Central Kentucky
VisitShelbyKY.com; @Visit_ShelbyKY—“About halfway between Louisville and Frankfort, Shelby County and the towns of Shelbyville and Simpsonville offer the best of Kentucky,” says Janette Marson, president and CEO of Visit ShelbyKY. “We have gorgeous horse farms with graceful Saddlebred horses, iconic and delicious Southern food perfected by Colonel Sanders himself, and, of course, bourbon. Shelbyville Conference Center is a wonderful venue for any event, from corporate conferences to private celebrations.” A newer event facility, the conference center offers 16,000 square feet of meeting space, with the largest room accommodating 600 guests theater style or 400 for banquets.
New to Shelby County, the 80-room Fairfield Inn & Suites opened in April 2024. The hotel is 10 minutes from downtown and next door to Talon Winery and Jeptha Creed Distillery, Kentucky’s only mother-and-daughter owned and operated distillery. Jeptha Creed and Bulleit Distillery, two stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, both offer tours, tastings, and special cocktail classes.
Started by the famous Colonel Sanders after he sold his Kentucky Fried Chicken operation to investors, Claudia Sanders Dinner House offers a unique dining experience. “The restaurant still serves the recipe he developed and is a favorite for groups, meetings, and families alike,” Marson says.
Other points of interest include Red Fern Riding Center, offering 60- and 90-minute trail rides, and Little Mount Lavender, a locally owned shop featuring Kentucky-grown lavender products and a café suitable for lunch groups of 25 or fewer.
According to Visit ShelbyKY, there are 650 guest rooms in the county, including hotels, B&Bs, and vacation rentals.
