Located in the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky, the Paris Pike is a 12.5 mile highway between Lexington and Paris travels along some world-renowned horse farms, pasture and agricultural fields, broad tree canopies and miles of stone fences. The route dates back to 1829, when the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky incorporated the 'Maysville and Washington Turnpike Road Company.' The Maysville and Lexington Turnpike was established in 1830 as a private toll road linking the Maysville and Lexington.

 

1. A view inside the median at an original dry-laid stone fence along the Paris Pike. The original two-lane pike is to the right -- today's southbound lanes for this stretch.

 

Construction of the new road followed established trade routes set forth by the Native Americans or 'buffalo trace'. It soon became a major thoroughfare for stagecoach travelers and U.S. mail

distribution. There were several tollgates, but the road was so poorly maintained and the tolls were so high that many revolted. Angry citizens revolted against the gatekeepers, raiding, burning, and even dynamiting tollgates. The warring began to cease by the late-1800s as counties began to purchase the tolled facilities and make them free of charge. By 1905, there were no private toll roads in the state.

 

In 1920, Kentucky established the Department of Highways, and seven years later, it designated the road from Maysville south to Tennessee US 68, part of the United States Highway System.

 

2. The Paris Pike features a variable median, referred to as "land between the roads." It often contains various natural flora known only to Kentucky, or stone fences or other remnants from the old highway.

 

By the 1960s, the Paris Pike was becoming known as a death trap. There were many fatal accidents per year, and the route had essentially been unchanged since the 1920s, with many parts having remnants dating back to the Civil War. Narrow 10' lanes carried an increasing amount of traffic. Shoulders and turn lanes were non-existent. Civil War-era stone walls were holding up portions of the roadway. The state originally wanted to widen the road with a uniform median, thereby destroying most of the scenery that made the Paris Pike a pleasure to drive -- when there was light traffic. Historic stone walls were to be bulldozed over, along with hundreds of mature, native trees. Lawsuits and complaints from across America poured in and halted the project for over 30 years. But the end result was well worth it.

 

In 1998, work began to widen the Paris Pike. The highway was widened to four-lanes divided, however, due process was carried out to ensure that the surrounding beauty would be preserved and even enhanced. The opposing roadways diverge for most of the length by "land between the roads." Three new trees planted per one tree removed; a savanna was created; and stone walls were either reconstructed or left in-place. Other design elements included sweeping curves, native grass plantings, and "rustic" guardrails and railings.

 

3. This was a limestone waiting station for the interurban line for the farm workers who were employed at the Elmendorf Farm in Fayette County. The electric interurbans connected Lexington to Paris, Versailles, Nicholasville, and Georgetown.

 

The highway has won many awards since its completion. The National Trust for Historic Preservation honored the state of Kentucky. The Kentucky Transportation Historic Preservation  Partnership was founded under Governor Patton's administration as a direct result of the Paris Pike project. It later won an environmental excellence award from the Federal Highway Administration and a Public Service to Preservation Award from the Bluegrass Trust for Historic Preservation, Inc. Even the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Sierra Club, not known for their praise of road construction, especially those through scenic areas, have hailed the new Paris Pike as a premier example in the nation of 'context-sensitive' design.

 

See more on the Paris Pike at American Byways! I recently added many new photographs and information to the article, including its complex history.

 

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A sunflower field was adjacent to the pike, so I decided to ask the owner for permission to wander into it. While I was shooting, I noted about 4 vehicles that had pulled off onto the shoulder to grab photos from a far! See the entire gallery of 32 images here.

 

4. A hue of golden sunflowers adds a splash of color, set amongst the horse farms and pastures of the Bluegrass region.

 

5. Showoff

 

6. Achoooo!

 

7. Still life

 

8. June bug

 

9. Exiguous motif

 

10. Feeding

 

11. Journey

 

Enjoy!

Looks like an awesome place to ride your bike!!

Wonderful photos!

Beautiful photos! I traveled that road in autumn in the seventies with my parents and my brother and loved the scenery. I remember a glimpse of grand historic homes as we drove through Paris, too.

 

I love the bright yellow sunflowers against the blue sky. I'm not sure, but your June Bug looks like it may be a Japanese Beetle.

Excellent!

One of my favorite places to drive.  If ever there is an example of how to build a highway, this road is it.

Excellent, and thanks for the history.  I see a weekend drive in my future

Rob, it's time for another drive down then :) Not much has changed along the Pike, but you'll enjoy the other drives (Harrodsburg Road to Shaker Village and on), Iron Works Pike, etc.

 

jamiec: A bike path was originally part of the development plan for the Paris Pike but was dropped at the last minute. There are non-existant hard shoulders for bicyclists, but I've seen many bicyclists use the road anyhow.