Announcing......our New Bourbon Package "Bourbon Tour and Spirited Mansions"

Explore the rich tradition and proud history of America's Official Native Spirit - Bourbon!  You'll enjoy a two-night stay in the mansion (Queen Room) with bourbon inspired breakfasts and evening desserts,

a Urban Bourbon Bus Tour for two featuring a 4-hour tour of the sights, sounds and tastes of Kentucky Bourbon in Louisville, Bourbon-themed Dinner for two at Buck's Restaurant, Guided Walking Tour for two of Louisville's Bourbon Baron's Mansions, Copy of Louisville Author & Chef David Domine's "Splash of Bourbon" and an Official Urban Bourbon Passport.  Don't miss this opportunity to experience your favorite Bourbon Spirits!  $595 (plus tax; based on availability; add $75 per night for King Suites)

Neighborhood Treasures - Old Louisville Has So Much to Offer
 

Folks that seek to stay in Louisville Bed and Breakfasts as an alternative to Louisville Hotels are generally also interested in alternatives to driving once they arrive.  Our Old Louisville neighborhood offers many opportunities for those wanting to walk and enjoy the sites.

We have three fine restaurants within two blocks:  Amici’s is a cute café with outdoor dining and an excellent menu of Italian dishes.   Buck’s Restaurant,  reminiscent of the movie Casablanca, features a wide variety of American dishes (we especially like the “Crispy fish”) and  Rick Bartlet  on the Piano (ask him to sing “Take Me Back to Old Louisville”).  Nearby 610 Magnolia has a Five Star  extraordinary and varying menu available by reservation only and well worth the extra money.   The owner, Edward Lee,  is a local celebrity and was a recent  finalist on the TV show,  “Iron Chef”.

Two “Don’t Miss” places to visit within a few steps of  the DuPont Mansion and Inn at the Park are the Ferguson Mansion, now home to the Filson Historical Society and the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum.  The Filson's Ferguson Mansion is the repository to nearly 2 million documents, books and artifacts connected with the history of this Region. The Conrad-Caldwell House Museum is known as Louisville's Castle and offers a glimpse into the lives of wealthy Victorians that built and lived in Old Louisville. 

Speaking of tours, the Old Louisville Visitors Center is only steps away and there you can learn about the neighborhood ghost tours, lantern tours and mansion tours.  The University of Louisville campus is within easy walking distance and there you will find the wonderful Speed Art Museum.  You cannot get a more central location to  points of interest than the DuPont Mansion or Inn at the Park Historic Bed and Breakfasts.  A mile to the South, directly out Fourth Street you will find Papa John’s Stadium (home to U of L football team),  the  Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchill Downs.   Just a mile to the North also on Fourth Street,  you will encounter “Fourth Street Live”,  Louisville’s Riverfront and all the action of Louisville's Downtown including Museum Row, the KFC Yum! Center and Slugger Field.  Come see Old Louisville and of course, make us your Louisville home!

Off to the Derby

Derby 2012 has come and gone and once again we hosted wonderful guests hailing from states all across the country AND as far as Nova Scotia and New Zealand.    Our guests represented New York,  Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Maryland, Texas and Kentucky!  Many of our guests have been with us at Derby for years - one as long as 12 years!  We love showing off our fine city in the Spring at Derby.  It's a one of a kind event of which we are proud to be a part!

We hosted a "Welcome to Derby" Reception in the gardens of the DuPont Mansion on Thursday before Derby.  In addition to our Derby Guests we invite friends and neighbors to help us welcome our guests to Louisville.  Our guest list included Carol Timmons, Editor of Business First.  Please see what Carol had to say in Business First by going to http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/blog/2012/05/derby-hospitality-shines-in-old.html.  Thanks, Carol, for your kind words!

We invite you to join us in Louisville.......we keep the "Derby Hospitality" going all year long! 

