More than 10,000 visitors a year can’t be wrong — Oldham County’s farm tours are unforgettable. These hands-on experiences are so engaging, they become downright addictive. With Oldham Farm Tours and Oldham Farm Stays, you’ll discover Kentucky horse farms like nowhere else — where touching isn’t just allowed, it’s encouraged! And it doesn’t stop with our five racehorse farms. All 13 of our tours invite you into truly interactive encounters — the kind of “petting zoos for adults” that spark laughter, wonder, and memories you’ll carry long after your Oldham County getaway.
Known as the “Farm Tour Capital of Kentucky,” Oldham County is just 20 minutes from downtown Louisville and a quick hour from Cincinnati along I-71, making it the perfect alternative to staying in the city. It’s the only spot in the state where you can book a hands-on farm tour, dine in a horse barn turned restaurant, enjoy bourbon on the farm, and spend the night in a B&B on a working horse farm. Picture this: a chef-prepared, farm-to-table dinner served inside an authentic racehorse stall. You won’t find a more authentic Kentucky experience — because you’ll only find it here, in Oldham County.
Farm Tour Capital of Kentucky
Plan ahead — one farm tour is never enough – and some have bourbon! After your first taste of our tours, you’ll be ready to dive into another one the very same day. Hand-feed friendly animals, pluck gourmet vegetables straight from the soil on a Foodie Farm Tour, wander through blooming trails at botanical gardens, milk a cow, or rumble into a herd of Kentucky bison. Every experience blends fun with discovery, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the horse industry, the farm-to-table movement, and forward-thinking green initiatives in gardening, conservation, and sustainability. And new in 2025, Oldham County proudly features two stops on the Kentucky Garden Trail!
Farms, Farms and More Farms
One of Oldham County’s most sought-after farm tours is Windy Meadows Horse Farm — available for groups of 10 or more when booked through Oldham County Tourism. If the scenery looks familiar, it’s because Hollywood has been here: Windy Meadows has starred in Hallmark’s® The Ultimate Legacy with Raquel Welch, J.L. Family Ranch with Jon Voight and Melanie Griffith, and Orphan Horse. Beyond the bright lights, this farm is home to horses of every breed, each with a story to tell. On this tour, you don’t just look — you step right into the rhythm of life on a real Kentucky horse farm.
At Second Stride Retired Racehorse Farm, every horse has a story — and a second chance. This inspiring tour gives visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the transition thoroughbreds make once their racing careers are over. You’ll meet the noble athletes who once thundered down Kentucky tracks and now begin training for new paths — from therapy programs to second careers in riding and beyond. Guides share fascinating details about each horse’s journey, making it both educational and deeply personal. Guests are encouraged to bring peppermints and carrots, creating unforgettable moments as these gentle giants nuzzle in for a treat. It’s not just a tour — it’s a heartfelt glimpse into Kentucky’s equine legacy, past, present, and future.
Sanctuary Farm at Chestnut Hall is where history, heritage, and horse rescue come together. This breathtaking estate — a historic home now owned by an Oldham County resident and the CEO of Churchill Downs — is the only Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation farm open to the public. Here, retired racehorses live out their days in peace, surrounded by rolling pastures and centuries-old trees. Visitors are invited to tour the historic grounds, step inside the stately home, and connect with the horses whose racing days are behind them but whose stories continue to inspire. It’s a powerful blend of Oldham County history and Kentucky’s deep equine traditions, offering an experience you won’t find anywhere else.
Oldham’s Thoroughbred Training Center
Highpointe Training Center is where Kentucky’s future champions are made. This premier equine facility in Oldham County gives visitors a rare behind-the-scenes look at the training grounds of thoroughbred racing. Guests can watch young horses work out on the track, meet trainers, and learn what it takes to prepare these athletes for the sport’s biggest stages. It’s a hands-on, insider’s glimpse into the heart of Kentucky’s horse industry — an experience that leaves visitors in awe of both the horses and the people who shape their journeys.
From Pastures to Parties and Pantries
Historic Ashbourne Farms is where Kentucky’s agricultural roots meet modern hospitality on this foodie farm! This working beef cattle farm delivers a true farm-to-table experience, complete with Haymarket — a gourmet market brimming with fresh, local products. But Ashbourne is more than pastures and produce. At its heart is one of the region’s most stunning event barns, an architectural showpiece that sets the stage for concerts, weddings, and private celebrations. Now part of Oldham County’s farm tour offerings, Ashbourne invites guests to explore its rolling farmland, taste its culinary contributions to local restaurants and its market, and experience the elegance of its event spaces — a blend found only in Oldham County.
