You can purchase online at This Link. You will receive an email confirmation, and we can also send a postal mail or email you a nice Certificate to give. Contact us for more information.
Mary Elizabeth Priest 1937-2021
In Memorial
Mary Elizabeth Priest
Innkeeper Extraordinaire
1937 – 2021
Her passion was hospitality. She had everything to make your stay in Henderson, Kentucky, memorable. Her collections of dishes, tablecloths, placemats, bed linens, furniture, and local memorabilia go unmatched. Her simple breakfast foods were delicious.
Her traditions and hospitality live on for future visitors to this great city, Henderson, KY.
Read her complete obituary here.
18 Things To Do while in Henderson Kentucky -Spend the Night in Henderson
This new year, there are just as many new and exciting things to do as there are traditional Henderson activities. If you are looking for places to explore, fun events, new food, and ways get your family up and outdoors, this is the perfect guide.
Attend a Festival:
- The W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue Festival (unfortunaltey we are booked for 2018) is held for 4 days in June. It has become one of the largest free music festivals in the nation, and celebrates the life and legacy of Henderson native W. C. Handy through lots of music, food, and good company!
- The Sandy Lee Watkins Songwriters Festival held in July showcases some of Nashville’s biggest singer/songwriters through intimate acoustic performances. It creates an up-close experience for attendees, along with a chance for them to learn the stories of how and why from the songwriters themselves.
- Bluegrass in the Park, held in August, features live bluegrass music, food, folklife displays, children’s activities, and more.
Learn About Our History (along with yours!):
- Visit the John James Audubon Museum and State Park for one of their arts and crafts events, workshops, trail tours, or unique exhibits!
- Visit the Community Room to see the exhibited history of Henderson, or attend one of their walking tours, such as Taste of Henderson, Fernwood Cemetery, or Bird Statue Tour.
- Research your roots in Henderson through the Historical & Genealogical Society. You can find information such as bible records, churches, census records, cemeteries, family pages and a brief history of The Depot.
Venture Outdoors:
- Go canoeing through the Sloughs Wildlife Management Area. Divided into wetlands, woodlands, ridges, and open fields, this area is the perfect spot for fishermen, campers, hikers, and nature enthusiasts. Visit https://www.techiecamper.org for all your camping gear reviews.
- Enjoy live racing from early July through Labor Day at Ellis Park Race Course, or attend one of their special events such as wiener dog races, ostrich races, and camel races.
- Explore Henderson’s nature scenes by taking a walk on the Atkinson Park Riverwalk, through the Sandy Lee Watkins Community Park, or visit the Audubon Wetlands Boardwalk. During the spring and summer, this trail has the best up-close views of wetland wildlife.
Explore Art & Culture:
- Check out the OVAL Gallery at The Citi Center Building is a myriad of yearly exhibits that include fine arts, fiber works, mixed media, and photography.
- Visit the Rotunda Gallery located on the top floor of the library is a historic space that offers rotating nature and art exhibits.
- See a live performance at the Preston Arts Center at HCC. Top vocalists, children’s science shows, and many other exciting shows visit each season.
Try New Flavors:
- Have a date night at Farmer and Frenchman Winery, where you can dine on the deck, sample wines, and see the fully refurbished 1940’s tobacco barn.
- Visit the Henderson Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds from May-October. It is the place to go for fresh produce, local honey, delicious jams, and more!
- Try different local restaurants in our ever-growing food community. Here, you can find a taste of everything from barbecue, seafood, sandwiches, and ethnic cuisine.
Treat yourself:
- If you’re looking for a new piece of furniture to put the finishing touch on your home, visit Alles Brothers Furniture Company who has been furnishing Henderson homes for 115 years.
- Handmade soaps and lotions are a couple of sweet-smelling ways to treat yourself. Lucia Soaps Etc LLC is the hot spot for local, handmade soaps and lotions!
- If furniture and soaps don’t hit the spot, there are lots of local boutiques and shops that are guaranteed to do the job. The Gold Mine, J Petals Flower Shop & Gifts, Paisley’s, Sweet Peas Gift Shop, Third Street House, Tip Top Design Company, and Victoria’s Boutique are some of the boutiques and shops that Henderson has to offer.
