunteer service to support company priorities and community engagement strategy; and investing at least $35 million to increase and deepen programs and partnerships that develop hospitality skills and opportunity among youth, diverse populations, women, people with disabilities, veterans and refugees.
As for the new look of this particular Marriott property?
Author: Kathy WItt
Kathryn Witt is an award-winning travel and lifestyle writer, syndicated columnist and author of several books, including Secret Cincinnati, The Secret of the Belles and Atlanta Georgia: A Photographic Portrait. A member of SATW, Authors Guild and the Society of Children’s Books & Illustrators, she lives in northern Kentucky.
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5 Unique & Unforgettable Stays In Georgetown, KY
Written by Dylan Marson
AirBnB’s have taken the world by storm, offering a whole new world of lodgings that can be tailored to every traveler’s needs. Some are a breath of fresh air, some are like a home away from home and some make it their mission to leave out of town visitors with an impression they won’t soon forget! These are Georgetown/Scott County’s most unique lodgings that can help take your travel experience to the next level.
Buffalo Springs Distilling Co.
The Bourbon Trail has introduced millions of travelers to the charred-oak inner workings of Kentucky’s bourbon culture by highlighting some of the best bourbon experiences you can find in the Bluegrass. But for true bourbon aficionados, sometimes the usual tours and tastings just aren’t enough. They need to completely immerse themselves in their travels, and Buffalo Springs Distilling Co. gives them a chance to sip, savor and sleep in the remains of a historic bourbon distillery!
This whiskey operation got its start in 1861 but ended up closing in the next century. Visitors who decide to spend the night here will actually find themselves getting comfortable in the main office of the distillery, which was one of the last remaining structures of the site. The accommodations themselves are playfully bourbon themed, with many accents of buffalos throughout; breathing life into the historic brand of whiskey which was bottled on those very grounds so many years ago. Innkeeper Kayla Jones even seeks to one day revive the long-lost Buffalo Springs Kentucky Straight Bourbon in small batches.
Bleubird Studio
Yoga studio, art gallery, AirBnB & event space, Bleubird Studio truly provides a full service of wellness, sophistication and artistry just steps away from Historic Downtown Georgetown. Many see vacations as a time to relax, and if you’re not careful, maybe even slip out of your usual healthy habits. That doesn’t have to be the case. At this unique stay, relaxation can be found in expanding your horizons. Whether you are taking a yoga class, perusing regional artistry or attending one of their many workshops and classes, self-improvement can be found within your reach at this beautiful stay.
Positioned perfectly for a small-town escape to Historic Downtown Georgetown, the house itself provides all the amenities a family will need for days of Bluegrass adventures. Complete with its welcoming aesthetics and calming decor, this stay is a commodity that relaxation seekers will want to take FULL advantage of.
Queens Lake
Kentucky horse country carries with it a certain expectation. Scenic country paired with iconic picturesque fencing and of course, we can’t leave our favorite four-hoofed friends. Elegance comes to mind, with a long drive leading to a homestead seated amongst the bluegrass. Queenslake B&B strives to capture every essence of this expectation. From its white columned manse to its resort-like views, elegance is definitely the key word here.
Located on a working sport horse farm, this stay boasts its uniqueness in its ability to recreate the home that every horse-lover hopes to live in. Catering to traveling equestrians, horse boarding is available amongst their 140 acres of rolling pasture, Indoor & outdoor arenas, covered round pen and miles of riding trails. The cherry on top is the starkly contrasting Greek Revival Federal-style home. Overlooking a fishing lake and furnished for extra charm, the full experience of horse country will be at your fingertips.
Historic Hotel Stay
Craft beer lovers need look no further than this historic stay that is always sure to be stocked with award winning local brews. A former hotel turned AirBnB, Georgetown Historic Hotel Stay is owned by Michiko and Daniel “DH” Harrison, one of the founders of Georgetown’s own Country Boy Brewing. What truly sets this stay apart, however, is its location. It’s hard to find anywhere closer to the very heart of Historic Downtown Georgetown. Steps from City Hall and surrounded by local businesses, the small-town experience is a guarantee with countless shopping and dining possibilities.
Elkhorn Creek Retreat
The Elkhorn Creek stretches roughly 18 miles across Central Kentucky, carving a pathway through Georgetown that's perfect for canoeing, kayaking, fishing and all manner of aquatic adventures! Elkhorn Creek Retreat certainly lives up to its name being located just beside this iconic waterway and providing a country retreat that perfectly encapsulates the natural beauty of Kentucky while remaining a short drive away from all of our major attractions. For those looking to get a little sun, this stay is the place for you, featuring both a screened in patio and an outdoor deck looking over the creek. Just don't forget to take to the waters yourself with Kayaking the Midway for all your Kayak rental needs!
Author: Dylan Marson
Dylan Marson is a Public Relations Assistant for Georgetown/Scott County Tourism.
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Go further behind the scenes at Toyota’s new Experience Center
Written by Kathy Witt
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) – the world’s largest Toyota manufacturing plant and home of the Toyota Camry, RAV4 Hybrid and Lexus ES350 – just fully renovated and reopened the Toyota Kentucky Experience Center.
