Tourism

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Hickory Hill Plantation

c.1861

'Where Time Stands Still'

Whispering breezes, green pastures and simpler times greet you at Hickory Hill, an authentic 1861 Kentucky plantation nestled in the rolling countryside in Mason County, Kentucky. Now designated a Kentucky Landmark, Hickory Hill was once part of the vast John Marshall Estate.

In 1812 Samuel Bramel migrated from St. Mary's County, Maryland to Mason County, Kentucky and settled at Mt.Gilead where he built his first home on a plantation of 1,800 acres, which was located about five miles from Hickory Hill.

In the mid 1800's Catherine Jane Preston Bullock migrated from Virginia to Mason County and purchased 170 acres from the Marshall family. Selecting a site high upon a knoll overlooking the lush Mill Creek Valley, she began construction of the present Greek revival home, using lumber cut from the virgin forest surrounding the home site.

In 1913 Samuel Bramel's great grandson, Clint Bramel and his wife, Mary Jo Best, purchased Hickory Hill Plantation from the Bullock family. The Bramel family has lived in the local area for nine generations and has owned Hickory Hill for five generations. Ironically once again Hickory Hill has passed on to Clint 'Butch' Bramel and Mary Jo Bramel, who are the current residents. Each owner has continued to farm the land, raising burley tobacco and cattle as the main source of their income.

Imagine yourself living in this once self-sufficient farm in colonial times and now into the 21st century. Learn about the agricultural heritage of this family and Mason County as you tour the family home, carriage and icehouse, combination dairy and smokehouse.

It is our intention for Hickory Hill to become a family destination,offering children and adults alike the opportunity to relax in a country setting and experience how life once was in the days gone by.

We welcome group and individual tours year round at $10 Per Person. Contact Bramel's Hickory Hill Nursery and Plantation at 606-742-2596 to schedule an appointment. Due to the nature of our business, guided tours are not always available without a reservation, however visitors are welcome to take a leisurely stroll around the beautiful plantation grounds and gardens.

Your guided visit at Hickory Hill includes:

Tour of 1861 plantation home
Authentic carriage house with a 13x18 ft dry laid stone ice cellar, antique carriage, farm implements, blacksmith tools, a whisky still, and much more.
Authentic dairy and smokehouse-Learn about curing hams and the purpose that a dairy house serves on a farm and the many uses that the building provided.
Hickory Hill Nursery offers an optional hands-on gardening class for large tour groups that is designed to coordinate with seasons of the year, after your tour of the plantation.

"A Day of Farm Tours"

Magees Bakery Farm, Elm Spring Boer Goat Farm and Hickory Hill Plantation want to invite you to 'A day of farm tours'. Enjoy a day out in the country by taking a tour of a 1861 Plantation home and authentic outbuildings at Hickory Hill and then visit our greenhouses and nursery for all of your gardening needs. Your next stop is at Magee's Bakery & Farm where you can take a tour of a 1790 Farm House, enjoy hay rides, a hands on bakery tour and a picnic in the country. Your last stop is at Elm Spring Boer Goat Farm where you can enjoy goats, honey bees, chair caning, basket and rug weaving demonstrations, house tours and hay rides.

www.mageesbakeryfarm.com

www.elmspringboergoats.com

Tours by Appointment only. 20 people minimum per tour. Starting at $38.00 Per Person, one meal included.