Henderson is home to a number of special events and unique activities year round. For more information on the latest happenings and can’t-miss experiences, check out our community calendar, and be sure to check it throughout the year for new and updated events.
Book a stay at the L&N Bed and Breakfast.
Blog produced by Henderson County Tourist Commission
There’s no substitute for community, and Henderson KY is a sweet one to come home to.
Homecoming and True Community
By Mike Morgan, Fishers, Indiana
There’s no substitute for community, and Henderson is a sweet one to come home to.
My wife Stacy and I recently spent an especially sweet three-day weekend in Henderson to reconnect with old friends and familiar places. I was born here in 1960 and lived here until I left for college at Western Kentucky. My dad was a popular veterinarian here for decades—Dr. Morgan, on South Green Street and later on Old Corydon Road. I am proud to be known here mainly as the son of James and Clare, because they were so appreciated by this community. They both passed away years ago, and my brother Jim and sister Lyn live in North Carolina. With no more family to visit here, it had been more than a decade since I’d been home. So it was with fresh and grateful eyes that I was able to visit my hometown on Oct. 18-20 and take in both what Henderson was to me and what it has become.
Clean and Spacious
It was great to see that the town has been well maintained even through the economic downturn. The streets are clean and so very wide (you forget how special that is when you’re away). The buildings present politely, even the empty ones as they quietly wait for their next assignments.
Stacy and I both felt as though the town has turned a corner. Eleven years ago, what I noticed was pawn shops. Today, public works like the lovely Riverwalk, the tasteful Judicial Center, the massive expansion of the high school, and the Depot on Water Street (made me smile—old train station’s MiniMe!) prove that the town is not stuck in time. Selfishly, I wanted to find a little bit of stuck; I drove in wanting to lay eyes on places and buildings just as I remembered them when I tooled down Green Street in my ‘76 Maverick, feeling as if I owned the town. I did find plenty of scenes that had hardly changed at all; but between your progress and my imperfect memory, I found several nice surprises around the town.
We spent rich hours of conversation one-on-one with friends from the HCHS class of ’78—Doug Bobo, Kenny Perkins, Pastor Russell Wood–and with Glenda Guess, who has the distinction of being the only teacher who ever sat on my lap. (I was playing Santa Claus in a play at North Junior High. It was perfectly innocent.) We visited First Methodist Church Sunday morning and sat in the very same just-right-of-center pew where my family sat for decades. But perhaps the highlight was returning to the home and farm on Old Corydon Road to find it well cared for by a sweet couple who moved here from Fishers, the town where we now live near Indianapolis, and are nearing the end of a two-year remodeling project. The 1967 house that Jimmy Bethel designed for James and Clare has a new future, and the farm has become a busy equestrian center with plenty of riders and boarders. We couples chattered for nearly two hours about the history of the property and all the surprising things our families have in common, now including the old Hilltop Haven Farm.
Real and Virtual Communities
What has struck me about this weekend is that true community is something that evolves over time, requires early and patient investment, and as they say in prize drawings, you must be present to win. I could not have arranged this weekend without the internet and Facebook—it’s how I knew which of my high school friends are still in town, and it’s how we found Norris and Mary Elizabeth Priest’s lovely bed-and-breakfast. (How often is one served eggs, bacon, and slight-of-hand on the same menu?) But that virtual community is, at best, an enhancement to the real one. I hope we 21st-century people will all figure this out someday, but I saw it clearly this weekend: the people you befriend online can never become a substitute for a real community, like the one that Henderson was to me in my youth and that opened its arms to me again this Autumn.
The note I’ve taken: real community is the product of history, memory, friendship, and progress, and so I thank you for delivering so richly on all fronts so I could reconnect with Henderson in so sweet and poignant a way.
Fall Events in Henderson KY (2017)
See all the autumn-inspired events and festivities across Henderson County. Come and spend the weekend (or weekday) with us. You can check our availability online here.
