For many travelers, Versailles, Kentucky (population 10,656), is a small town they pass on the drive between Louisville and Lexington. But a lucky few know the secret that’s hiding just off Versailles Road—a landmark in this tucked-away town that is very worthy of a detour. Prepare to step inside The Kentucky Castle.
The History of The Kentucky Castle
If you’ve watched an episode of The Gilded Age or Downton Abbey, you might be aware that even the most polished properties have drama hiding inside. And this castle is no different.
Beginning in 1969, the property was designed and constructed as a personal residence made to resemble the historic castles Caroline and Rex Martin witnessed during their European honeymoon. Unfortunately, the Martin’s marriage came to an end—and so did the continued construction on the palatial building, reveals Christie Eckerline, chief operating officer for The Kentucky Castle. The property was put up for sale, but went unsold for many years.
Eventually, an investor purchased the castle and continued the construction until it caught fire in 2004, burning the main building to the ground. But it rose from the ashes, and a dedicated team worked to rebuild it. It opened its doors to the public as “Castle Post” in 2008 and was run as an event venue and bed-and-breakfast for nine years.
In 2017, the property was sold to a new group of investors who renamed it “The Kentucky Castle.” At this point, the building began to transform into the luxury destination it is today, complete with a spa, on-site farm-to-table restaurant Castle Farm, sweeping gardens, and a hotel.
A couple of years ago, an investment group led by Wes Henderson (co-founder of True Story and Angel’s Envy), came in as owners of the property. Much remains the same, just with more bourbon-centric experiences available than ever before.
The Best Ways to Experience The Kentucky Castle
“The Kentucky Castle honors its storied past while evolving as a premier destination for luxury experiences, with a commitment to share the very best of Kentucky,” Eckerline tells Southern Living. “After being inaccessible to the public for decades, we like to use our venue not just as a place for celebration, but also as a vehicle for good within our community.”
Ahead, three of the best reasons to visit.
Attend an Event
In addition to recurring events like murder mystery dinners, afternoon teas, castle tours, and you-pick flower garden outings, visitors can attend one of the numerous non-profit events the castle hosts each year. If you’d like to celebrate the state’s signature spirit, plan a visit during March for the annual Bourbon Market with seminars, tastings from a variety of Kentucky distilleries, and live music.
The Kentucky Castle
Throughout the year, the castle also welcomes students from nearby towns to tour the farm and gardens.
Eckerline says that if she could could only recommend one event to attend, it would be the Lavender Festival, which runs each June when the castle’s showy lavender fields are in full bloom. If you happen to miss the specific celebration, the fun continues throughout the year, as the homegrown lavender is incorporated into spa treatments and cocktails. It’s also emblazoned on the label for a special-edition bottle of The Kentucky Castle’s single barrel bourbon.
Book a Room
If you’ve ever wanted to say you’ve slept inside a castle, this Versailles venue can make that a reality. Since July 2017, the castle has been hosting “sleepovers;” welcoming hotel guests who can stay in the main building or a cabin, farmhouse, or tiny home just steps away.
The Kentucky Castle
Although spending a night in the castle itself is pretty epic, you can’t go wrong with any of the accommodations, Eckerline confirms. The stand-alone spaces “offer guests a different experience than staying within the castle’s walls, where they are able to immerse themselves in the wonders of our farm and garden,” Eckerline says.
Related: Head To The Heart Of The Bluegrass State For More Than Just Bourbon
Dine at the Restaurant
Despite its beautiful appearance, the garden isn’t just for looks. In fact, during peak growing season, the fruit and vegetable plots supply 95% of the produce featured on the menu at Castle Farm restaurant. Eckerline tells us “our chefs work with the students in the teaching garden to develop the garden each year to ensure that they are growing items we can showcase in our restaurant, such as tomatoes, different squashes, lettuce, asparagus, and more.”
The Kentucky Castle
As of summer 2025, Castle Farm has a new leader: executive chef Tim Smalley. The Kentucky native has lived and worked outside of the state, and is proud to be back to blend global influences and flavors with Kentucky classics…including bourbon, of course.
The menu changes seasonally, but some staples always remain, including the filet, salmon, and fried chicken. Visit for brunch for a bacon-and-black-cherry grilled cheese or chicken and waffles with bourbon maple syrup, or swing by for dinner to try the homemade bread and the brand-new pimiento cheese appetizer.
Since we’re on a quest to make our best pimiento cheese even better, we couldn’t resist asking Smalley for his secrets before we got back on the road. While he shied away from revealing all of his secrets for the in-demand appetizer, Smalley confirms that “simplicity is key.” Start with high-quality ingredients, including roasted pimientos and Tillamook cheddar cheese, and allow them to shine. (Just like this castle now does.)
Read the original article on Southern Living