Follow the trail of giant green rabbits and hot pink snails, and you’ll know you’ve arrived at Woodland Bison Farm. Nestled along the Ohio River, this tour takes you right into the action — riding by wagon straight through a herd of Kentucky bison. Along the way, you’ll discover how the farm supplies gourmet organic produce to high-end hotels and raises bison sustainably for the Kentucky Bison Company. Before you leave, stop by the farm store to take home bison, pork, eggs, and fresh produce — a true taste of Oldham County straight from the source.
Learn the art of craft distilling and the use of locally grown grains on an interactive tour of the Kentucky Craft Bourbon Trail’s Kentucky Artisan Distillery, home of Jefferson’s Bourbons, Whiskey Row and Whiskey Row’s Bottle-in-Bond. Every tour offers a behind-the-scenes view of the process, including a rare visit to the actual lab where the experiments of Jefferson’s founder and master blender, Trey Zoeller, come to life. You don’t have to like bourbon to enjoy this fascinating tour with distilling antiques galore and bourbon tastings like no other. Don’t miss the Kentucky Artisan Clubhouse and Thieving Experience, where you fill your own bottle straight from the barrel – one of the few places in Kentucky to do it!
Lush Gardens & Native Habitats
Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve is 170 acres of outdoor wonder, where families can explore nature at its most inviting. Little ones can toddle through a magical forest play area after a stop at the natural history museum, while older kids and adults set out on nine miles of wooded trails and meadows along spring-fed creeks. Highlights include a frog pond, waterfalls, a bird blind, a new two-acre woodland garden, picnic spots, and even overnight camping. It’s a place where every turn invites discovery — a preserve designed to connect all ages with the sights, sounds, and serenity of Kentucky’s great outdoors.
See the stone castle rising over Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, a nationally recognized center of gardening and sustainable horticulture. Visitors will find extensive display gardens, as well as have their pick of educational programs and family-oriented community events, such as cooking classes and Boo Dell at Yew Dell! Don’t miss Yew Dell’s new, Martha Lee’s Café, an outdoor café with an awesome view of the castle! Another hidden gem on the same street is 3rd Turn Oldham Gardens, Kentucky’s largest beer garden.
Rare Kentucky Dairy with Artisan Cheeses
Got milk? Harvest Home Dairy does — and plenty of it comes with a side of charm. This family-run dairy farm is known for its award-winning artisan cheeses, yogurt, and unforgettable hands-on tours. Visitors can watch the daily rhythm of farm life unfold, learning why happy cows really do give more milk. The best time to visit? When there are baby calves to feed and cuddle. Guests might even get the chance to try their hand at milking, making for a true “only in Kentucky” memory. It’s farm-to-table education wrapped in down-home hospitality.
Historic Racehorse Farms
Hermitage Farm is a world-class name in Kentucky horse history, with roots stretching back to the 1800s. This storied farm is one of the few to raise a Triple Crown winner and has even welcomed Queen Elizabeth herself during her Kentucky visit. Today, Hermitage blends tradition with innovation. Its Barn8 Restaurant & Bourbon Bar — the only farm-to-table dining experience in a horse barn in Kentucky — lets guests savor locally sourced cuisine and bourbon cocktails surrounded by equine history. The farm still serves as a nursery for racing’s future champions, having produced more than 200 Stakes winners, including Derby, Oaks, and Breeders’ Cup legends. Visitors can wander its grounds, meet mares and foals, and explore the Carriage Driving Museum, where rare treasures like the carriage from Gone with the Wind bring another layer of heritage to life.
Rest Your Head on the Farm – Equine Bed & Breakfasts
After a day on the farm, why not spend the night on one? Oldham County’s equine bed & breakfasts offer more than a place to stay — they’re an experience all their own. At Bluegrass Country Estate, you’ll be greeted by a life-sized bronze statue of a mare and colt before settling into a luxurious 9-acre retreat designed with horse lovers in mind. The Inn at Spring Run Farm charms with ash floors and log walls that echo Kentucky’s heritage, while Pillow and Paddock Bed & Breakfast delivers cozy elegance just minutes from La Grange. All three have earned “Google Favorite Place” recognition, and each offers a unique way to wake up to Kentucky’s farm life. Pair them with Oldham’s many vacation rental homes, each with personality and story, and you’ll find rest comes with as much character as the tours themselves.
Plan Your Trip
Ready to touch the memories? Oldham County’s farm tours and farm stays bring you closer to Kentucky than you ever imagined — from horses and bison to bourbon, gardens, and gourmet flavors. Pair your visit with nearby attractions in the Bourbon, Horses & History Region, including the Kentucky Derby Museum, Louisville Slugger Museum, the Ark Encounter, and the Belle of Louisville.
Start planning by visiting TourOldham.com for details. Be sure to stop by the Oldham County Visitor Center inside The Maples Park at 6828 W. State Highway 22 in Crestwood to uncover even more hidden gems waiting for you. Because the best of Kentucky? You’ll find it only in Oldham.
