Thelma and Louise in Kentucky - Part Two

May Lodge in the Jenny Wiley State Park was quaint, cozy and tucked away in the hills of Prestonsburg, KY.  From our room was a lovely view of Dewey Lake and although the water was cloudy, it was a relaxing setting for our weekend getaway.  The staff were friendly and helpful, the food was good and our room was comfortable and clean.

 

There's a plethora of history in those hills.  Jenny Wiley, a real-life pioneer woman, was taken captive after her family (including her four children and brother) was mistaken for another family and brutally slaughtered at the hands of Native Americans.  While in captivity, she gave birth to her fifth child which was also murdered.  She lived 11 months with the Cherokee before she finally escaped and was reunited with her husband, Thomas Wiley.  Jenny and Thomas rebuilt their cabin which had been burned by the Indians and had six more children.

 

 

The Hatfield-McCoy Feud is quite a story.  I would suggest watching the History Channel's rendition.  I would not spend $20 on the driving tour CD from the Pikeville Tourism Commission.  The sites in Pikeville were easy to find because the lady in the tourism office gave us directions but, once you get into West Virginia, the sites are not marked and the CD doesn't give you any addresses to plug into your GPS.  It's somewhat of a wild goose chase.  Instead, I would recommend this tour.  Adam, the guy who heads this up, was out of town so we couldn't go but, given the opportunity, this was what we had planned to do.  I have to give the Pikeville Tourism Commission props though, they had some great t-shirts and a ton of books and little souvenirs.

 

 

Loretta Lynn's home was worth visiting due to her brother, Herman Webb. Sure, she was great and all but, Herman made that trip worth the time and money. He's a humble man of 78 years young and he was a joy to talk to. While Herman's music career wasn't as well known, he has lots of musical talent and tons to tell about his gifted family.   

 

 

Van Lear was a fascinating mining town on the way to Butcher Holler.  The historical museum had lots of interesting artifacts from that time period and we learned a bit about the coal mining business.  From 1910 to 1946 there were 5 mines open in Van Lear and it was quite the hoppin' place.

 

On our last day in Kentucky, we made the 2-hour trip northwest to Mt. Sterling where we visited the Ruth Hunt Candy Company.  Ruth Hunt Candy Company has quite the reputation as they provided candy for the Kentucky Derby up until a couple of years ago.  Unbeknownst to us, the factory only gives tours Monday through Wednesday.  So, we proceeded to sample and purchase candy since Easter's just around the corner.  Afterwards, we had lunch at Melini Cucina, an Italian restaurant not far away where we dined on breadsticks and chicken fettucini alfredo.  It was a great way to end our trip.

 

This was the perfect weekend getaway even if it was destroyed by the weather!  With lots of history, a love of the mountains, and adoring the Kentucky accent, this was a great trip.  It was just right for a few days, not sure you would find a whole, whole lot to do there if you were staying for longer than that.  Thanks for a fantastic weekend Thelma!

 

Thelma and Louise in Kentucky

On Thursday, I made the almost 8-hour trip to the May Lodge here at Jenny Wiley State Park Resort in Prestonsburg.  Thelma came from the east, driving an almost equal distance.  Yes, we met in the middle and I was never happier to see her gleaming smile. 

Today, we visited Loretta Lynn's birthplace in Butcher Holler and despite our best efforts, it was hard impossible to get a decent photo without the tripod.  Using gravel to prop the camera on the hood of the car, we got this.  And yes, the rock sits just like you see it...tilted.

We arrived at the Mercantile.   Loretta Lynn's brother, Herman Webb gives tours of the homeplace.  So, the guy working at the Mercantile called Herman to tell him there were two ladies who wanted a tour. Herman was so cute, he asked if we knew there was no heat in the house and that it'd be cold. (It reached a high of 51 degrees today, but it was 9:30am and still quite chilly. Hence my red nose.)

Herman reminded me so much of my granddad.  We got his address and decided to adopt him.  We agreed if we lived here in Kentucky we'd surely bring him dinner and love on him.  He's a handsome fella, huh?



We pulled up at the house and Loretta Lynn's music was blasting. OK, so maybe it wasn't blasting, but it was definitely noticeable as we opened the door of the car. 

 

 

 

It was a beautiful country home in the middle of the mountains. We enjoyed standing with Herman by the fence and talking while the horses insisted that he hurry up and feed. He explained how he acquired the horses and we asked questions about the area. We thanked him for the tour and he stuck out his hand to tell us bye. I wanted so badly to grab him up and squeeze him tightly. I regret that I didn't. He was so cute and personable. 

 

 

We took this photo across from the Van Lear Historical Society's museum where we got a tour from the infamous Eli. He had a great handlebar mustache and was very knowledgeable.

  

Then, we made our way from Paintsville over to Pikeville where we did a driving tour of the Hatfield-McCoy feud.  We drove and drove and drove!  We stopped by Dils Cemetary where Randolph "Ranel" McCoy, his wife Sarah and daughter Roseanna were buried.

 



We ended our day with coffee in the dining room at Jenny Wiley.  Due to the incoming storm, we'll be heading out a day early.  We're sad to be departing prematurely but, it's better to be safe than sorry.  Stay tuned for more Thelma and Louise fun in Kentucky!