Visit Westport Oldham Kentucky and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Westport, Kentucky: Discover the Big Four Bridge and the Louisville Slugger Museum! Exciting city history and sports culture guaranteed.
Honestly, if I take the word “Westport Sights” in the mouth, most think of a few dusty shields, but the true story of this little spot on the Ohio River is a bit like a good Bourbon: rough, surprising and with a long finish. Founded in 1797 by a few brave border guards who colonized the country after the American War of Independence, Westport Township has survived more than just a few wooden huts in Oldham County since then – it has developed a unique flair that you do not find in every guide.
I remember going to the small station by train from Louisville, which is barely more than a covered waiting area, and immediately got the feeling that time would tick a bit slower. The locals I met on the way like to talk about the old mill wheel on the river, which still cracks the water, as if we wanted to remember that there was a real work here before. When you arrive by car, take the I‐71 to the Oldham County exit and follow the signs to Westport – the trip is short, but the landscape makes you almost forget that you are planning a stopover.
A walk through the main road is like a short time jump: you can see restored half-timbered houses, which bear witness to the original settlement, and at the same time modern cafes that throw the scent of freshly ground coffee into the air. I don't quite understand the hype around the big metropolises, but here, between the old oaks and the quiet noise of the river, I find a rest that you can find only in the most remote corners of the world. And yes, if you ask yourself if there is anything to see here – the Westport sights I have just described are exactly what makes this place an underestimated gem.
I have to admit that what I love most about Westport, not the overpriced souvenir shops, but the bare old court building on the main square – the Westport Historic Courthouse. It has been there since the city had a few horse cars and a steam ship, and I don't quite understand the hype about this brick scenery, but the crunching history that seems to sprinkle from the walls is just fantastic. When you arrive there, you usually park at the small parking lot behind the town hall, except on Saturdays when the whole city flows to the flea market and you have to go through between ancient tractors and homemade jams.
A short walk down the main road leads you to Old Westport Schoolhousethat is a museum today. I found an old photograph of a boy who flew over the Ohio River with a self-made dragon – an image that reminds me every time that real adventures took place here, not only Instagram albums. The museum is small, but the exhibition about the local railway history is surprisingly well researched, and I even discovered an old road map that still makes the heart of every railway nerd beat faster.
If you have enough of dusty halls, go to Westport Riverfront Park. The path along the Ohio River is lined by benches that smell more like “I just caught a fish” than after “I ordered a latte”. I once met an older gentleman who told me that he throws his fishing here every morning, because the water is “so clear that you can almost see the worries”. Practical: There are a few public toilets that are seldom occupied, and parking is free on the river bank – a real bonus when you arrive by car.
A bit further upstream lies the Westport Riverwalk, a narrow path that stretches through a small piece of forest and then suddenly ends up at an old mill that today serves as a café – the Riverbend Café. I got the best freshly brewed coffee in the region there, and the staff is so friendly that they almost give you the feeling you're a regular guest, even though you've only been here for a few hours. The café has no Wi-Fi connection, which I personally feel as a blessing, because I can finally focus on the high of the river.
Of course you can Westport Farmers Market do not leave, which takes place every second Saturday in summer. Here there are not only fresh vegetables, but also handmade soaps that smell like lavender and a little too much citrus – a fragrance that immediately reminds you of the rural idyll that you would not find in any city brochure. I once met a local beekeeper who gave me a glass of honey, because he meant that I had breathed too much of the city air.
A short detour to Westport Ferry is also a must. The old wheel steamer, which still slips over the Ohio, is not only a photo motif, but also a piece of lively history. I once asked the captain why he still runs the old vehicle, and he answered dryly, “Because the money for a new one is not enough.” This is the real Westport – a bit rough, a bit charming, and always a bit resistant.
If you're looking for a place to let the evening sound out, go to Bluegrass Brewing Co.. The place is small, the beer varieties are surprisingly diverse, and the staff always has a loose spell. I tried an IPA there that was so bitter that I almost thought I had drunk a sip of lemon juice by mistake – but that's exactly what I guess about Westport sights: they are not always smoothly polished, but they have character.
Finally, a little secret tip: The Willow Grove Trail behind the old cemetery. The path is lined with pasture trees, which produce an almost mystical light in autumn. I once discovered an abandoned gravestone where only a single word was engraved: “friendship”. I don't know who left this, but it reminded me that Westport is more than just a point on the map – it's a collection of stories that you only discover when you're ready to walk a little off the beaten path.
The first stop I always imagine is the venerable Oldham County Courthouse in La Grange – a Greek-classicist monument that has more stories to tell than most guides. I have observed a legal dispute over a lost chicken there; that was not what I had expected, but the massive dome and the cracking wooden benches give you the feeling of being part of a long past era. Parking is almost always a Klacks, as long as you don't come on Saturday night, then the small parking lot turns into a battlefield of uplifting cars.
Only a few blocks further Oldham County Historical Societythat actually resides in the same building as the courthouse – yes, that is a bit confusing, but that makes the charm. I found an old diary from a settler from the 1820s; the handwriting was so creepy that I almost thought it was a modern graffiti artist. Nevertheless, it is worth a look, because the exhibition on local agriculture and railway links is surprisingly lively. A small note: the museum is free, but the number of visitors is limited, so prefer to come early before the locals occupy the last places.
A short trip to the south leads me to Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. This is not some forest, but a huge nature reserve with over 16 000 hectares, which has something to offer for both walkers and ambitious mountain bikers. I once made a picnic under a huge oak tree, while a squirrel boldly inspected my sandwiches – no joke, the animal was almost as three times as the tourists who are constantly doing selfies there. Admission is voluntary, but the donation boxes are well hidden so you don't feel like paying a fortune.
Back close to Louisville, this is Farnsley Towers Landing, a historical river port, which today serves as a museum and venue. I was there on a warm summer evening when a local folk band gave a concert; the acoustics on the banks of the Ohio River is amazingly good, and the light play on the water gives the whole an almost mystical atmosphere. Access is free, but parking can quickly be completed on weekends because the families with their picnic baskets love the area.
Another must is that Oldham County Fairgrounds, which becomes the pulsating heart of the region every year in August. For the first time I saw the beef stab there – a spectacle that contains more blood and sweat than one would expect from a “County Fair”. The stands with homemade apple cake and the carousels are cheesy, but that's exactly what makes the charm. Practical: The access via Highway 42 is uncomplicated, and parking is not a problem thanks to the huge open spaces as long as you don't get the last free field.
For those who prefer to read alone, Oldham County Library in La Grange a quiet retreat. I once discovered an old microfilm archive containing local newspapers from the 1900s; that was a real find for my research on the region. The library has free Wi-Fi and cozy armchairs, but the café next door is always full because the locals drink their morning coffee.
Golf enthusiasts are allowed Oldham Golf Club do not miss. The 18-hole course is located in gentle hills and offers magnificent views over the fields. I played a game there with a local peasant who told me that he only cares for the green because of the view, not because of the score. The clubhouse has a small pro shop where you can find cheap golf balls – a real secret tip if you don't want to spend all the money for expensive brands.
Last but not least a short trip to St. James Catholic Churcha small but impressive 19th century church. I visited a midnight fair where the organ was so loud that the windows seemed to tremble. The architecture is simple, but the artistic glass windows tell stories from the local history that you can only find in dusty history books. The parking lot is small, so better to come early if you want to secure a good place.
Westport may look small, but the environment sprays from interesting Westport Attractions, which offer every traveler a little more than just a photo from the highway – from historical court buildings to dense forests to lively festivals that show the true heart of Oldham County.
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