Take a tour for the unique opportunity to go behind the scenes at Toyota’s oldest and largest facility in North America.
“Guests can see one of the most fully integrated manufacturing plants anywhere in the world – complete with onsite plastics, powertrain and die manufacturing facilities,” said Justin Posey, senior analyst, Toyota Corporate Communications. “In addition, visitors will watch as a 20-foot interactive, 3D projected map comes to life and provides an unforgettable look into Toyota’s advanced production processes.”
Here are eight exhibits – some interactive – to catch when you go behind the scenes at the TMMK Toyota Kentucky Experience Center in Georgetown:
1. Toyota Kentucky and Toyota global history
2. Product kiosk that explains the research and engineering that goes into each of the vehicles Toyota builds at TMMK
3. Two team member training demos that teach guests the same fundamental skills Toyota team members practice and master
4. 20-foot projection mapping table that gives guests an immersive look at all the amazing work that takes place every day across Toyota’s 1,300-acre Georgetown campus (It is hands-down one of the Experience Center’s most popular exhibits.)
5. Environmental display to showcase Toyota’s commitment to sustainability and carbon neutrality
6. Community display highlighting Toyota’s commitment to the local community, including Toyota’s more than $150 million invested in central Kentucky since 1986
7. Manufacturing wall that gives guests a sneak peek at some of the more unique processes in the manufacturing system at TMMK
8. Powertrain display that highlights the various engine types that are built at TMMK, including internal combustion engines and hybrid powertrains
Additionally, guests can take a free tram tour of the facility – a 9 million-square-foot plant where over 10,000 team members assemble some 550,000 vehicles and build 600,000-plus engines . . . a year. The tours are available at 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and reservations are strongly recommended.
But wait! There’s more:
According to Justin, Toyota is currently in the process of expanding the exhibits to include an interactive Toyota timeline and an exhibit to highlight the Production Engineering and Manufacturing Center (PEMC). PEMC is Toyota’s North American engineering headquarters and is also located on the campus in Georgetown.
What are you waiting for? Click here – www.tourtoyota.com/kentucky – to schedule your visit the newly renovated Toyota Kentucky Experience Center.
Author: Kathryn Witt
Kathryn Witt is an award-winning travel and lifestyle writer, syndicated columnist and author of several books, including Secret Cincinnati, The Secret of the Belles and Atlanta Georgia: A Photographic Portrait. A member of SATW, Authors Guild and the Society of Children’s Books & Illustrators, she lives in northern Kentucky.
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Georgetown Packing List
Written by Kathy Witt
You’ve picked the perfect overnight or weekender bag for your Georgetown getaway. Now . . . what to pack to be ready for everything Kentucky’s Horse Headquarters and Birthplace of Bourbon has to offer?
Here are nine travel essentials to bring along to live your best vacation life in Georgetown.
Boots for outdoor adventures because, no matter the season, Kentucky weather can be wily. And nothing beats a good pair of boots for touring the fields and paddocks at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm or saddling up at Whispering Woods Riding Stables and bringing your cowpoke dreams to life.
Small crossbody bag to hold essentials like phone, wallet, cash and keys so you can be hands-free as you stroll through Yuko-en on the Elkhorn, the four-season, five-acre Kentucky Japan Friendship Garden; wander in and out of the four museums and other attractions at the Kentucky Horse Park; or peek into the rooms of Ward Hall while listening to stories about one saucy belle who perpetrated many a juicy scandal on her hometown.
A cute packable, reusable shopping tote with shoulder strap. When someone asks you, “Did you find something you couldn’t live without?” Chances are, they’ve been to Georgetown and get it. There are more than four dozen independently owned shops, boutiques and galleries in Georgetown’s historic downtown district alone. You’ll find many items you can’t live without, making a sturdy tote imperative.
Swimsuit for water recreation including kayaking, canoeing and floating on scenic Elkhorn Creek; lazing by the outdoor Suffoletta Pool and Lazy River or indoor Pavilion pool with whirlpool; or doing laps in the swimming pool at one of Georgetown’s many brand name hotels.
Walking shoes or sneakers for fresh-air fun. From picking lavender at Lavender in Bloom and fresh-cut flowers at Gray Arbor Farm to racing to the Apple Cider Slider at Evans Orchard and playing paintball at Bi-Water Farm to scavenging for trinkets on two geocaching trails and dropping a line for catfish at Bill’s Pay Lake, Georgetown has lots of ways for families to play outdoors.
Water bottle. Crafting and creating works of art is thirsty work. When you sign up for one of Georgetown’s outstanding and oh-so-fun workshops – quilting, throwing clay, stained glass making, jewelry making, book binding and more – staying hydrated will see you through the completion of your masterpiece.
Rain gear/umbrella. Kentucky ranks #15 in terms of annual precipitation, with about 45 inches falling on Georgetown each year. Chances are the time you visit without your umbrella is when the skies will open up.
