LAWRENCEBURG, KY. — It felt truly like fall in the windy, warm climate of Kentucky.
For those currently living in Atlanta who want to get away from the humidity, heat, or even the bipolar weather that the fall months bring, Kentucky is the right place.
The Atlanta Voice explored what Kentucky offers visitors.
Beginning in Lawrenceburg, the first destination was Little Crooked Creek Safari, a 23-acre interactive animal sanctuary tucked into the countryside. The facility, owned by Eric Swisher, invites arms-length engagement with sloths, capybaras, baby zebras, camels, and more. Visitors traverse the grounds to feed and pet the animals.
While some tours only offer passive observation, Little Crooked Creek emphasizes education. Guests receive not only the experience of being eye to eye with exotic species, such as the baby Nyala antelope from Africa, but also context on how those animals originated and adapted to their environments.
After the safari, the group visited downtown Lawrenceburg, to look at the local establishments. At Southern Olive, owner Robert Gresham poured tastings from a collection of some 75 oils and vinegars, such as the Tuscan herb olive and the coconut white balsamic, to name a few. “My goal is to find things that make folks’ lives a little bit better,” Gresham said, explaining how flavor and small pleasures guide his business philosophy.
Dinner followed at Columbian Corner, a cozy, family-run restaurant known locally for its warm service and authentic Colombian menu.
The night ended at the Wild Turkey Visitors Center, where the group gathered around a fire pit overlooking bourbon barrels under the night sky. Cocktails made with Wild Turkey accompanied a storytelling session led by Jeff Waldridge, the local ghost historian and paranormal guide. He shared legends tied to Lawrenceburg’s Haunted Hotel and courthouse, recounting ghost tours he hosts through the fall season.
The dark tourism industry was valued at $31.89 billion dollars in 2023, by Grand View Research.
In 2024, Kentucky’s tourism industry generated an estimated $14.3 billion in total economic impact, per The Lane Report. This is up from $13.8 billion in 2023.