VERSAILES, Ky. (LEX 18) — A Woodford County business owner is on a mission to make Versailles a destination and not just a pit stop. They're aiming to do it while keeping the historical integrity of downtown.
Versailles is lined with offices, storefronts, coffee shops and restaurants.
"You get the small town feel but you're so convenient to Lexington and Frankfort and even Louisville," Emily Riddle, co-owner of The Amsden, said.
Emily, her husband and another partner own The Amsden. The couple runs the coffee and mercantile shop inside. Riddle says she takes pride in showing Versailles to tourists.
"When we bought this building, actually a lot of the stained glass was covered up and the ceilings were low," Riddle said.
"So we just busted everthing up and tried to uncover what we could. We try to highlight as best we can through the design."
The owners say that just like what they've done with The Amsden building, they plan on showing off the history of downtown Versailles in their next project.
"It's a boutique hotel and distillery and it will have a restaurant as well," Riddle said.
Riddle says they're still finalizing the exact location of the hotel but she has already started thinking of the designs.
"Each room will have its own feel. So the rooms won't be cookie cutter, there will be about 30-40 rooms," Riddle added.
"We're still trying to finalize how many we can fit and what the layout will be."
A small town feel, with a big city taste.
"You can never have too many things for people to do," Riddle said.
"We want Versailles to become a destination for people to visit. Kind of like Franklin is to Nashville, we would like Versailles to be like that to Lexington."
The owners say they're hopeful the boutique hotel will open late next year.
