Railway Guest House in Charming Midway KY Horse Park,Bourbon Trail,Keeneland.
This unique, early 1800’s historic house sits 50 FEET from the railroad. The train blows by 3x during the day, tooting & whistling away & once or twice at night. It is the second oldest residence built in Midway. The plot of land where the house sits was one of the initial purchases from the railroad company which was one the first towns in KY to build a Railroad Town. GUESTS NEED TO CONFIRM THEY CAN HANDLE THE ORIGINAL OLD STEEP & NARROW STAIRCASE BEFORE BOOKING ACCEPTED. Guests will enjoy their private, bright & cozy upstairs with 2 nicely sized bedrooms with plenty of closet space. The bathroom in between the bedrooms & breakfast nook is very small, but clean & efficient. There is a mini fridge, coffee & tea station. Ice bucket @ 5:00 pm each night is available upon request. Entrance & exit is through the front door & through the one-room art gallery which is closed off from the rest of the house. 9 ORIGINAL VERY STEEP & NARROW STAIRS leads to the cheery upstairs accommodations. STAIRS ARE NOT FOR PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES. BIG, HEAVY SUITCASES ALSO WILL POSE A PROBLEM IF YOU ARE NOT UP FOR WRANGLING THEM UP THE 9 STAIR CLIMB. GUESTS MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE SEEN/READ RE. STAIRS BEFORE BOOKING IS ACCEPTED Please see pictures :) Ample off street parking is available. If you are bicycle-touring/racing, garage arrangements in back can be be made for bicycles. Off street horse trailer parking can also be arranged. Ellen, the host, lives in the back part of the house which is closed off from the art gallery room & upstairs. The house is located on the residential side of Main St. (aka Railroad St.) & is 1/2 block away from restaurants & shops where you will also find Ellen’s Art Gallery & Gift Shop THROW ME A CARROT. She can be reached anytime if needed on her cell phone (preferably by text) during your stay. Guests receive 15% discount at THROW ME A CARROT :)
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The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Please leave your key on the little captain’s desk next to the front door as you leave :)
Trash cans are in the back of the driveway which is easy to see. One for reg. and one for recycling.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Please place used dishes etc. in basket. If you’d like clean dishes and refreshed ice-bucket, please leave at top of stairs when leaving for the day.
Please park in house’s off-street driveway to right of house leaving space for another car to your side not in front of the house
Important information
You need to know
Property # 2001607vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
About the area
Midway
Located in Midway, this holiday home is in the city centre. Buffalo Trace Distillery and Equus Run Vineyard & Winery are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Cove Spring Park and Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary & Audobon Center. Old Friends Thouroughbred Retirement Farm and Blue Grass Railroad Museum are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with power boating and fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and hiking.
Equus Run Vineyard & Winery - 4 min drive - 7.2 km
Old Friends Thouroughbred Retirement Farm - 8 min drive - 14.6 km
Kearney Hills Golf Links - 10 min drive - 20.5 km
Masterson Station Park - 12 min drive - 16.9 km
Kentucky Horse Park - 15 min drive - 29.3 km
Getting around
Lexington, KY (LEX-Blue Grass) - 22 min drive
Restaurants
McDonald's - 17 min walk
Rocky’s Pub - 11 min drive
Wallace Station Deli and Bakery - 4 min drive
The Midway Bakery - 14 min walk
Don Jockey - 2 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Railway Guest House in Charming Midway KY Horse Park,Bourbon Trail,Keeneland. pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Railway Guest House in Charming Midway KY Horse Park,Bourbon Trail,Keeneland.?
As of 13 May, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Railway Guest House in Charming Midway KY Horse Park,Bourbon Trail,Keeneland. on 20 Sept, 2026 start from S$279, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Railway Guest House in Charming Midway KY Horse Park,Bourbon Trail,Keeneland.?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Railway Guest House in Charming Midway KY Horse Park,Bourbon Trail,Keeneland.?
Check-in begins at 12:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Railway Guest House in Charming Midway KY Horse Park,Bourbon Trail,Keeneland.?
Checkout is at 12:00 PM.
Where is Railway Guest House in Charming Midway KY Horse Park,Bourbon Trail,Keeneland. located?
Located in the heart of Midway, this holiday home is 3.8 mi (6 km) from Equus Run Vineyard & Winery and within 12 miles (20 km) of Kentucky Horse Park and Old Friends Thouroughbred Retirement Farm. Headley-Whitney Museum and Nostalgia Station Toy Train Museum are also within 9 miles (15 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay! Ellen is an excellent host and accommodated our every request with gladness. The atmosphere and decor of this lovely home takes one back to another time in old Midway. It’s walkable to all of the best dining and shopping in downtown Midway. The staircase does have steep stairs, and some may find the shower a little small, but neither were issues for us. The rooms were comfortable. We were provided a small fridge, single cup coffee maker and tea kettle with great tea and coffee selections. There were so many cute touches. We will be returning for sure.
We stayed here for the recent Railbird festival. It was clean, cute and good for our needs of this trip since we were not going to be there for meals and things.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this charming and unique place. We loved the original features of the house, and the location was perfect for walking to restaurants and shops. Ellen is a wonderful host and artist and our stay at the house made our trip extra enjoyable.
