Kentucky Hidden Wonders

Derrick Griffitts brings a fresh perspective to Shelby County Parks and Recreation, transforming Kentucky's hidden outdoor treasures into accessible adventures for everyone. As a 25-year PGA golf professional who now directs the entire 960-acre park system, Griffiths shares his unique vision for connecting community members with nature's wonders.

The conversation reveals surprising gems scattered throughout Shelby County's three major parks and four mini parks. From the professional-level disc golf course at Red Orchard Park to Lake Shelby's expanding RV camping facilities, these spaces offer more than just recreation—they provide genuine adventures. Griffiths describes personal discoveries made while wading through Clear Creek with his nine-year-old son, including a collectible amber 1910 Coca-Cola bottle and potential Native American artifacts, showing how history lives beneath the surface of these natural spaces.

Technology meets tradition at the golf center, where PGA Tour-level TrackMan simulators engage children with interactive games like Mystic Pond, where players hit animated creatures from virtual water hazards. Meanwhile, the Red Fern Riding Center partnership at Shelby Trails offers guided horseback tours through beautiful woodlands, creating memorable experiences for visitors of all ages.

The parks system truly shines in its community impact, hosting 885 games annually with 2,000 youth participants across multiple sports leagues. Griffiths shares moving stories of seniors finding renewed purpose and improved health through park activities, especially after retirement or illness recovery. "Parks can give people their life back," he explains, highlighting how these green spaces foster essential social connections.

Exciting developments are reshaping the parks experience, including a new website and mobile app for streamlined registration, a revitalized Family Activity Center with arcade games and sensory play elements, and a $150,000 grant-funded transformation of Little Heroes Playground with ADA-compliant recycled rubber surfacing. Plans for a music festival at Red Orchard Park featuring local and bluegrass bands promise to create new community traditions.

What adventures await you in Shelby County Parks? Whether creek exploring, disc golfing, or simply connecting with nature, these hidden Kentucky treasures invite your discovery.

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🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Ethan Fisher. 

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

• facebook.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders
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• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.

Sarahbeth Farabee, head genealogist at the Shelby County Public Library and vice president of the Shelby County Historical Society, shares her passion for genealogy and the extensive resources available at the library's Kentucky Room.

• Started researching family history in her 20s by contacting distant relatives through letters
• Found surprising connections including relation to Francis Scott Key and an ancestor executed after the Battle of Kings Mountain
• Had a spiritual experience visiting her ancestor's pre-Civil War home in Ohio
• Offers free genealogy assistance to Shelby County residents regardless of where their ancestors lived
• The Kentucky Room houses family files, historical maps, newspaper archives back to 1841, and yearbooks
• Library provides free access to Ancestry.com and Newspapers.com for patrons
• Recommends starting research by interviewing older family members before knowledge is lost
• Suggests using Find A Grave, census records, and courthouse archives for research
• The Carnegie Library building (1903) stands on former cemetery grounds with preserved headstones
• Science Hill School for Girls 200th anniversary exhibit available at the Historical Society until year-end

Visit the Shelby County Public Library's Kentucky Room during regular library hours. Though it remains locked to protect rare materials, staff will gladly provide access to anyone interested in exploring genealogical resources.

Send us Fan Mail

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Ethan Fisher. 

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

• facebook.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders
• instagram.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders/
• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.

Justine Saudan and Lyndsey Estes from Red Fern Riding Center share how they're bringing authentic horseback experiences to visitors and locals alike at Shelby Trails Park in Simpsonville, Kentucky. Their riding center offers guided trail rides, English riding lessons, boarding services and equestrian events while focusing on safety, accessibility and exceptional horse care.

