Category Archives: Kentucky

April 1: Bourbon Drive-In Theatre, Paris KY

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It’s Day 91 of my virtual Drive-In-a-Day Odyssey, the start of the second quarter. It started out easy, just a half-hour drive from Mount Sterling to the Bourbon Drive-In Theatre in Paris KY. It’s the last of my stops in Kentucky for this trip.

The Bourbon opened in July 1956 and has been managed or owned by the Earlywine family since then. Everett and Helen Earlywine purchased the drive-in in 1974, then Larry and Patricia Earlywine bought it in 1994. In a region where drive-ins have come and gone far too often, it’s nice to have a steady, dependable story like the Bourbon.

In 2013, the Lexington Herald-Leader ran a nice story (with almost two dozen photos) about the Bourbon. “You’ve got three or four generations of people, they started out with their babies, then they are teens and next those babies are bringing their babies to the movie,” said Trisha Earlywine. At the time, they were concerned about finding the money to switch to a digital projector. “It will be OK. That’s my tagline,” she said, and events proved her right again.

I was so glad to get a second drive-in night in a row that I didn’t mind watching the Kong: Skull Island a fourth time.

Miles Today / Total:  18 / 10199 (rounded to the nearest mile)

Movie Showing / Total Active Nights: Kong: Skull Island / 46

Nearby Restaurant: As mentioned below, there’s some possible historical significance to the site of the Paradise Cafe downtown. With a name and a setting like that, the biggest surprise is the amazing Asian cuisine they offer.

Where I Virtually Stayed: That would be the Best Western Paris Inn, since it’s about the only hotel in town. The room was comfortable and clean. There was some fruit available in the morning with a nice continental breakfast. I wish that every “only hotel in town” was as good as this one.

Only in Paris: The Shinner Building, located on the corner of 8th and Main Street, is listed by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! as the world’s tallest three-story structure. Built in 1891, it’s been used for commercial space and restaurants is currently home to the Paradise Cafe.

Next Stop: Georgetown Drive-In, Georgetown IN.

Mar. 31: Judy Drive-In, Mount Sterling KY

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It’s Day 90 of my virtual Drive-In-a-Day Odyssey, the end of the first quarter. It started with another hour and a half of twisty Kentucky highways (plus a couple of interstates), this time from Stanford to Mount Sterling, home of the Judy Drive In.

The Judy opened on July 4, 1952. It shared much of its life in Mount Sterling with the Hiway Drive-In, which also opened in the early 1950s and lasted about 30 years.

A 2011 article in the Lexington Herald-Leader includes a few quotes from Judy manager Chris Erwin. “The drive-in experience is one that can’t be duplicated no matter what’s on screen, Erwin said. “It’s almost like a festival experience at the drive-in. As long as there is someone that loves the theater and enjoys the theater, there will still be drive-ins.”

After a week of dark screens, it was so nice to get back to an active drive-in. At the concession stand, I had a Judy burger and a funnel cake to celebrate. With only one screen, the Judy didn’t give me a film choice, but Kong: Skull Island was worthy of seeing a third time.

Miles Today / Total:  73 / 10181 (rounded to the nearest mile)

Movie Showing / Total Active Nights: Kong: Skull Island / 45

Nearby Restaurant: In my experience, when I’m hungry, nothing sounds better than a steakhouse. After another day of driving across Kentucky, I was hungry, so I was glad to find the Cattleman’s Roadhouse here. The unlimited salad bar was just what I needed to get full yet save room for a concession stand dinner that night.

Where I Virtually Stayed: That would be the Ramada Limited in town. The room was large and clean. I enjoyed the scrambled eggs and sausage in my breakfast, and I was ready to face the second quarter of my year-long virtual odyssey.

Only in Mount Sterling: Every October, Mount Sterling hosts Court Days, Kentucky’s oldest annual festival. From when it was founded just before 1800, Mount Sterling was the trading center for a vast part of Eastern Kentucky, and its Court Day quickly became the region’s annual trading day for much of Eastern Kentucky. Now over 129,000 people from all parts of the country gather for the four-day event of arts and crafts, food and music.

Next Stop: Bourbon Drive-In Theatre, Paris KY.

Mar. 30: Stanford Drive In Theater, Stanford KY

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It’s Day 89 of my virtual Drive-In-a-Day Odyssey. It took about an hour and a half to drive 60 twisty miles from Greensburg KY to the Stanford Drive In Theater in Stanford.

The Stanford opened in 1952 and has stayed in operation since then. For its first 24 years, it was known as the Davis Drive-In, then changed its name to the New-Lynn. That name didn’t last long; it was listed as the Stanford by 1982. According to Cinema Treasures, the Stanford’s screen was replaced in 1996 after it was destroyed by a tornado. The drive-in switched to digital projection in 2015.

The Stanford, which only operates on weekends, won’t open until some time in April. Since I was there on a Thursday night anyway, it wasn’t as disappointing.

Miles Today / Total:  60 / 10108 (rounded to the nearest mile)

Movie Showing / Total Active Nights: dark / 44

Nearby Restaurant: It’s country cooking plus a buffet, so of course I knew I was going to like the Kentucky Depot. Even though it was hard to avoid such temptation, I saved room for a slice of one of their great pies.

Where I Virtually Stayed: The most appropriate hotel for the classic Stanford Drive-In is the Sunset Motor Lodge, which is also about the only hotel in town. The vintage neon sign out front is the best part about the Sunset, but the rooms are nicely renovated with a mini-fridge and good wifi, so it would have been a good choice even without that wonderful sign.

Only in Stanford: Although Stanford is one of the oldest cities in Kentucky and has the L&N Railroad Depot on the National Register of Historic Places, TripAdvisor reviewers say that the best place to visit in Stanford is a “cute little shop” downtown, Kentucky Soaps and Such. (Be sure to “ask for a tour of the soap making facility.”) As the Central Kentucky News put it, “Everything in the shop is made in Kentucky, down to the goats that produce the milk that go into the soap and lotion.”

Next Stop: Judy Drive In, Mount Sterling KY.