Ellis Park Pumpkin Fest
Ellis Park isn’t just for horsing around! This fall, every Friday through Sunday until October 31, Pumpkin Fest at Ellis Park is open for business. Your general admission ticket comes with lots of fun activities like hayrides, a straw maze, and inflatables for the kiddos. Admission is free for kids ages 2 and under, ages 3 to 11 costs $7, and admission for ages 12 and above is $9. Make sure to bring cash for entrance into the event. Discounts are available for groups if you call in advance! Hours of operation begin at 3 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and the event runs until the sun goes down. Pumpkins and fun all day long!
Cates Farm
A family tradition with all your favorite fall and farm activities! This year’s events include an 11-acre corn maze, 12 acres of pumpkins, hayrides, bonfires, and games. A general admission ticket includes a hayride, a corn maze, the pumpkin patch and all the activity areas, all for $7 for children ages 3 to 11 and $9 for children ages 12 to adult. The 2017 season is open on Fridays from 4 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 7 p.m. until October 31. Group rates are available for field trips, birthday parties, church groups, company picnics, and class reunions. Must call in advance to schedule these and other events.
Farmer’s Market
Say goodbye to sweet summer garden produce and say hello to fall flavors! Fall Farmer’s Market products include pumpkins, gourds, straw, corn stalks and edible fall squash. Head on out to the Henderson County Fairgrounds on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 381 Sam Ball Way. Freedom Park playground is right beside the Farmer’s Market, so bring the kids and make a day of it!
Highway 60 Yard Sale
Avid bargain hunters from all over will be flocking to Kentucky for the famous 400-mile yard sale that stretches from east to west along Highway 60. From sunup to sundown during October 5 through 8, take a drive down country roads to see what interesting deals you can find.
Lion’s Club Arts & Crafts Festival
Another outdoor market event that draws in thousands of people is the annual Arts & Crafts Festival at Audubon State Park going on October 7 and 8. The festival brings in over 100 unique vendors. Woodworking, artistic items, weaving, seasonal decor, quilts, handmade, and let’s not forget kettle corn and all the other tasty treats! It’s a great time to buy one-of-a-kind gifts for the holidays, and to watch artisans at work! Wooden statues made from chainsaw artists are a favorite of festival-goers. Admission is free, but you’ll need cash for parking.
Terror on the Trail
Looking for a more frightening outing that also supports a good cause? The 11th annual Terror on the Trail is full of scary goblins and ghouls. Two nights of thrilling fun on October 20 and 21, beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 a piece and worth every penny, as the proceeds of the event go towards kids with medical expenses. This year’s recipients are Erich Gilbert, a freshman in high school with cerebral palsy who is wheelchair bound, and Adeline Grace, the 8-week-old daughter of Brad and Whitney Alsup. The proceeds will go to helping with the purchase of van lift for Erich’s family and for an aortic correction surgery for Adeline which she will need when she reaches 6 to 8 months of age. These two families in need could use your support, and you’re in for a spooktacular time at Terror on the Trail!
Spooks & Legends Haunted Tour
The Depot Community Room’s most popular tour of the year, the Spooks and Legends Haunted Tour, is set for Saturday, October 28. Listen to these eyebrow-raising stories of actual people that lived in Henderson centuries ago! You will find yourself trapped in the plots of murder mysteries, haunted buildings, crimes that might just make your skin crawl! This tour is based on actual people and events that are recorded in Henderson’s History. Two walking tours will operate on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the Depot Community Room at 101 North Water Street.
Downtown Trick-or-Treat
Don’t forget to take the kids out for to do what they love doing most, collecting candy! As always, trick-or-treating will take place in downtown Henderson from 3 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. After the trick-or-treat, make your way to your favorite Halloween party, including community activities at Henderson General Baptist Church, First United Methodist Church, and Community Baptist Church.
