Georgetown Tourism Sponsored Booth A Favorite Among State Fair-Goers!
Written by Kathy Witt
Thirty-six thousand cups of freshly popped popcorn from Western Kentucky farms. One thousand, seven hundred cans of veggies and boxes of cereal donated to a Georgetown organization. Thousands of visitors munching popcorn and learning about the state’s farm and field heritage. Dozens of co-workers and volunteers helping to make an agriculture exhibit a 
smashing success.
Each year, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) builds one of the largest exhibits at the Kentucky State Fair. Sponsored by the Georgetown/Scott County Tourism Commission (GSCTC), it is located in AgLAND in the south wing of the fairgrounds, which features and highlights the commodity groups and the KDA and programs provided by the department.
The exhibit is known far and wide for the themed structure the KDA team builds each year from canned goods. A salad bowl filled with veggies. A giant ear of corn. An apple tree and an apple with a bite missing to demonstrate the Kentucky Hunger Initiative Exhibit’s goal to “take a bite out of hunger.” A towering silo – a favorite structure that has appeared frequently over the years and at various places.
“We have fair attendees who look for the canned goods structures every year and that makes me really happy,” said Alisha Morris, KDA program coordinator. “I have one couple who says they come just to see the can structure displays and what we
have done new each year.
“We also have some who come every year just to see our same employees in the booth.”
Part of the draw might have something to do with the irresistible aroma of Kentucky-grown popcorn wafting through the building. Team KDA has an area within AgLAND where they pop the popcorn that has direct Kentucky farm impact.
Said booth volunteer Bailey Gilkerson, marketing director at GSCTC: “We get to sponsor an amazing canned food display and pass out the freshly popped Kentucky Proud popcorn.”
Once the fair is over, the food including the canned goods is packed up and donated to the AMEN House.
Located on Main Street in Georgetown, AMEN House has one mission: to end hunger in Scott County. The organization is entrusted with the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), a
federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. USDA provides 100 percent American-grown USDA foods and administrative funds to states to operate TEFAP.
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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This Or That In Georgetown, KY
Written by Kathy Witt
Georgetown is all about choices, whether you’re visiting for the day or vacationing over a long weekend. Bourbon or brews? History or contemporary? Dinner or dessert? In town or out in the country? Will it be this, that or all of the above?
Plan a little or a lot. But no matter what you choose to do, you’ll probably run into a horse or two along the way – this is Kentucky Horse Headquarters, after all.
Horses and/or Horsepower
- Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm: Meet a hundred or so of the friskiest retirees you’ll ever encounter. Pet them. Feed them carrots. Stars of the turf, including Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup champs, live their best life here. Guided tours available.
- Toyota Motor Manufacturing: The numbers are overwhelming: Up to 550,000 vehicles made each year (12.5 million+ since 1988!) in the plant’s 9 million square feet situated on 1,300 Scott County acres.
A virtual tours is currently available.
- Water and/or Walking Trails
- Elkhorn Creek: The place to get your paddle on. Seventeen miles of splashy canoeing and kayaking fun plus one of the best places for fishing for smallmouth bass.
- Yuko-en on the Elkhorn: Where you can ZEN out, on pathways weaving through more than five acres of a four-season Japanese-style strolling garden.
Bourbon and/or Brews
- Bourbon 30: A private barrel sampling, an artisan craft discussion, a chance to blend and bottle your own bourbon. Need we say more?
- Country Boy Brewing: A seriously laidback atmosphere means everyone feels at home at one of Kentucky’s favorite craft beer breweries. The taproom, the patio, the brews, the chews – this is where weekends happen.
- Boutique Browsing and/or Scavenger Hunting
- Downtown shopping: So. Many. Shops. All independently owned and all filled with irresistible treasures. Trust us – you won’t mind at all when your credit card starts smoking. Really.
- Geocaching Trails: A treasure hunt of a different sort – one that requires a passport and patience and a hankering for history – and Scott County has two, in Georgetownand in Sadieville.
- Study the Horse and/or Ride a Horse
- Kentucky Horse Park: Four museums, stall-side chats, Parade of Breeds Show, camping, kids activities including pony rides – it’s all here at this premier working horse farm, educational theme park and equine competition facility.
- Whispering Woods Riding Stables: Where cowboy and cowgirl dreams come to life on more than 250 acres of wooded countryside
- Kentucky Horse Park: Four museums, stall-side chats, Parade of Breeds Show, camping, kids activities including pony rides – it’s all here at this premier working horse farm, educational theme park and equine competition facility.
