Magical Monticello

Every small town has its own kind of charm and every crow thinks their crow is the blackest; I’m no exception. In classic small town style, Monticello is a two lane, one stoplight town tucked in the outskirts of southcentral Kentucky. And for anyone not from Kentucky that might be conjuring up images of redneck mayhem and skanky Wal-Marts, lay your judgements aside for a moment. Let me introduce you to the magical authentic side of an adventure laden state.

Monticello, Kentucky is situated in a sweet spot where the Appalachian Mountains fade into the fertile farmlands along the Cumberland River, a river that forms one of the largest manmade lakes east of the Mississippi and plays host to summertime memories for millions. At first glance, you may not understand but stay a day or two and you will.

Ask any of our residents about what to do here on a three day weekend and they will tell you to get out on the lake in the days of summer. There is nowhere like Lake Cumberland to instigate discovery and a feeling of being untethered and alive in its purest form. The skies are so HUGE out there, the clouds so white, the people so un-bothersome, and the beer….straight from the cooler and dripping with ice, you’ll never taste a better beer in your life. Paired with a cheeseburger that you grilled right off the back of your own pontoon, with that yellow gooeyness melting over the edge and onto the napkin, the enchanting feel of evening sun warming your skin, the sound of sweet laughter and splashing water, and the blues and greens of the world around you is addictive in every manner. So addictive, you’ll come back again and again, bringing all of your friends and family and even your dogs. Spend a few days with the wind in your hair, the songs on your lips, the midday sunburn on your cheeks and you will call this your home too. And it will be, because that’s how smalltown Kentucky is...welcoming. There’s not many places left on Earth where the beauty is so graceful and the freedom so simple.

Along all that lake shore and into the mountains that begin the formation of the Daniel Boone National Forest are people that build up a community that feels a lot more like family. The county is so large that its landscape varies from end to end and so does the population. With farmers, lake immigrants, and generations of Wayne Countians, you’ll encounter citizens that have roamed the world over and others who have never made it past the county line. But wherever you go, you’re sure to hear a story worth remembering. On the outskirts of the county, you’ll find country churches, bear, wild turkey, rattlesnakes, and swinging bridges stretched across rivers that drift lazily south all day long. Watching your children run across them may well provide you a lifetime favorite memory.

As you venture into town, you may find yourself at a stand-packed Friday night football game on Jewell Field. You may find yourself pulled up to the counter at the City Pool Hall, watching your burger cook down, while the guys place the bun perfectly on top to steam. The ketchup and mustard in those classic plastic squeeze bottles, the old wood floors and the hand lettered pricing on the cakes will make you wonder if you’ve stepped back in time. If you talk to someone and you’re not from the south, you may be greeted with a “Where ya from?” Please answer, it’s just our way of saying, “Hello, we recognize your accent as different, know that you're different, but want to get to know you”. We really really do.

Before you leave, walk through the screen doors at Dunagan’s Store and ask for a hand dipped ice cream cone and wander across the highway to see the huge water wheel on Mill Springs. Take a moment to revel in the fact that you’re standing where Confederate soldiers were once headquartered during the battle of Mill Springs. If you happen to be here in October or November, make sure to drive through one of our many tree-lined roads that almost form a never-ending tunnel of fall foliage. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to peep some combines kicking up dust as they harvest their many perfectly planted rows. Pull over and take a picture, you’ll want to remember this place. I know because this just isn’t any hometown, it’s our hometown.