• Located on 465 acres of county parkland in Simpsonville with trails for both horses and hikers
• Offers two types of guided trail rides — a one-hour Nature Ride and a 90-minute Adventure Ride
• Provides comprehensive safety measures including pre-assigned horses matched to riders, safety videos, helmets, and mounting platforms
• Welcomes riders as young as 7 with no upper age limit (their oldest rider was 88)
• Many horses come from rescue situations and are transformed through proper care and training
• Attracts visitors from around the world including Australia, UAE, Japan and across the US
• Partners with bourbon tour companies for combination experiences
• Lesson program teaches "horsemanship from the ground up" for all ages and experience levels
• Recently added signage improvements, GPS-mapped trails and a cross-country jumping course
• Open Wednesday through Sunday with rides at 9 AM, 11 AM, 2 PM and 4 PM

Visit redfernridingcenter.com to book your trail ride or learn more about their programs.

Send us Fan Mail

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Ethan Fisher. 

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

• facebook.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders
• instagram.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders/
• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.

Deputy Judge Jon Park takes us on a journey through Shelby County's hidden gems and historical treasures, revealing surprising discoveries and community stories along the way. He shares his path from Illinois to Kentucky and explains how his background in ministry and public service prepared him for his current role.

• Born near Abraham Lincoln's home in Springfield, Illinois, with a deep appreciation for history and civic engagement
• Served as Executive Director of Constituent Services under Governor Matt Bevin, helping citizens navigate government resources
• Spearheaded the Gold Star Family Memorial at Veterans Park, honoring families who lost loved ones in military service
• Workers discovered what appeared to be a child's casket during excavation, which turned out to be a misplaced time capsule
• The historic courthouse, built in 1912, revealed a hidden tunnel beneath its front steps during renovation
• Colonel Sanders and his wife Claudia made Shelby County their home from the mid-1950s until their deaths
• Ongoing restoration projects include the courthouse windows and the old stone jail with a $150,000 Brownfield grant
• Describes Shelby County as "Mayberry" – a close-knit community where people work together to preserve history

Join us at the Kentucky State Fair to visit the expanded Shelby County booth and possibly meet Colonel Sanders and Abraham Lincoln reenactors!

Send us Fan Mail

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Ethan Fisher. 

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

• facebook.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders
• instagram.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders/
• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.

Joyce Nethery from Jeptha Creed Distillery shares her journey from chemical engineer to master distiller at her family's woman-owned, woman-run Kentucky bourbon operation. The distillery's signature Bloody Butcher corn creates distinctive flavor profiles in their spirits while honoring local heritage through sustainable farming practices. 🥃

• Joyce leveraged her chemical engineering background, teaching experience, and business skills to create an authentic ground-to-glass distillery
• The name Jeptha Creed honors the local Jeptha Knobs named by Daniel and Squire Boone in the 1700s
• Their signature Bloody Butcher Corn dates to 1845 and imparts unique, earthy, nutty characteristics to their bourbon
• Beyond bourbon, they produce vodka and moonshine from the same heritage corn
• Upcoming events include the Bacon Brothers concert on June 21st and their annual Harvest Festival in October
• Future releases include a special pink bourbon for breast cancer awareness month in October 2026
• Visitors can enjoy free tastings, tours, cocktail classes, barrel tastings, outdoor games, and the Creed Café
• Products are available in ten states with Pennsylvania and Virginia coming soon

Visit jepthacreed.com for more information. Open Thursday-Saturday 11am-6pm and Sunday noon-5pm.

Send us Fan Mail

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Ethan Fisher. 

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

• facebook.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders
• instagram.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders/
• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.

Helen McKinney, Executive Director of the Shelby County Historical Society, reveals the rich historical significance of Shelby County and the many programs preserving its heritage. As a descendant of Samuel Boone (brother to Daniel and Squire), Helen brings a personal connection to the county's frontier past while leading efforts to celebrate America's upcoming 250th anniversary.

• Historical Society programs include the popular History Matters Speaker Series with 50-75 attendees per session
• Award-winning summer history camp engages 65-70 children annually with a waiting list for participation
• Science Hill Female Academy celebrates its bicentennial in 2025, founded by Julia Tevis as one of the first female academies west of the Alleghenies 
• Plans for America's 250th birthday include History Minutes videos, special programming, and a grand parade in 2026
• The Historical Society is investigating the Simpsonville Massacre site where Confederate guerrillas killed Black Union soldiers
• Hidden wonders like underground tunnels beneath Shelbyville and historic tombstones at the library grounds reveal unexplored aspects of local history
• The museum is open Wednesday-Friday 10-4, Saturday 10-2 with membership starting at just $25 annually

Visit www.shelbykyhistory.org or contact [email protected] to learn more about becoming a member, volunteer, or supporting their historical preservation efforts.