- Dinner and/or Dessert
- More places to satisfy a sweet tooth than you can count on one hand. More than a dozen eateries in a six-block area of downtown Georgetown alone – fine dining to casual, coffeehouses to pubs. More places of deliciousness in the surrounding county. Georgetown dining seems to have a theme, and it’s “more.” So, will it be savory or sweet?
- History and/or Contemporary
- Ward Hall: Who dropped her drawers in front of Boston’s upper crust? That would be Georgetown’s own cheeky Sallie Ward (pun intended). Hear her scandalous story on a tour of Kentucky’s grandest Greek Revival manse.
Tours available.
- Art Galleries: Two equestrian-themed galleries equal unexpected downtown delight for horse lovers: The Hockensmith Fine Art Editions and Gallery & Press features photography, paintings, printmaking and sculptures and the Robert Clark Artist Galleryshows off Clark’s equine and artwork.
Workshops available.
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 Welcomes New Extended Stay Mariott Brand Hotel In Early 2023
Written by Kathy Witt
When the TownePlace Suites by Marriott Georgetown opens in the spring of 2023, not only will it be the newest hotel in the area, but it will also be Marriott’s only extended-stay hotel in Georgetown. And it will be bringing a lot of amenities with it.
Fresh, modern and comfortably sophisticated, the hotel is designed to cater to both long-term travelers in Georgetown on business or other reasons and leisure travelers here explore attractions not only in the immediate area, such as Historic Downtown Georgetown, Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm and the Kentucky Horse Park, but in the surrounding area as well. With Williamstown’s Ark Encounter and a variety bourbon distilleries within a 30-minute drive, the hotel and Georgetown are an ideally situated homebase.
Each room at TownePlace Suites bring guests all the comforts of home while traveling: a fully equipped kitchenette, complete with cookware, glassware and utensils; open work area with an ergonomic chair and plenty of room to spread out; comfortable seating area, HDTV and complimentary Wi-Fi. Color palettes are soft neutrals punctuated with small art groupings.
Guests will also enjoy amenities such as a hot breakfast served daily, a state-of-the-art fitness center and heated indoor pool. Adding more convenience are a fully equipped business center and guest laundry.
“You’ll find touches of Kentucky throughout the hotel that are unique to the TownePlace Suites Georgetown,” said Allison Miller, director of sales at RainMaker Hospitality.
Headquartered in Lexington, RainMaker Hospitality is known for the enhanced service and exceptional hospitality at the 17 hotels properties in central Kentucky in its management portfolio, including such brands as Hilton, IHG, Hyatt, Choice, and Best Western in addition to Marriott. In fact, one of its sister properties located in Georgetown is the Holiday Inn Express at 140 Osborne Way.
The hotel is conveniently located directly off of I-75 and is surrounded by many restaurants and retail stores, all within walking distance. For those traveling on business, it is within a few minutes’ drive of Toyota Motor Manufacturing as well as several other manufacturing plants. Georgetown College is only two and a half miles away and the shops, restaurants, art galleries and museum of downtown are nearby as well.
The hotel will offer complimentary onsite parking and will also have a grab-and-go market with food, beverage and sundry items available for guests 24 hours a day.
“Additionally, guests will be free to bring in food or order any food options to the hotel,” said Allison. “And we hope to have an opportunity to partner with local restaurants when welcoming travelers to the Georgetown community.”
Georgetown Tourism is excited to welcome TownePlace Suites by Marriott Georgetown. Watch for the announcement of the hotel’s official opening date in this newsletter and on our G-town Unwound blog and Facebook page and for a link to the hotel for more pictures and details.
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 Is Kentucky Proud
Written by Kathy Witt
Beth Richardson and Philip Enlow know the importance of knowing where your food comes from and offering financial support to local farmers.
The owners of Georgetown-based Spotz Gelato, a certified Kentucky Proud business, have firsthand insight and experience as hobby farmers who opened a business committed to sourcing ingredients, including fruit, from local farmers. Additionally, the two made the decision to produce all their award-winning gelatos on their Scott County farm.
“We also think local items just taste better and make our gelato even more fabulous!” said Beth, noting that Spotz Gelato has been a Kentucky Proud member since the business opened nearly 10 years ago in 2013.
Eggs, beef cattle, baked goods, beverages, Christmas trees, herbs, wines, sauces, snacks, honey, sheep – anything grown, raised or processed in Kentucky qualifies to be Kentucky Proud.
According to the Kentucky Proud website: Kentucky Proud stands for foods, nursery items, crafts, agritourism sites, farmers’ markets, state parks, and many other products and destinations with roots in Kentucky soil. Kentucky Proud foods are raised, grown, or processed in Kentucky by Kentuckians. You can serve Kentucky Proud foods to your family with the confidence that they came from your friends and neighbors just down the road – not from thousands of miles away.