Julia C.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Jun, 2022
Lovely guests!!! Enjoyed having cyclists stay with me doing the Horsey 100 :)))
Midway is such a rare jewel!The Railway Guesthouse felt like home from the time we arrived! Ellen is an amazing person , so lovely inside and out!!! We can’t wait to come back “home”
jessica b.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Jun, 2025
You were delightful guests!!! Thank you so much, Jessica.
Look forward to seeing you again.
We booked this property the weekend of the derby. It was perfect for us. Everything is well thought of- and just absolutely charming. Property owner is accessible and wonderful to communicate with- we will definitely rebook in the future ❤️
What a quaint and lovely home! Well preserved 200 year old home with beautiful artwork to enjoy. Great location for Keeneland, UK activity and bourbon trail!! Ellen was a great hostess!!
David C.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Oct, 2024
Thank you for staying here! You were lovely guests to host :)
Ellen was a wonderful She was very knowledgeable about the area and gave us many fantastic recommendations for activities and eateries.
The accommodation were as stated on the site. Lovely!
Home built in early 1830s in a nice / quiet town. Very clean and comfortable. Ellen was a wonderful host.
Jeff M.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Sept, 2021
Dear Mr. McMillan,
Is there anything I can do to make the 4* rating you scored my place a 5*? That was my first one, so would like your input to make improvements. Many thanks, Ellen.
This is such a beautiful historic home. Location couldn’t have been better for our days at Keeneland since we could go in the pretty back roads and miss the huge traffic jams. At night, we booked dinner in some fabulous small restaurants in Midway, which were just a few steps away. The home was comfortable and yes, the stairs are steep, but no problem for us. Would absolutely stay here again!
We were in town for the Land Rover three day event. Midway was charming and the people were unbelievably friendly! Ellen was awesome. Her home was comfortable with delightful furnishings and really added to our experience.
Beautiful home, perfectly and accurately described. Ellen was a great host. Her art is inspirational. The small town of Midway was a breath of fresh air from the city. Everyone we encountered was gracious and polite. We can't wait to visit again.
Megan S.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Jun, 2023
What a wonderful review. Thank you! You all were delightful.
In town for the Thoroughbred Makeover at the Kentucky Horse Park.
My stay couldn’t have been more perfect!
The horse park is a short drive and several excellent restaurants are within walking distance. The town of Midway and the accommodations were absolutely charming. Ellen’s beautiful artwork, fascinating life story and love of horses (as evidenced in her art) made my stay even more memorable and special.
I would definitely recommend a stay here. Ellen, thank you so much for a fabulous stay.
Connie R.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Oct, 2022
Connie, it was really, really fun seeing your beautiful mare IRENE win the Freestyle division at the RRP! Congratulations! Thank you for staying with me and I hope to see you again! Happy Trails, Ellen.
This is our 3rd stay with Ellen for a well needed girl’s weekend. As always, we left with more great memories. Ellen is a very attentive host and we love the convenience of being able to walk to the dinner on Main St. Having coffee in the morning was very cozy. That’s all we needed! Thanks Ellen, We’ll be back.
Holly W.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Apr, 2023
You all are lovely guests!!!
Look very much forward to seeing you again. Thank you so much Holly.
Verified
8/10 Good
Wanda V.
3 Nov, 2021
Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location
Keeneland Outing
Quaint & enjoyable for those who can navigate steep stairs & cute, tiny bathroom. Two spacious bedrooms; we created a cozy sitting area in the larger room.
Train lovers will enjoy close proximity to the tracks and the romantic sounds of it passing through the sweet town, which has wonderful shops and dining options.
The owner is an accomplished artist with her studio and gallery on the first floor.
Wanda V.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 19 May, 2022
Steep, narrow stairs are strongly emphasized in property description & photos. Small bathroom also described & photographed accurately, but more pictures will added.
About the host
Hosted by Ellen Skidmore
Ellen found Midway in 2020 & loves living & working here. Her gallery/studio/gift shop is a block away on East Main St. She enjoys spending time with her dogs in the backyard & her horse which she boards at a farm nearby,
Why they chose this property
Perfect for people who appreciate historic homes. This house was built in the early 1800’s. It is located on the residential side of Main St. but Is only a short block’s walk to the Railroad Shops & restaurants of Midway. Midway is just off interstate 64 so only15 minutes to the Kentucky Horse Park, Keeneland Race Course & the infamous Bourbon Trail, horse farm tours, etc. BEFORE RESERVATIONS ARE ACCEPTED, GUESTS MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE SEEN THE 9 STEEP/NARROW STAIRS PHOTO/DESCRIPTION,
What makes this property unique
Desk, WiFi, great beds, reading/relaxing chairs, big closets. The Cookie Nook which is in between the two bedrooms and opposite the bathroom has a Keurig coffee maker, electric water kettle, mini fridge with sugar, cream, plates etc. provided. Ellen lives on the property works a block away in her studio/gallery/gift shop and is usually around answer any questions preferably by text. GUESTS MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE SEEN/READ 9 STEEP/NARROW STAIRS DESCRIPTION BEFORE RESERVATION IS ACCEPTED.