What Youll Find› In Greater Huntington.................................................................2 Welcome to Kentucky’s Country Music Hwy........................4 Johnson County’s Agricultural Hot Spots..............................5 Butcher Holler........................................................................6 Mountain HomePlace................................................................6 Country Music Highway Museum.........................................7 Ashland - “Small Town with Big Fun”..................................8 Ashland Attractions, Festivals, & Events...............................9 Prestonsburg, Star City of Eastern Kentucky.......................10 Jenny Wiley Theatre.............................................................11 Pike County Tourism.......................................................12,13 Morehead Conference Center...............................................14 Morehead and Rowan County..............................................15 Grayson Kentucky Tourism..................................................16 Mt. Sterling Tourism............................................................16 World Chicken Festival........................................................16 London-Laurel County Tourism...........................................17 Lawrence County Tourism..............................................18,19 Letcher County Tourism..................................................20,21 Stars of the Country Music Highway..............................22,23 Country Music Highway Road to Fame...............................24 PCG Nashville......................................................................26 Staci Carriere............................................................................27 Historic Downtown Paintsville................................................27 Billy Jean Osborne’s Kentucky Opry...................................28 Breaks Interstate Park...........................................................29 Adventure Tourism...............................................................30 Morehead State University...................................................31 StoneCrest Golf Course........................................................32 Paintsville Golf Course........................................................32 Raven Rock Golf Course......................................................32 David Appalachian Crafts....................................................33 Courthouse Cafe & Cozy Corner.........................................33 Pine Mountain Grill..............................................................34 The Perfect Setting...................................................................34 U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Travel Guide is published and distributed by Pig in a Poke.............................................................................34 Goodtyme Productions, Inc. Lizzy B’s Cafe & Bakery.........................................................35 For questions or comments, contact Goodtyme Productions Wilma’s Restaurant..................................................................35 1-888-790-2365 [email protected] Billy Ray’s Restaurant.............................................................35 www.countrymusichighway.com Cloud 9 Restaurant...................................................................35 Goodtyme Productions East Kentucky Expo Center.....................................................36 PO Box 1597 Paramount Arts Center.............................................................36 Prestonsburg, KY 41653 Owners: Ken & Angie Carriere Heritage House.........................................................................36 Comfort Suites.........................................................................37 Graphic Design & Layout - Angie Carriere Hampton Inn............................................................................37 Map Design - Angela Grace Photography Contributing Writers - Staci Carriere, Ken Carriere, and various sources All Good Things.......................................................................38 Photography - Angie Carriere www.AngelaGracePhotography.com , Ken Car - Fairs and Festivals....................................................................38 riere, Joshua Carriere, Jo Harvey and various sources Crooked Road..........................................................................38 Country Music Highway Map.................................................39 Paintsville Tourism..................................................................40 www.CountryMusicHighway.com Page 3 Welcome to Kentucky’s U.S. 23 Country Music Highway On March 1, 1994, an historic bill sponsored by June in Pike County. State Representative Hubert Collins was passed and While on the trail of feuders, pioneers, or miners, little-known U.S. Route 23 Highway in eastern Ken - the area along the Country Music Highway is full of nat - tucky became the “Country Music Highway.” This was ural beauty and recreational opportunities. The region done to recognize all the well-known country music is blessed with six beautiful state parks from Greenbo stars that came from this region. Only eight years later State Resort Park in Greenup County to Kingdom and with the vision and perseverance of Congressman Come State Park in Letcher County. Jenny Wiley State Hal Rogers, the Country Music Highway was recog - Resort Park in Floyd County also features Broadway- nized as a National Scenic Byway in June 2002. This type musicals at Jenny Wiley Theatre . 144-mile stretch of highway runs north and south along Welcome to one of the most beautiful and historic the eastern part of the state of Kentucky and covers places in the nation. As you travel along the Country seven counties. Music Highway and meet the friendly folks of this Ap - The musical talent that has developed from these palachian region, you will quickly realize that you have Appalachian hills includes Loretta Lynn, Wynonna & found a hidden treasure. We know that you will enjoy Naomi Judd, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tom T. Hall, Ricky the music and crafts that abound here. The key to a Skaggs, Keith Whitley, Dwight Yoakam, Gary Stewart, successful visit in this region is to make sure you have Patty Loveless, Crystal Gayle and more. Visitors to enough time to see and hear it all! this area will quickly realize that this entire region is steeped in cultural and musical history. There are many opportunities to hear the sounds of all types of music at the many venues along the Coun - try Music Highway. In addition to the many venues, there are countless shows and festivals that feature the sounds and talents of the region. The Country Music Highway is not only about coun - try music. When you travel the Country Music Highway you can also learn about Native Americans, pioneers, the Civil War, and the coal mining industry. The story of eastern Kentucky has been influenced by those who, early on in the nation's history, began searching for land west of the Appalachian Mountains. Not long thereafter, as a result of being a border state between the North and South, sections of the area became bat - tlegrounds for the Civil War. As the area began to develop and grow, coal mining became an essential chapter in Kentucky, and still is. This area is well known for a very notable feud The Hatfield-McCoy Feud , which became a nationally- known event. The two families have recently formed a working relationship and have collectively developed the Hatfield-McCoy Reunion on the second weekend of Page 4 www.CountryMusicHighway.com www.CountryMusicHighway.com Page 5 Page 6 www.CountryMusicHighway.com www.CountryMusicHighway.com Page 7 Ashland “Small Town With Big Fun” The main street serving Ashland, “Winchester Avenue,” is home to many arts venues including the historic Paramount Arts Center. The Paramount hosts the Ken - tucky Music Trail, the Youth Education Series, A Broad - way Series , and many other wonderful cultural programs and concerts. During the Thanksgiving sea - son, the theatre is transformed into a holiday extrava - During the other seasons, visitors can enjoy many ganza entitled “Festival of Trees,” which has been other family festivals including the Redbud Festival, named one of the top ten Kentucky winter events by Summer Motion, Poage Landing Days, Catlettsburg the Kentucky Travel Industry Association. Labor Day Celebration, the Boyd County Fair, Chili Fest and Youth Fest. While visiting Ashland, don’t miss the Frame Up Gallery, Central Park, The Highlands Museum & Dis - The newly established Ashland-Boyd County Quilt Alley covery Center (home to the currently has nine blocks on display and is planning to Country Music Museum), the add numerous blocks in the near future. Ashland is Upstairs Gallery, Quilt Trail, rapidly becoming a quilt destination. Floodwall murals, and the Pendleton Art Center (work - Come and enjoy Country Music Highway 23 - you’ll ing artisans). hear lots of great music while enjoying our life and cul - ture. The third annual U.S. 23 Yard Sale is scheduled A visit to Ashland would not for the last weekend in May. Small Town – Big Fun! be complete without stop - ping by the Jesse Stuart Foundation and Bookstore which includes a wonderful gift shop showcasing Ken - tucky products. The city is has recently opened the first phase of the new riverfront development. Already in place are beau - tiful floodwall murals featuring the first quilt block to be painted on a floodwall in the