Sixth Street Pedestrian Plaza in Shelbyville, Kentucky. Photo: CG Photo, courtesy of VisitShelbyKY.com
Discover Shelby County, Kentucky, just east of Louisville, with Janette Marson, President and CEO of ShelbyKY Tourism, on this episode of Big Blend Radio’s Food, Wine & Travel Show—presented in partnership with the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).
Known as the Saddlebred Horse Capital of the World, Shelby County offers an authentic Central Kentucky experience where horses, bourbon, food, farms, history, shopping and outdoor adventures come together.
Watch the episode below or listen/download the audio version on Podbean, and enjoy the conversation highlights below:
Here are the key highlights from this podcast episode:
Horses & Farm Culture
Saddlebred Capital of the World: Shelby County is home to over 100 Saddlebred farms, known for their high-stepping, regal posture. They host the preliminary competitions before the World Championships at the Kentucky State Fair.
Thoroughbreds & Jockeys: Located just east of Louisville, several Kentucky Derby-racing jockeys live in the area.
Lettleiki Icelandics: Shelby County boasts the largest Icelandic horse farm in North America—home to the "Fabios of the horse world".
Hands-on Riding: Visitors can take guided trail rides at the Redfern Riding Center in Shelby County Parks (ages 5 to 99).
Jeptha Creed Distillery Tour. Photo credit CG Photo, courtesy of VisitShelbyKY.com
Bourbon & Wineries
"Your Bourbon Destination": Shelby County has state and federal trademarks on the phrase "Your Bourbon Destination".
Key Distilleries: Home to major brand Bulleit Distillery and Jeptha Creed Distillery, which is uniquely run by a mother-daughter team.
Talon Winery: Features wine tastings, summer live music on Fridays and Saturdays, and bourbon-barrel aged wines.
Peaches at Mulberry Orchard in Shelbyville, Kentucky. Photo courtesy of VisitShelbyKY.com
Local Dining & Agritourism
Kentucky Barbecue: Popular spots include Ken-Tex BBQ and B&N Restaurant in Bagdad, KY (located inside a cozy country store).
Bourbon Mash Beef: Some local livestock are fed leftover sweet bourbon mash from the distilleries.
Farm-to-Table Experience:
Mulberry Orchard: Known for seasonal peaches, jams, pumpkin patches, and family play areas.
Gallrein Farm: Offers seasonal flowers, a giant fall sunflower field, and pick-your-own pumpkins.
The Farm Kitchen: A true farm-to-table restaurant where all meats and produce are raised directly on the family's farm.
Pineapple Paisley Boutique. Photo: CG Photo, courtesy of VisitShelbyKY.com
Historic Downtowns & Shopping
Outlet Shops of the Bluegrass: The only outlet mall in Kentucky (located in Simpsonville), attracting over 4 million visitors annually with luxury brands and architecture mimicking Churchill Downs' spires.
Downtown Shelbyville & Simpsonville: Features preserved 1800s architecture, boutique shopping, local dining, local breweries, and renowned antique shops like Wakefield-Scearce Galleries (famous for its historic English antiques and massive silver collection).
Visit the horse farms in Shelby County. Photo courtesy of VisitShelbyKY.com
Outdoors, Events & Travel Details
Pet-Friendly Travel: Many hotels, outdoor venues, and shops at the outlet mall explicitly welcome pets (look for paw prints on the storefront windows!).
Outdoor Rec & Golf: Guist Creek Marina and Lake Shelby offer bass fishing, pontoon rentals, camping, and RV hookups. The area also features Clear Creek Golf Course and a professional-grade disc golf course at Red Orchard Park.
Major Events: Annual events include the Dogwood Festival in April (100+ Kentucky vendors) and the Simpsonville Fall Festival.
Four-Season Destination: Easy to access within 30 minutes of Louisville International Airport and 45 minutes of Lexington.
🌐Explore Shelby County, Kentucky: https://www.visitshelbyky.com/
🌐 Learn more about IFWTWA: https://www.ifwtwa.org/
🌐 Follow this podcast: https://food-wine-travel.podbean.com/
📰 Check out the Big Blend Radio Travel Food & Wine Digital Podcast Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/ekxy/#p=1