Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum
The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum honors performers, songwriters, broadcasters, comedians and many other Kentuckians who have made significant contributions to the music industry. The museum highlights all types of music ranging from the country style of Loretta Lynn to the melodious voice of Rosemary Clooney.
Open daily from 10:00 am-6:00 pm. {Please visit the website below for an updated schedule of events and concerts!}
Renfro Valley Entertainment Center & Old Barn Theater
The star attraction of Rockcastle County is without a doubt, Renfro Valley, "Kentucky's Country Music Capital" since 1939. From sensational musical performances to top-notch comedy acts, Renfro Valley’s New Barn Theatre 1500‑seat venue gets you up close and personal with some of the hottest acts touring the country. The theatre has great seating from the floor to the balcony, and with a variety of shows, there is something for everyone!
Music is ringing from the rafters once again at the Old Barn Theatre at Renfro Valley Entertainment Center – The OBT! The century-old theatre has been the home of music at Renfro Valley since 1939 and has become one of the nation’s most storied music venues, hosting countless legends over the years. Renovations have returned The OBT to a traditional general admission music hall just as it was over 80 years ago, while maintaining its historical significance with the original barn wood floors, stage, signage and more. Ole Smoky Distillery has custom built a bar inside the hall so that you won’t miss a beat when grabbing your favorite refreshment. Visiting The OBT is truly a unique experience and there is no better place to hear live music! After parties just about every weekend after the headliners in the New Barn Theatre.
Parking is typically free in our uncovered lots, and within close proximity to the theatre.
Arrive up to 60 minutes early to purchase concert merchandise and enjoy your favorite food and drinks, including Ole Smoky specialty cocktails at the Shine Shack, before the show.
Contact: 800-514-3849
Website
Rockcastle Speedway
Rockcastle Speedway is home to the best family entertainment. This huge 3/8 mile dirt oval is home to some of the best racing! Everyone wants to be a winner here. Located at 1495 Cove Branch Road, just off exit 59. Be sure to check out their race schedule online and on Facebook for the latest dirt track racing in Rockcastle County.
Great Saltpetre Cave
The Great Saltpetre Cave is a notable limestone cave located in Rockcastle County in southeastern Kentucky. During the War of 1812, it served as an important source of saltpeter, a vital component of gunpowder.Robert Baker discovered the cave in the late eighteenth century. A stream ran through the cave, and was wide enough so that oxcarts could be used to bring the saltpeter above ground. However, torchlights had to be used to light the cave so that workers could mine the saltpeter from the ground.At the cave, calcium nitrate, also called niter, is leached from dry soil. When Doctor Samuel Brown, a Transylvania University professor of anatomy, chemistry, and surgery, gave in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1806 the first scientific description of Kentucky's saltpeter production, he drew mainly from the experiences of the Great Saltpetre Cave. As with most saltpeter caves, the land above the cave is a hardwood forest-covered plateau. Typically the saltpeter would be sent to Lexington, Kentucky to be made into gunpowder.During the War of 1812, sixty to seventy men were employed to mine the cave of its saltpeter, deemed necessary as British blockades prevented saltpeter shipments from overseas. Many of the workers at the cave were slaves. To a lesser degree the cave was also mined during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War. During the later war, the Union soldiers that worked at the cave also lived in the cave, due to its year-around temperature giving respite from cold winters and hot summers.
The cave is now normally closed to visitors, except for the annual Open House held the weekend after Mother's Day. The remainder of the grounds consist of a natural preserve consisting mostly of pasture and woodlands. The property is managed for historical purposes in an attempt to preserve a part of Kentucky's natural beauty for generations to come.