Sense of adventure. It takes up virtually no room in the suitcase and is essential for visiting a town where you can blend, bottle, label and name your own bourbon at Bourbon 30, which is located mere steps from where Elijah Craig first distilled bourbon at Royal Spring in 1789; whip up a shrimp remoulade and other delicacies with Chef Rodney during a Sunday cooking class at Bleubird Studio (one’s scheduled for 2 p.m. Feb. 5); mountain bike the twisty backwoods Skullbuster Trails; and unleash your inner foodie on multiple sweet shops plus diners with down-home Kentucky cooking and farm-to-table restaurants with gourmet goodies.
Miscellaneous items including sunglasses (with an average of 193 sunshine-y days and a community that welcomes visitors with high wattage smiles, you’ll need your shades); charger (you do not want to risk your phone dying and miss a selfie op – there are many all over Georgetown); and a notebook/pen set to journal about your adventures and make a list about sights to see on your next visit to Georgetown.
P.S. If you forget something – don’t worry. You can find everything you need at Georgetown shops.
Author: Kathryn Witt
Kathryn Witt is an award-winning travel and lifestyle writer, syndicated columnist and author of several books, including Secret Cincinnati, The Secret of the Belles and Atlanta Georgia: A Photographic Portrait. A member of SATW, Authors Guild and the Society of Children’s Books & Illustrators, she lives in northern Kentucky.
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Guests won’t find ‘hotel experience’ at Georgetown’s Chardonneigh House and Dark Horse Inn – and that’s a good thing
Written by Kathy Witt
The Chardonneigh House may inspire visions of sipping a lovely dry white wine, but this beautiful two-bedroom home rental in Stamping Ground unabashedly celebrates the horse.
The first clue is the “neigh” in its Chardonneigh moniker. The second? The home’s interior. From horse sculptures, paintings and pillows to furniture, original signage and horse tack, this Airbnb’s enthusiastic equestrian theme has left its hoofprint in every room.
“Chardonneigh House is designed to showcase the majesty of the horse and be an authentic representation of central Kentucky,” said owner and Airbnb superhost Kayla Jones.
Among its many charming features are barn doors removed from local Kentucky thoroughbred farms, name plates from a local horse farm, kitchen cabinet pulls crafted from old horse halters and a halter that belonged to “Afleet Alex,” the thoroughbred racehorse that won the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes in 2005. A chair from Keeneland Race Course and a feed bucket from Lexington’s Spendthrift Farm grace the home’s living space.
Jones also owns sister property Dark Horse Inn, a gracious three-bedroom home in Georgetown’s Villages at Elkhorn Green neighborhood that is located just minutes from Kentucky Horse Park. Like Chardonneigh House, the Dark Horse Inn pays homage to the horse.
“It is decorated with a saddle, riding boots, tack boxes from Lane’s End Farm and signage from Keeneland,” said Kayla.
Both homes opened as rentals in 2021. The Chardonneigh House, featuring a full-size bedroom and queen bedroom, plus comfortable daybed on the other side of the house, is ideal for up to five guests. With three queen bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths, the Dark Horse Inn offers plenty of space for a family or group of six people.
The kitchen in each lodging is well-equipped and provides the essentials for guests who wish to cook and eat “at home.” Guests find coffee pods for the Keurig coffee machine, seasonal fresh flower arrangements, holiday decor and basic toiletries. A grill sits ready for use in the backyard at Dark Horse and, at Chardonneigh, a fire pit invites guests to gather round its cozy warmth.
“We don’t offer the ‘hotel experience,’” said Kayla. “Our goal is for each and every guest to feel like they live here in this area and, after they depart, that they have a feeling of leaving their second home and will be anxious to return.”
Located eight miles outside of downtown Georgetown, Chardonneigh House in Stamping Ground caters to guests who long to leave the hustle and bustle of town behind. For more information or to make reservations, visit this lodging’s Airbnb listing.
The Dark Horse Inn sits in a pretty neighborhood near the interstate, putting guests within 10 minutes of the Kentucky Horse Park. For more information or to make reservations, visit this lodging’s Airbnb listing.
Besides her equestrian-themed lodgings, Kayla also owns the bourbon-themed Buffalo Springs Distillery home rental in Stamping Ground.
Hotel to Home Hack: “We strive to focus on creative endeavors and whimsical touches that have no other purpose than to brighten someone’s day and perhaps bring a smile to their face. When selecting a few seasonal sprigs for the kitchen table, we like to use whimsical notes. Many of our Dark Horse Inn blossoms are displayed in wine bottles from Dark Horse Winery and our Chardonneigh House arrangements are usually displayed in Chardonnay wine bottles.” Kayla Jones, Chardonneigh House, Dark Horse Inn, Buffalo Springs Distillery
Author: Kathryn Witt
Kathryn Witt is an award-winning travel and lifestyle writer, syndicated columnist and author of several books, including Secret Cincinnati, The Secret of the Belles and Atlanta Georgia: A Photographic Portrait. A member of SATW, Authors Guild and the Society of Children’s Books & Illustrators, she lives in northern Kentucky.
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