Location: Paintsville
Top Things to do in Paintsville
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What to do and see in Paintsville, United States: The Best Places and Tips
Paintsville (locally /ˈpeɪntsvəl/) is a home rule-class city along Paint Creek in Johnson County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is the seat of its county. The population was 3,459 during the 2010 U.S. Census.
Restaurants in Paintsville
1. Loretta Lynn's Birthplace - Butcher Hollow
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 138 reviews
Birthplace of Loretta Lynn. When Loretta Lynn belted, "Well, I was born a coal miner's daughter/In a cabin on a hill in Butcher Hollow," it not only skyrockted "The Queen of Country Music" to additional fame outside the realm of country music fans, but it merited her the everlasting respect of every person connected directly or indirectly with coal mining or mountain life. Visit Butcher Hollow, located in scenic Johnson County. Loretta's brother, Herman Webb, is curator of the Butcher Hollow Home.
Reviewed By mommajude74 - Beattyville, Kentucky
Seeing Loretta's home place brought back memories of my own childhood. Being from Johnson County, I had never visited Butcher Hollow. So glad I did. After seeing her home, I realized that she was so much better off than my own family were. We didn't live in a company house. I love the smell of the place, the beauty and serenity of sitting on the front porch. A true image of life at that time. A must see! And I met a couple from "Up North" as we from Eastern KY say...
2. Paintsville Lake State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By Susan K - Abingdon, Virginia
It was recommended by Paintsville KY person to eat at marina. We had lunch at marina restaurant overlooking the lake. Mountain Homeplace very nice to visit. Lake was quiet for a 4th of July week-end, but lots of boats tied up at marina and lots of cars in parking lot. Several familes were having picnics and ground look well kept.
3. Loretta Lynn's Home
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
The four-room cabin where country music divas Loretta Lynn and Crystal Gayle grew up is open to visitors.
Reviewed By Love2TravelUS - Winchester, Kentucky
This was a very worthwhile stop. We arrived in Van Lear and stopped at the Webb Country Store to inquire about a tour, and was given directions to get to the house. Roads are paved, except for the driveway. The roads are very very narrow in places, so use caution traveling to Butcher Hollow. Once we reached the house, parking was very close to the porch steps. The home sets on the side of a hill, it takes you back to another era. As I approached the porch, there was an older gentlemen who welcomed me, he was Loretta's brother Herman. The tour costs $5 per person and was given by Herman, we couldn't have asked for a better tour guide. The home is very small, a front room, bedroom, and kitchen. Most of the furniture that is in the home is original, the few pieces that aren't Herman told us where they came from. If you are a Loretta Lynn fan, then this is a must stop location. We walked through the home with Herman and then I went back through again to take pictures. It was a very good visit!
4. U. S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By meanymer - Preston, Maryland
A small but very delightful museum. Memorabilia from famous country music artists that are from the area. Small entrance fee of $4 - was money well spent. Pleasant staff and extremely clean and tidy. Sorry we did not visit on Thursday. A local waitress said the live musical performances on Thursday are wonderful.
5. Van Lear Historical Society Miners' Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 2 reviews
"Eastern Kentucky's Premier Coal-Mining Community of the 1920's and 1930's"
Reviewed By medic803 - Allen, Kentucky
Its a pretty good exhibit, it was just getting ran down. I was suprised to find that there was a soda "jerk-bar" that had been saved from a local phamacmy and moved there. The display and exhibits were nice, but lice a lot in the area. One visit will do it.
6. Jenny Wiley Grave Site
Overall Ratings
3 based on 6 reviews
"Jenny Wiley (1760-1831) was captured by Indians in 1789 at Walker's Creek, Virginia, after watching her young brother and all but her youngest child murdered. She escaped after many months to Floyd (now Johnson) County, Kentucky and eventually reunited with her husband in Walker's Creek. The Wileys returned to and settled permanently in Johnson County."
Reviewed By Patiodadio - Olive Hill, Kentucky
We stopped by late on a Sunday evening. The parking lot was empty and we thought we would hike up to the Grave site. The Whole area looks very run down, bullet holes in the sign etc. As we started walking up the path to the Grave we heard someone yelling, sounded kinda like kids playing so we went on. As we got closer we heard more yelling, it sounded crazy, like nonsense, so we turned around and started back. Two men came out of the woods and told us it was them yelling. Pretty scary stuff, we headed back to the car at a fast pace and left in a hurry. Don't think we will go back. Such a shame, you would think the back woods of Eastern Ky would be a safe place.
7. Mountain HomePlace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
1850-1875 Living History Farm. "A visit to the Mountain HomePlace is a historical learning experience as well as fun. The Welcome Center contains a Museum Of Appalachian History and a Gift Shop with treasures featuring arts and crafts from the Eastern Kentucky region. We take you back in time to the 1850's and show you life as then."
Reviewed By Cathy_Civy - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
After seeing other attractions in the region, this is my top recommendation. The collection of buildings and the lifestyle upheld by this self-sustaining farmstead brings to life an era gone-by, and – to boot – the affable people that steward this homeplace will make your visit particularly enjoyable, even during the sultriest of summer days!
What’s unique: each site has “hidden” attractions. To highlight a few:
• At the museum: the items collected are timeless and the video presentation summarizes the Gray vs. Blue Civil War history of the area – sometimes separating families and neighbors for years… Check the cloth wringer and river boat horn – both original pieces.
• At the 1850-1860 McKenzie Farm House: the hair locks inside the main doorway wooden frame (local folklore) and the “pull-away” addition to the original home.
• At the farm house’s West Pen: check out one of the oldest “washing machines” from the early 1800’s, an original ‘barn’ loom, and ask about ‘weft’ and ‘warp’.
• At the “double-crib” barn – guess why the original wood remains pristine and sturdy. Also, most of the horses, sheep, goats, chickens, donkeys and kitties are friendly! … From a distance. :)
• At the Fishtrap Church, reconstructed in 1904-1905 from the original 1840 building, review the Underground Railroad quilts and the secret codes that they held – quite a history lesson for me! The foundation work to keep the building level is also quite unique.
• At the 1884 McKenzie Branch School, an original pot-belly stove kept warm as many as 60 students and the “nose circles” on the board were an effective way to keep rebellious children disciplined.
• A town may prefer a blacksmith to a doctor! At the Lemaster Blacksmith Shop – still in service today – the double-chambered bellows system controls the air supply to keep the over 1000F heat for the forge. Check the creative use of horse shoes as part of the door system.
Take family & friends to this amazing 25-acre farmstead – a most unique experience!
8. Country Music Highway
Overall Ratings
4 based on 10 reviews
"The Country Music Highway is the eastern-most corridor in the Highlands and Waterways Region of Southern and Eastern Kentucky. It follows US-23 through Lawrence County, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, Pikeville, and then along US-119/US-23 to the Virginia border and on to Whitesburg. As noted in its name, the Country Music Highway celebrates the lives of dozens of famous country music stars that grew up along this route."
Reviewed By Eric P - Nashville, Tennessee
Nerve wrecking road is what it should be called. Twists and turns out of absolutely nowhere. Don't drive it in the dark.
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