Old Frankfort Pike Historic and Scenic Byway: Kentucky’s Bluegrass Heritage Drive
The Old Frankfort Pike Historic and Scenic Byway is one of Kentucky’s most distinctive drives—a 15.5-mile stretch of Kentucky Route 1681 that carries travelers from urban Lexington through the heart of the Bluegrass region toward the state capital of Frankfort. Once a colonial-era toll road (or turnpike) built between 1775 and 1780, the route predates Kentucky statehood and remains a living corridor of history, thoroughbred horse farms, limestone pastures, and classic stone fencing.
Designated a National Scenic Byway in 2021 (after earlier state scenic byway recognition in the 1990s), Old Frankfort Pike showcases some of the best-preserved phosphate-rich limestone pastures and dry-laid stone walls in the region. The drive passes world-famous Thoroughbred farms, many open for touring, including Airdrie Stud, WinStar Farm, Lane’s End, and Three Chimneys, while also touching Kentucky Bourbon country and offering outdoor recreation along nearby rivers and forest trails.
A Drive Through Living History and the Bluegrass Landscape
Starting in Lexington (Fayette County), the byway travels northwest through fertile fields, tree-lined lanes, and rolling pastures that define the Bluegrass. Along the way, visitors encounter archaeological, cultural, and historical sites as well as opportunities for hiking and watersports.
Key stops and experiences include:
McConnell Springs Park — Near the start of the Pike, this 26-acre nature sanctuary marks the 1775 campsite of frontier surveyors who named the area “Lexington” after hearing news of the American Revolution’s first battles. Trails with boardwalks are accessible for strollers and mobility devices. Highlights include artisan springs such as “The Blue Hole,” “The Boils,” and “The Final Sink,” plus a 250-year-old Bur Oak tree and a visitor center with exhibits.
Learn more about McConnell Springs – https://www.kentuckytourism.com/explore/mcconnell-springs-997
Secretariat Statue Overlook — At the intersection of Old Frankfort Pike and Alexandria Drive, a scenic overlook and roundabout feature a statue of the 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, offering expansive views of the surrounding landscape.
Exploring the Historic Districts Along Old Frankfort Pike
West Fayette Rural Historic District
This 4,000-acre landscape, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, includes 15 historic Thoroughbred farms and the iconic **Keeneland Racecourse**, a National Historic Landmark. Visitors can attend races, watch morning workouts, tour the grounds, or experience horse auctions. Nearby landmarks include Calumet Farm and Idle Hour Stock Farm (now part of Darby Dan and other properties). The district reflects settlement, agriculture, and domestic architecture dating to the 1790s.
Visit Keeneland – https://www.keeneland.com/
Big Sink Rural Historic District
Named for the area’s distinctive karst geology, this district features hundreds of historic structures—19th-century stock barns, tobacco barns, springhouses, and early-20th-century farmhouses—set amid rolling pastures, stone fences, sinking springs, and caves. The unique terrain supports the region’s renowned thoroughbred breeding operations and open-field views.
Pisgah Rural Historic District
Settled in the late 1700s when Kentucky was still part of Virginia, Pisgah is home to the first Presbyterian Church west of the Appalachians (est. 1784) and nearby Mount Vernon Baptist Church (est. 1822). Dry-laid limestone walls and historic cemeteries remain visible. Early farmers raised crops, livestock, and maple syrup on the fertile soils that still define the landscape. WinStar Farm is among the notable thoroughbred operations here.
Nugent’s Crossroad Historic District
At the junction of Old Frankfort Pike and Midway Road, this district preserves pioneer-era buildings. The Offutt-Cole Tavern (log section dating to the 1780s–90s, later expanded in brick) served as an inn, stagecoach stop, tollgate house, and tavern—once operated by the great-grandfather of outlaws Jesse and Frank James and known for a time as the Black Horse Tavern. Nearby, Wallace Station Restaurant began as a train depot and mercantile before evolving into a restaurant and bakery.
Wallace Station history – https://www.wallacestation.com/team-and-history
In Lexington, the byway also passes through six National Historic Districts and the James E. Pepper Distilling Co. (established 1880), a National Historic Landmark that now houses restaurants, bars, and businesses alongside its bourbon heritage.
Photos info
Thoroughbred Horse Farm
Thoroughbred horse farms, both historic and modern, give Old Frankfort Pike its distinctive character with buildings, structures, and landscapes of the equine industry.
Photo: Joanne Fishback (FHWA)
Frankfort Pike Viewing Area
From the traffic circle at Old Frankfort Pike and Alexandria Drive, visitors enjoy expansive views of the West Fayette Rural Historic District, centered by the Secretariat statue.
Photo: Brad Boaz (FHWA)
Big Sink Rural Historic District
Named for its karst geology, the district’s unique growing conditions help create the Bluegrass landscape favored for raising racehorses.
Photo: Chris Amos (FHWA)
Pisgah Rural Historic District – WinStar Farm
Historic thoroughbred farms such as WinStar Farm showcase exceptional landscaping and world-class racehorses.
Photo: Chris Amos (FHWA)
Offutt-Cole Tavern
This landmark in Nugent’s Crossroad Historic District has served as an inn, stagecoach stop, tollgate house, and tavern since the 1790s.
Photo: Chris Amos (FHWA)