Kentucky Bed and Breakfast Association Facebook Photo Contest
Stay at a BBAK Member B&B, take a selfie, and post to BBAK’s Facebook Page for monthly drawings for Gift Certificates to stay at B&Bs, plus a GRAND PRIZE 2-Night B&B Getaway. Photo entries accepted through July 31, 2018
Click to see the B&B Members in Kentucky
BBAK Hospitality Service Awards:
VOTE for your Favorite ALL-Star B&B in the following areas:
Favorite for Overall Hospitality & Service
Favorite for Amenities
Favorite Breakfast
Favorite Desserts
Favorite Innkeepers
Favorite B&B for Grounds & Gardens
Favorite Interior Design & Decorating
Favorite Romantic B&B
Favorite B&B Farmstay
Favorite Historic B&B
Favorite Urban B&B
Favorite for Architecture
Favorite Wedding Destination
Favorite for B&B Packages & Concierge Service
Favorite Themed-B&B
Favorite Family Friendly
Favorite Pet Friendly
Favorite for Girlfriend Getaways
Favorite for Retreats
Favorite for Spa Services
* Vote and be entered to WIN a $250 BBAK Gift Certificate. Vote NOW through December 31, 2017. Limit 1 entry per person.
Simply indicate your favorite B&Bs related to award categories and email to info@kentuckybb.com
10 Reasons to Walk or Run in Downtown Henderson KY
The L&N Bed and Breakfast located less than one block from the Henderson KY Riverfront Walking Trails is perfect for walking and or running. Our local tourism commission produced this article telling us how visitors and residents in our community can use this trail. Check our availability!
The River Walk is not only great for walking, it’s great for running too! From the Henderson Welcome Center at the Depot building, all the way to the end of the River Walk equals about2.5 miles So there are many ways you can mix up your running route to equal the length of a 5K (3.1 miles).
Here are some reasons why training for a 5K on the River Walk is more fun than training on your average gym treadmill.
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Scenic View – The River Walk winds through miles of parks and green space and has some of the best views of the Ohio River. You’ll never be bored looking at all the scenery!
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Diverse Elevation – The River Walk route has lots of flat terrain, gentle sloping hills, and a few short inclines and declines that will give you a good work out. If you come upon any surprise terrain during your 5K races, at least your muscles will be able to handle the hills!
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Lighted Path at Night – Only able to train after work? There’s about a mile of pathway on the River Walk (from 7th Street to 12th Street) that has lighting lining the path, making the River Walk a perfect option for runners who like to train after the sun goes down.
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Safe Pathways – The River Walk is for pedestrian traffic only, which means you’re safe from cyclers. Also, the River Walk is paved and wider than your average sidewalk giving you plenty of room to run!
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Downtown Detour – If you want to switch up your running route, the River Walk is just a few blocks away from historic Main Street. You can easily take a detour from your usual route to look at all the beautiful Mani Street homes. Main Street is very wide, so there is plenty of room for runners, walkers, and bikers. Main Street is bike-friendly with marked bike lanes for cyclers.
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Take a Break! – Feeling a little tuckered out? There are plenty of benches and places to rest along the River Walk. There are also shade trees and playgrounds as you near Atkinson Park.
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No Need to Bring a Water Bottle – Another great reason to train on the River Walk is that there are several drinking fountains scattered along the route. So there’s no need to awkwardly run with a water bottle in your hand. Do take note, though, that the water fountains are turned off during winter. Another fun fact: some of these water fountains also have a drinking spout for dogs, too! Which brings us to our next tip…
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Popular With Pups – The River Walk is an active spot for dog walkers of all kinds. If you enjoy furry smiles and stealing a quick pet from a pooch on your runs, the River Walk is the place to go!
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Plenty of Parking – The River Walk is easy to get to with several different places to park your car along the 2.5 mile route. Or if you are looking for a scenic route on your drive home, turn left at the corner of 12th Street and Merritt Drive (near the hospital), and you will get an awesome view of the River Walk on your drive home.
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Vibrant Downtown – The River Walk winds through many popular spots where locals like to meet up. It’s super easy to meet up with friends in one of the five parks that the River Walk runs along. It’s also convenient to be near downtown Henderson where you can watch the active railroad train bridge and riverfront water fountain display in the summer, swing by some stores to shop local, or grab a bite to eat and drinks after your workout.
