Valley View, Kentucky free ferry
N 37° 50.810 W 084° 26.113
16S E 725668 N 4191920
A must see/ride for any ferry buff. Why? This is ... (1) the oldest operating ferry service in the United States, (2) Kentucky's oldest continuous business, (3) the last ferry on the Kentucky River, and finally, (4) its FREE!!
Waymark Code: WMBY38
Location: Kentucky, United States
Date Posted: 07/03/2011
Views: 7
This ferry is located on Kentucky State Highway 169, between the cities of Richmond (county seat of Madison County), Nicholasville (county seat of Jessamine County), and Lexington. The operator mentioned that they transport about 400 cars per day on average.
In 1785, Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia (which is what Kentucky was before it became a separate state), signed the charter for the first owner of the ferry, John Craig. Craig was granted the charter for the ferry because of his service in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Because of this special beginning, the ferry is allowed to fly both the Kentucky and Virginia state flags.
In 1991, the Valley View Ferry was purchased by the county governments of Madison, Fayette, and Jessamine who jointly run the ferry under the direction of an appointed board.
The ferry operates daily, with the normal hours of operation being: Monday thru Friday, 6 AM to 8 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 8 AM to 8 PM. It is closed during high water and times of necessary maintenance repair.
If you want to make sure the ferry is operating on its normal schedule, you can call the following numbers:
Lexington Traffic Hotline: (859) 258-3611, ext. 1
Jessamine County Road Department: (859) 885-4500
Madison County Emergency Management: (859) 624-4787
When you ride the ferry, try to imagine all the people in the past who have also crossed the Kentucky River at this same spot, with the same method of conveyance: pioneers, Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers, farmers, business people, village dwellers, etc.
A look downriver will also reveal the remains of another means of conveyance across the river. The bridge piers of the Riney B railroad (Richmond, Nicholasville, Irvine, and Beattyville) are a reminder of that era of transportation in Kentucky.
Body of water served: Kentucky River
Places served:
Valley View, KY
Spears, KY
Madison, Fayette, and Jessamine Counties
Terminal / landing address:
Valley View, Kentucky USA
Seasonal: no
Dining room / cafeteria: no
Gift shop: no
Hours of operation (non-scheduled ferry service): Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
To post a new log for an existing waymark, [briefly] describe your visit to the ferry landing / terminal. Also, post a photograph of the ferry landing / terminal that you have taken.