Valley View Ferry

About 15 minutes from our house is a small car ferry that takes people across the Kentucky River. It has been in existence for over 200 years. When I was doing home health in Madison County many years ago I would take it home at least once a week. At that time the original family still owned it and it had the distinction of being the oldest continuous business in the state of Kentucky. At the end of the time I did home health in the area, the elderly gentleman developed health problems and could no longer run the ferry. There was not another family member to take it over so it was shut down. Many people used the ferry to go back and forth on the river. In addition, it was a popular tourist place so eventually the three counties (Madison, Jessamine and Fayette) that meet at the at spot bought the ferry and reopened it. They now jointly run it.

We now frequently take this ferry across the river to go to our friends farm in Richmond. Although it is the shortest distance, it is not always the shortest time. We love going that way though. At night or when the river is too high we will take the interstate but the ferry is our favorite. The drive down to the ferry is scenic and helps me slow down when I need to relax. I love the few minutes we spend on the boat going across the river. This is a frequent place we take out of town company. On the Fayette/Jessamine County side there is now a park where you can stop and overlook the river as well as have a picnic. Many people will do this on a pretty day. The best part is the boat travels across the river in the middle of the Kentucky River Palisades which are beautiful any time of year. 

If you live in the area and have not been across the ferry, it is worth a drive down. You can access it from either of the counties via Tates Creek Road. If you are visiting put it on your agenda. The ferry is free.