[Read more…]
Henderson Recognized in Kentucky Living Magazine’s 2017 Best in Kentucky Awards
Henderson, KY (August 25, 2017) – The winners of Kentucky Living magazine’s seventh annual Best in Kentucky Awards were announced yesterday at the Kentucky State Fair. Several tourist attractions in Henderson County were recognized at the awards ceremony. The following winners were announced:
1st Place in Best Music Festival – W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue Festival
2nd Place in Best Antique Store – The Elm Street Consignments & More
3rd Place in Best Winery in Kentucky – Farmer & Frenchman Winery
3rd Place in Best Historic Site – John James Audubon State Park
3rd Place in Best Place to Hike – John James Audubon State Park
3rd Place in Best Barbecue – J&B Barbecue
Henderson County was recognized in ten categories in 2016 Best in Kentucky Awards. This is the second year in a row that the W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival was the first-place winner in Best Music Festival in Kentucky category.
The winners of 2017 Best in Kentucky Awards will be recognized in an upcoming print edition of Kentucky Living Magazine. Kentucky Living Magazine is the largest circulated publication in the state of Kentucky, with over 475,000 magazines in circulation and reaching about 1 million readers.
Kentucky’s tourism industry had a $14.5 billion impact on the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 2016. In Henderson County, tourist spending generated $63,550,037 in direct tourist spending.
For more information about the Best in Kentucky Awards, please visit www.kentuckylving.com. For more information on the economic impact of tourism in Kentucky, visit www.kentuckytourism.com.
Looking for a Anniversary and Reunion Get-a-ways?
Why not stay with us and we’ll save you a parking space!
July and August are great months for a surprise your significant other with a stay at the L&N Bed and Breakfast. We’ve noticed that many couples are booking accommodations with us to take advantage of the relaxed and easy lifestyle of our great river town, Henderson, Kentucky has to offer. Come for a night, a weekend or a full week stay and enjoy southern hospitality at its best in a relaxed, turn of the century home filled with L&N railroad memorabilia.
We offer 4 bedrooms with 4 private baths, (two queen suites, one double, and one with twin beds). There are spacious living and dining rooms for relaxing and getting to know other guests. The kitchen offers soft drinks, coffee, teas and bottled water for your enjoyment. Breakfast is served daily either next door at the Priests’ home or at the river house located at 330 N Water Street (where guests can dine on the verandah weather permitting) with spacious views of the mighty Ohio River.
Here are some suggestions for to do’s while visiting L&N and Henderson, Kentucky.
Dining Suggestions (see our Eat’s Page)
(Local area restaurant menus are located in a basket next to the desk in the living room)
Just a few highlights
Farmer & Frenchman
Rookies-walkable
CKB-walkable
Wolfs Rockhouse-walkable
Activities
A sunrise or sunset stroll on the Riverwalk
John James Audubon Park
Shopping in downtown Henderson-Alles, Simons, J’Petals, Just Chic
August, September, and October are perfect months to visit L&N with your loved one. Let us make your stay extra special by having your room filled with flowers, a cake, wine or champagne, chocolates and/or fruit. Contact us for details and pricing.
Whether you’re looking for a quiet relaxing getaway or to enjoy some great food and music L&N Bed and Breakfast can help make your stay in our beautiful river city extra special. We’re two hours from Nashville and Louisville and just a hop, skip or jump from you so come check out our beautiful and best-kept secret in Henderson.
We’re located beside an active railroad with over 50 trains at all hours of the day, so let the trains lull you into a deep slumber.
For booking and availability please see lnbbky.com/reservations or phone us at 270.831.1100 our reservation staff will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
We also have room for small events. See our event rental page!
Henderson County High School Class of 1966
One of our all-time favorite types of guests is those that come back to Henderson KY for a coveted class reunion.
This weekend we were fortunate to accommodate a full house here for the 50th Class Reunion of Henderson County High School.
Here they are enjoying Mary Elizabeth’s famous cooked oatmeal. We have guest rave about this stuff!
Come back home and visit #HendersonKY. We will leave a light on for you and put a key out!
Online Reservations: www.lnbbky.com/reservations