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The Mountain HomePlace Farm is a 25-acre living history museum and working farm in Staffordsville, Kentucky. As part of Paintsville Lake State Park, it offers visitors the chance to experience what life was like in the 1850s in a serene setting. Discover three fun things to do while you’re here.
1. Walk the Trails
The Mountain HomePlace Farm is a great place to take a walk. From its grounds, you can access several walking and hiking trails. One of the most popular is the 1.6-mile Kiwanis Walking Trail that begins across from the farm’s administrative building. This relatively easy path offers beautiful views of Paintsville Lake and the potential to glimpse wildlife such as deer and wild turkey. The more challenging 6.2-mile Adena Trail winds through the woods and along the lake. If you’re looking for something short and simple, follow the 1-mile loop around the property.
2. Visit the Museum Exhibits
The Mountain HomePlace Farm is best known for its living history museum exhibits. Start your visit by watching a video about the history of Kentucky’s early settlers and browsing the Museum of Appalachian History in the Welcome Center. Then, take a tour around seven original log buildings to learn about 19th-century life in Appalachia and to view demonstrations by actors in authentic costumes.
Notable structures include the McKenzie farmhouse and family cabin, the McKenzie Branch School, the Fish Trap United Baptist Church, a double-crib barn, and the Lemaster Blacksmith Shop. In the 1980s, these buildings were transported from their original locations nearby to save them from being flooded by what would become Paintsville Lake.
Mountain HomePlace is also a working farm that maintains fields, vegetable and herb gardens, and a blacksmith shop at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains. Pause throughout your visit to watch weaving, plowing, cooking, butter-making, crafting, forging, quilting, and animal care, among other chores and demonstrations. Farm animals in residence include horses, donkeys, goats, sheep, chickens, and cats, some of which you can feed — a fun perk for any kids in your party.
Finish your tour with a stop at the gift shop, which sells produce, toys, crafts, and quilts made in an authentic mid-19th-century style. Depending on when you visit, the Mountain HomePlace Farm might be hosting a holiday or an annual event such as the Easter Egg Hunt, Mountain HomePlace Christmas, or Appalachian Craft Days.
3. Catch a Concert
Paintsville is the self-proclaimed Music Capital of Eastern Kentucky. Thus, it should come as no surprise that the Mountain HomePlace Farm is also home to a 700-seat live music venue known as the “In the Pines Amphitheater.” Its construction is part open barn and part Greek amphitheater, and it boasts exceptional natural acoustics. Gospel singers and other performers take to the stage here throughout the year. The site also hosts the annual Red Bud Gospel Sing.
For a unique and educational experience, visit the Mountain HomePlace Farm between April 1 and October 31. It’s located at 745 Kentucky Route 2275 and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Image via Pixabay.com
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