Victorian Ghost Tour in Old Louisville

This is no ordinary Ghost Tour!   The Old Louisville Victorian Ghost Tour www.oldlouisville.org/ghostwalk/ held this weekend (October 28-31) is outdoor theatre in America's most haunted Victorian neighborhood.  It is entertainment with a history lesson - spooky tales rooted in fact!  It is an architectural tour among the largest collection of Victorian homes in America.  You may not be scared, but you will be fascinated by the Victorian characters roaming the streets.  David Domine, the author of this production is well known to Louisvillians.  David has disclosed his methodical paranormal research about Old Louisville in three separate best-selling books about Ghosts, Phantoms and Haunts of Old Louisville www.ghostsofoldlouisville.com/ .

The producer of the Old Louisville Victorian Ghost Walk is the former NYC resident, now Old Louisville transplant, Ron Harris.   Ron is nationally known as the stand-in for the District Attorney, Fred Thompson, on the TV favorite "Law and Order".    Ron is perhaps best known locally as the "producer", along with his wife Jane, of "HAPPY BALLS" candy (Bourbon Balls) www.gethappyballs.com/ and as the "ghost" whom appears annually during the Old Louisville Holiday House Tour www.holidayhousetour.jpaul.us/ as "Mr. Alfred DuPont" as the DuPont Mansion Bed and Breakfast.

Will Mr. DuPont be in Central Park this year?  Or, will he show up at the Inn at the Park Bed and Breakfast with Annie Whipple, who dared meddle in Black Magic in an effort to save her favorite little child.  Production details are secret - we just know the event will be fantastic!  Come see it.  Stay the night at the DuPont Mansion www.dupontmansion.com  or Inn at the Park www.innatpark.com Historic Bed and Breakfasts.  You will love it!

Kentucky Wine Trail

No longer in its infancy, Kentucky’s wine industry (www.kentuckywine.com) is maturing and thriving and a great place to visit.  In fact, with our help, you can make your own Wine Trail!   Kentucky wines earned 11 honors, including two gold medals, at the recent Indy International Wine Competition, one of the nation’s premier wine festivals.  The number of Kentucky wines entered in Kentucky State Fair competitions has doubled within the past two years, from 100 to 200.   In addition to making wine, 42 wineries have tasting rooms, five have restaurants, 21 host special dinners, and 28 host music events.   Kentucky was a leading wine producer in 1900 in the United States, and then prohibition put them out of business Kentucky wine is now back!  Come stay at a Kentucky Bed & Breakfast and hit the Kentucky wine trail.

Remember Our Heroes

We join you in remembering those whose lives were taken.

Remembering those who were lost, their loved ones,

and the tens of thousands who responded without hesitation on that fateful day.

Please join all of us at the DuPont Mansion and Inn at the Park

as we pay our sincerest respects to the

Tenth Anniversary of the events of that terrible day - September 11, 2001.

Entertaining Guests

Recent guests at Inn at the Park entertained all our guests at breakfast with a impromptu musical recital.  Our guests, Chrissa Walsh, the Executive Director for Finance and Development at The Pastoral Counseling Centers in Nashville, Tennessee and her friends from Nashville, Mary Corby and Rebecca Horton were all attending the Louisville convention for church musicians.  Besides raising money and children,  Chrissa's resume says her interest in music and drama keeps her busy "after hours".

Well, some of her "after hours" last week was spent at the DuPont Mansion and Inn at the Park where Chrissa, Mary and Rebecca serenaded the breakfast guests on two successive mornings. The music was breathtaking. What spontaneity!  What fun!  This delightful threesome told us they are coming back soon.  We can't wait!  Genny, our innkeeper at the DuPont Mansion, reported that the music was so beautiful that she cried when they sang "Amazing Grace". 

This kind of event is not likely to happen at any hotel in Louisville (or elsewhere).  Aren't bed and breakfasts fun?  Come back soon Chrissa, Mary and Rebecca!