Send us Fan Mail

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Ethan Fisher. 

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

• facebook.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders
• instagram.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders/
• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.

The episode delves into the vibrant community spirit of Shelby County, highlighted through the annual Dogwood Festival and the Shelby County Community Theater. Listeners gain insights into the festival's rich history, upcoming events, and the importance of local arts, education, and community engagement.

• The Dogwood Festival roots back to the 1970s
• Emphasis on community and education intertwining in the festival  
• More than 120 artisan booths set for this year’s festival  
• Expansion of entertainment options, including professional musicians  
• The significance of the Shelby County Community Theater as a local cultural hub  
• Plans for future growth and volunteer opportunities in the theater  
• Encouragement for community involvement and feedback for future projects.

Send us Fan Mail

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Ethan Fisher. 

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

• facebook.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders
• instagram.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders/
• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.

Discover the fascinating history behind Wakefield-Scearce Galleries and its integral role in Shelby County's heritage. Explore how a family-run business evolved from a grocery store into a celebrated destination for antiques and craftsmanship while unearthing stories that connect us to a rich past.

• Meet Matt Burnett and learn about his journey at Wakefield-Scearce 
• Explore the origins of the gallery, from silver rationing to julep cups 
• Understand the craftsmanship behind handmade julep cups 
• Hear about the gallery’s connections to U.S. presidents 
• Discover the impressive silver vault and its historical significance 
• Learn about the Science Hill Female Academy's rich history 
• Get insights into the festive Christmas displays and their preparations 
• Celebrate the upcoming 200th anniversary of the academy and community involvement

Send us Fan Mail

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Ethan Fisher. 

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

• facebook.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders
• instagram.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders/
• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.

Shelbyville, Kentucky, boasts a vibrant community spirit through Shelby Main Street, led by Darlene Snow. This episode explores the program's focus on design, promotion of local businesses, current beautification projects, and upcoming events while emphasizing the importance of community collaboration.  

• Introduction to Darlene Snow and her journey  
• Overview of Shelby Main Street and its role in the community  
• The four focus areas of the Main Street program  
• Ongoing beautification projects and local artist involvement  
• Exciting events scheduled for 2025  
• New businesses opening in downtown Shelbyville  
• The Leadership Shelby program and its impact  
• Community involvement and collaborative efforts  
• Information on how to connect with Shelby Main Street

Send us Fan Mail

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Ethan Fisher. 

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

• facebook.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders
• instagram.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders/
• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.

Discover the magic of equine therapy with Dr. Sally Broder, the visionary behind HorseSensing in Shelby County, Kentucky. With a heartfelt journey that took her from the sunny shores of California to the rolling hills of Kentucky, Dr. Broder has established a sanctuary for veterans and individuals grappling with addiction. Her passion for American Saddlebred Horses is just the beginning. Through the lens of Chris Carl's inspiring transformation, we witness the life-altering power of horse-human connections that HorseSensing fosters. These stories highlight not just recovery and growth but a deep-seated resilience drawn from a unique therapeutic approach.

Step into the vibrant world of HorseSensing's community events where the elegance of American Saddlebreds meets fun-filled activities. From farm tours and grooming lessons to thrilling demonstrations, there's something for everyone. Curious about how these programs thrive? Learn about their creative funding through grants, donations, and lively events like the HorseSensing Hoedown. As  Kentucky Hidden Wonders, HorseSensing's dedication to providing free support for mental health and substance abuse challenges has already touched many lives, with plans to reach even more. Join us for a conversation that promises inspiration and a glimpse into future possibilities.

Send us Fan Mail

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Ethan Fisher. 

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

• facebook.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders
• instagram.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders/
• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.