The William Whitley House, also known as Sportsman's Hill, stands today as a monument to pioneer ingenuity and resourcefulness. It was the first brick home and circular racetrack built west of the Alleghany Mountains, completed in 1794 by William Whitley and his wife Esther. Dubbed the "Guardian of Wilderness Road," the house was a gathering spot for early Kentuckians, including George Rogers Clark and Daniel Boone.
During the 1780s and 1790s, the Whitleys felt secure enough to build the brick home and a circular racetrack, and held race meetings each autumn. The track was unique in the nation because it was the first circular design and was built of clay instead of using turf. It is felt that the American practice of racing counter-clockwise began at this track, in response to anti-British feeling at the time. The British raced in a clockwise direction.
The House Museum is furnished with original pieces from the period. A tour guide will share the history of the house and the Whitley family.
Hours of Operation
- April 1 until Memorial Day
Tuesday thru Sunday
9:00a.m. - 4:30p.m. (last tour at 4:30p.m.)
- Memorial Day until Labor Day
Monday thru Sunday
9:00a.m. - 4:30p.m. (last tour at 4:30p.m.)
- Labor Day thru November
- Tuesday thru Sunday
- 9:00a.m. - 4:30p.m (last tour at 4:30p.m.)
Winter Hours (Weather Permitting)
- December 1 - 21
- Thursday thru Sunday
- 9:00a.m. - 4:30p.m. (last tour at 4:30p.m.)
- January and February
- Open by chance or appointment
- Weather permitting
Visitors can bring picnic lunches to the picnic area on the site’s 10 acres. The playground is close by. Two picnic shelters are available. They can be reserved by rental up to a year in advance. Open year-round. Fee for shelter rental.
For those who love history, this gift shop offers a large assortment of books on local and state history. Many of the items in the shop cater to children, such as Rock candy.