The Most Criminally Overlooked Town In Kentucky And Why You Need To Visit
By Rachel Shulhafer|Published January 28, 2017
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Rachel Shulhafer
Author
I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. I have lived elsewhere twice, but keep coming back. I'm a video editor and freelance writer who enjoys watching people wearing University of Louisville uniforms excel at sports, scaling the faces of large rocks, and hanging out with my border collie/laborador/cattle dog mutt thingy that I have.
We have a lot of great towns in Kentucky, but often times Louisville and Lexington get most of the attention. Smaller towns like Newport, Covington, Owensboro, Bowling Green, and Paducah are pretty widely well-liked, but the pattern is that the eastern part of the state is often forgotten. However, eastern Kentucky has a lot more to offer than just mountains and old coal mining towns. Located right across the Ohio River from West Virginia is a Kentucky town that just might be the most overlooked in the whole state.
Ashland is the largest city in Boyd County, with a population of about 21,684, according to the 2010 Census.
Ashland is only about 15 miles away from Huntington, WV, and is part of the Huntington Metropolitan area. Ashland is an important economic center to the state of Kentucky, and is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the state.
Central Park is a 47-acre natural oasis in Ashland. It was founded in 1854, and has a pond, three playgrounds, and areas to play sports. Every winter, Central Park and downtown Ashland transforms into a winter wonderland during their annual Winter Wonderland of Lights Festival.
Seriously, Ashland takes Christmas cheer seriously, and a trip in December will undoubtedly be magical.
Facebook/Winter Wonderland of Lights Festival—Ashland, KY
The Highlands Museum is one of the many attractions in Ashland. It is a museum and discovery center that celebrates Ashland's heritage and history. No matter your age, you will find something that interests you at the Highlands Museum.
The Paramount Arts Center might be one of the most popular attractions in Ashland. This theatre opened in 1931 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The music video for Billy Ray Cyrus' "Achey Breaky Heart," was shot here, and was also the origin of a somewhat whimsical ghost story associated with Paramount. It is said that the ghost of a man who was killed while working on the theatre in the 1940s still haunts it today. People call the ghost "Paramount Joe," and he's said to be a friendly spirit. During the filming of "Achey Breaky Heart," Billy Ray Cyrus was amused by the ghost story, and signed posters for all of the Paramount employees, including Joe. Joe's poster was hung near the box office, but as more posters were hung, the theatre employees took down Joe's poster to make room for more. Apparently that did not sit well with Joe, because when people arrived for work the desk day, all of the other posters were thrown on the floor.
Besides their Winter Wonderland of Lights Festival, there are plenty more events to enjoy throughout the year.
Poage Landing Days usually takes place in September. This festival has live music, food, a carnival, games, and activities like a 5k and a fishing tournament.
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Summer Motion is another Ashland festival that takes place in the summer. This free, family-friendly even takes place in Central Park and has live music, including a country music showdown, a car show, games, and food vendors.