Across the state, there are 11,212 Kentucky Proud members. One hundred ninety-two of these members are located in Scott County, including Spotz Gelato, Lavender in Bloom and the Scott County Farmers Market. The Farmers Market is open Seasonally on Saturdays in downtown Georgetown at the City Parking Lot (behind the Courthouse and City Hall) and offers a one-stop shop to numerous Kentucky Proud items, including produce, breads, flowers, sauces, doggy treats, jewelry, soaps and other crafts and so much more – all in a fun food truck festival atmosphere.
There are many benefits of being a Kentucky Proud member and buying from a Kentucky Proud member.
“The Kentucky Proud logo symbolizes an agricultural product that was grown, raised or produced in Kentucky; and/or a product incorporating an agricultural product that is processed or manufactured in Kentucky,” said Kentucky Proud Marketing Director Chad Smith. “That in turn benefits the local economy as we support our neighbors, farmers and value added producers.
“These Kentucky Proud members offer items that are less traveled, fresher and locally produced,” he added.
“We love being able to provide a Kentucky Proud product that is 100 percent grown, distilled and bottled here in Georgetown,” said Tessa Habash, owner of Lavender in Bloom. “Buying local and supporting your hometown community wherever you call home is more important now than ever!
“We have gotten to know so many like-minded people in our community because of our farm and can truly say it has enriched our lives to know these people.”
A whole chain of positivity is unleashed when you buy a product with the Kentucky Proud label:
- You are buying the freshest, most nutritious food possible.
- You are keeping your dollars close to home.
- You are helping a Kentucky farm family earn a living.
- You are reducing the miles that the food has to travel from the farm to your plate.
- Look for the Kentucky Proud logo at your favorite grocery, restaurant or farmers market.
Learn more about Kentucky Proud at its website. Find members in Scott County and across the state here.
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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Small, Mighty & Beneath the Friendliest Skies
Written by Kathy Witt
You know the drill: Arrive two hours before your flight at the airport’s security checkpoint. Get funneled into a long, crowded line. Unburden yourself of shoes, belt, jacket, laptop and anything else TSA tells you to remove. Step into the glass body scanning box for your close-up – and we do mean close-up! Put all your clothes back on. Repack your bag. Arrive at your gate harried and irritable, only to discover the gate has been changed or your flight has been delayed (or worse!) cancelled.
Now, close your eyes and imagine this: Breeze into the airport a few minutes before take-off time. Hand your bag off to the pilot. Step aboard your private jet. Sink into a clean and cushy seat. (Go ahead: Stretch out your legs.) No hassles. No headaches.
The Georgetown-Scott County Regional Airport, also known as Marshall Field, is located five miles east of Georgetown. Operations began nearly 30 years ago in 1993 with a 4,000-foot runway and one 80 by 100 hanger – and no income.
Today, the airport is valued at over $20 million and generates over $1.3 million. It has a 5,500-foot runway with a parallel taxiway, plus three instrument approaches and a high intensity lighting system. Four T-hanger buildings each store eleven aircraft. Two air charter operations are located on the field. And maintenance equipment is capable of maintaining the runway and premises in all kinds of weather.
Private jet service is offered to a variety of major cities, each less than an hour and a half flight away: Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Memphis, St. Louis. Pilots are experienced; aircraft is up to date, meeting all FAA and factory standards; prices are competitive; and, perhaps best of all, departure and arrival times are scheduled around you.
“Flying out of this airport is a lot easier and quicker, and our prices are very good,” said Martin Thomas, chairman of the airport’s Board of Directors.
In fact, Georgetown’s airport is small but mighty and brings in lots of travelers.
As Thomas noted, “Corporate America doesn’t come to town on a Greyhound bus. Any businesses that operate in the region utilize the airport.”
But it’s for leisure travelers, too.
Regardless of the reason, travelers flying out of the Georgetown-Scott County Regional Airport can expect a level of excellence and personal service typically not found at commercial airports.
According to Thomas, this airport is so good at its job that it has become an example for other regional airports of what a good general aviation airport can be.
It is a safe, reliable alternative to the long lines and delayed flights many travelers experience when flying commercial. It allows flyers to get to their destination at a time convenient to them and with ease – and in maximum comfort. (Hey, there’s even room for your golf clubs.)
The Georgetown-Scott County Regional Airport is open seven days a week. Hours: 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. Closed Christmas Day. Learn more about private jet options by visiting www.flygeorgetown.com/travel-information or calling 502-863-6320.
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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