Jailers Inn, Bardstown

Iron bars on windows, 30 inch thick stone walls, and a heavy steel door slamming behind you may not sound like the typical tourist accommodation and Jailers Inn is anything but typical. The historic Jailers Inn, circa 1819, offers a unique and luxurious way to 'do time.' Jailers Inn is a place of wonderful, thought provoking contrasts. Each of our six guest rooms are beautifully decorated with antiques and heirlooms, all located in the renovated front jail. The back jail, built in 1874, is basically unchanged; you get a chilling and sobering look at what conditions were like in the old Nelson County jail that was in full operation as recently as 1987. On spring and summer mornings, as you sip hot coffee and chat with other guests over a full breakfast in the courtyard, its difficult to imagine all of the previous uses of the courtyardas a work yard for prisoners crushing limestone, a place to visit forlorn relatives, or even the centralized location of the Nelson County gallows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rooms All with private baths, two with double Jacuzzis The Victorian Room is filled with antiques and special touches such as an old wardrobe and dresser that belonged to my great-grandparents, the room has pink, floral wall coverings with an array of lace surrounding the chamber. The Colonial Room has a rustic feeling throughout it, from the natural limestone wall to its massive, hand-hewn timbers that run across the ceiling. This room, with all its beautiful furnishings, also contains a double jaccuzzi. The Library Room is done in an Art-deco style and has many older books (hence the name), and it includes a king size bed and sofa, perfect for reading some of those antique books. The Garden Room is many peoples favorite room due to its light and airy feeling when you first see it. With its floral prints, white wicker furniture, and two beautifully hand-stitched bedspreads, it is no wonder that people are drawn to it; include the old-fashioned claw foot bathtub and youll have a room to remember. The 1819 Room is the room with the most contrast, from the hand hewn timbers along the walls and the ceiling, to the shear fabric draperies over the queen size bed. This chamber, until recently, was called the ' Upstairs Dungeon' but, not to worry, the room is protected by the cherubs displayed throughout it. This room also contains a double Jacuzzi to soak your troubled spirits. In remodeling this room we wanted to make it comfortable for you yet keep the ambiance of the past. The Jail Cell also known as the 'fun room' is the only one that still resembles a cell. The room is decorated in all black and white. It houses two of the original bunks and a waterbed. While being incarcerated here enjoy yourself with a poster of Elvis doing 'Jailhouse Rocks,' snuggle up with a James Dean pillow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amenities Full Breakfast (served in the courtyard in summertime) Private baths (two rooms with double Jacuzzis) Turn down service Complimentary tour through the historic Jail Off-street parking -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- History The Old Nelson County Jail property, housed prisoners from 1797 till 1987. The front building, sometimes referred to as the 'Old Jail' was constructed in 1819. Records indicated that John Rogers architect of St. Joseph Cathedral, performed certain carpentry on this structure. The upper floor of this native limestone building, with 30 inch thick walls, contained two cells and an 'upstairs dungeon' to house prisoners. The back stone building, sometimes referred to as the 'New Jail,' was built in 1874 and is completely surrounded by a stone wall. The front jail was then; made into the jailers residence. Both the jail and jailers residence were used and occupied until 1987. It was the oldest operating jail complex in the state of Kentucky and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. TOURS AVAILABLE DAILY, BUS GROUPS WELCOMED