The Virginia opened in 1922 and reopened on its 100th anniversary. It sits at 214 East Mt. Vernon Street in downtown Somerset, where a restaurant also occupies the old Goldenberg Furniture building on Fountain Square. The Center for Rural Development is at 2292 South US 27, and Horse Soldier Farms is at 795 Slate Branch Road.
Somerset's fall now links downtown, the Center, and the farm. The farm is the newest and the only one still adding pieces.
The order things opened in
Horse Soldier Bourbon came to Somerset in two stages, and the smaller stage came first. In April 2022, construction crews became visible at the yellow Goldenberg building on Fountain Square, which the company had bought. The plan was a dining and cocktail restaurant modeled on The Urban Stillhouse in St. Petersburg, Florida. Owner Meredith Koko told the Commonwealth Journal in February 2024 that construction had started almost two years earlier and that the target for opening to the public was late March of that year.
The building has a longer history than the bourbon. Abe Goldenberg started his family furniture business at that location in 1904, according to Jarfly Brewing Company, which set up at 103 West Mt. Vernon Street and calls itself Lake Cumberland's first microbrewery. The Urban Stillhouse faces the square from the front of that same building. Jarfly's current hours are worth confirming before you head over.
The distillery came second. On July 1, 2026, Gov. Andy Beshear joined local officials and Horse Soldier leadership for the grand opening of Horse Soldier Farms. The public weekend followed on July 3 and 4, with Chris Janson, LOCASH, and a PBR event. Company leaders told Spectrum News the site expects more than 30,000 visitors a year. State tourism figures put the impact of Somerset's existing attractions at more than $152 million in 2025. That figure predates the distillery.
The restaurant had a two-year head start. The farm, which was announced first, arrived later and is still adding pieces.
What the farm has open right now
The farm's 240 acres include the 50,000-square-foot American Freedom Distillery and The Outpost, a retail store at the entrance on Slate Branch Road. The Outpost carries limited-time offerings, distillery-exclusive bottle releases, and Horse Soldier apparel.
Full production tours were not open for reservation when this post was written. The company said it is still commissioning its stills and production equipment, and it plans to announce tour availability, tastings, barrel selection, and seasonal events over the coming weeks. That leaves the Outpost as the part of the farm you can visit today. Check horsesoldierfarms.com for tour news before planning around one.
Reported dollar figures for the project vary by source. The state's announcement says $200 million. Spectrum News reports more than $120 million invested in the region. WKYT's report puts the expected economic impact on the Lake Cumberland region at $100 million. Those numbers measure different things, so it's safest to treat any single one with caution.
The calendar, by address
The Virginia and the Center for Rural Development handle most of the fall's scheduled events. Times and artists change, so confirm each one on the venue's page or at seesomerset.com/events before you go.
| Date | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Oct 8, 6:30 pm | The Center for Rural Development theater | Somerset Worship Gathering, free and non-denominational |
| Sat and Sun, Oct 10 and 11 | The Center for Rural Development | Cumberland Con |
| Fri, Oct 16 | The Center for Rural Development | Two school-time performances of Clifford: The Big Red Dog — The Musical |
| Sat and Sun, Oct 24 and 25 | The Center for Rural Development | USOA Kentucky Pageant |
| Fri, Oct 30, 8 pm | The Virginia | Listed show with Darren Knight, known as Southern Momma |
| Sat, Nov 7, 7:30 pm | The Center for Rural Development | Confederate Railroad, doors at 5:30 pm |
| Sat, Nov 7, 9 am | 500 W.O. Newell Drive | Lake Cumberland Air Show, per event listings |
The Virginia and the Center are each a single venue with their own regular audience, and each has one or two nights that draw a larger crowd. Horse Soldier is the piece that connects them, since the restaurant is downtown and the farm is farther out.
The convention that outgrew its first room
Cumberland Con is the most instructive of the fall events. Somerset's paranormal and comic book convention is listed for October 10 and 11 this year. According to a Commonwealth Journal report, it started in 2023 at the John Sherman Cooper Community Arts Center. That building also houses the International Paranormal Museum and Research Center. Organizer Kyle Kadel told the Commonwealth Journal at the time that the team hoped for 500 paid admissions in the first year. The Cooper had room for a little under 50 vendors, and he said the event could expand if it went well.
By 2026 it is listed at The Center for Rural Development, which has two exhibition halls and a theater. Kadel also mentioned a 2013 convention, the Dead Winter Horror Convention, held at the Center. It did well but did not become a yearly event. The 2026 edition is the one now listed in that larger space.
A weekend that touches all three
A plan for the weekend of October 10 shows how the addresses fit together.
Saturday can start downtown. Books Nooks & Crannies is at 400 East Mt. Vernon Street, and The Beanstalk Coffee Shop operates inside it, in the building that was old city hall. From there, drive out Highway 27 to the Center for Rural Development for Cumberland Con.
Saturday dinner can go back to the square. The Urban Stillhouse lists lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch service, and OpenTable shows Saturday dinner from 5 to 10 pm, so check current hours. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends. Charred Oak Grill has live local music on Fridays. Tonic Bar & Lounge on East Mt. Vernon holds a trivia night, and Big City Pizza and Main Street Deli, a local deli that has served Somerset for nearly 30 years, cover a quicker meal.
Sunday can go to the farm. The Urban Stillhouse's brunch runs from 11 to 3, which leaves time to drive out to Slate Branch Road for the Outpost afterward. The tours are not yet on the schedule.
The three addresses take a weekend to cover. The farm is the piece that will change most between now and next fall.
If you're heading to the Outpost or the square this month and have questions about the area, Preston Brainard is glad to talk it over. Let's Connect.
