Kentucky, horse, Churchhill Down, racing

New Kentucky Experiences 

  • The National Corvette Museum – announced a major expansion with a new 66,000-square-foot Collections facility, set to open in Fall 2026. This facility will significantly increase capacity for preserving historic vehicles and artifacts. Starting in early 2027, the building will offer behind-the-scenes guided tours, effectively doubling the number of Corvettes accessible to the public.  https://www.corvettemuseum.org/expansion/   
  • The Kentucky Coffee Trail – This new trail highlights 32 local coffee shops, from Louisville’s Fante’s Coffee to the rural Kangaroo Ridge Farms. Inspired by the Bourbon Trail,  this initiative is meant to draw travelers “off the beaten path” to discover Kentucky’s unique coffee culture. A dedicated mobile app is currently in development to help enthusiasts navigate the trail and support small businesses across the commonwealth. https://thekentuckycoffeetrail.com/    
  • The Dot Experience – An innovative museum set to open in Louisville, October 2026. Developed by the American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, The Dot features a hands-on approach to education by encouraging visitors to learn through touch. It will include exhibits on living with blindness, a dedicated section on the life of Helen Keller, and factory tours showing how Braille books are made. The goal is to raise awareness about disabilities and challenge biases. https://thedotexperience.org/  
  • Ovation on the River – A 25-acre urban mixed-use waterfront in Newport is opening in phases. Located on the banks of the Ohio River this project features a lively bar and restaurant scene as well as residential and office space. The entertainment destination center features a common consumption area that allows patrons to carry drinks within designated zones. Recent Ovation openings include Market Bar, which joins the rooftop bar High Note, offers handcrafted cocktails and features a flexible indoor/outdoor seating area. https://www.ovationontheriver.com/    
  • Louisville Kings – The United Football League announced a new franchise will set up shop in Louisville ahead of the Spring 2026 season. Home games will be played at Lynn Family Stadium. The season begins March 27 and runs through May 16. https://www.theufl.com/teams/louisville  
  • Pride Plates – A new walking food and queer history tour, “Pride Plates,” is now offered in Louisville. The tour takes participants through the Highlands, one of the city’s historic gayborhoods, blending tales of Kentucky’s LGBTQ+ community with local culinary traditions like fried chicken and spoonbread. Likely the only queer food tour of its kind in the country, the experience draws from extensive archives to highlight moments of queer joy and activism. It aims to showcase Kentucky’s rich and often-overlooked queer history. https://louisvillefoodtours.com/queer-history-tour/  
  • Malibu Jack’s Owensboro – Malibu Jack’s, an indoor entertainment facility with three other Kentucky locations is setting up shop in a former mall in Owensboro. The multi-million dollar, 109,000-square-foot project will be the third largest Malibu Jack’s facility. The new attraction will feature go-karts, laser tag, mini-golf, and a variety of arcade games. The new facility will be completed in April 2026 www.malibujacks.net  
  • PKL Lex – A new indoor sports facility has opened up shop in Lexington offering a mix of activities for the growing number of pickleball enthusiasts. Located on Walton Avenue, the venue features nine pickleball courts, including three championship-sized courts. Beyond pickleball, it also provides golf simulator bays, a full bar, and a restaurant in partnership with Country Boy Brewing. The facility aims to be a social hub where people can play, eat, and drink, with a goal of appealing to diverse interests. https://pkllex.com/  
  • Kentucky Derby Museum – The Kentucky Derby Museum debuted a new exhibit and updated an old favorite. “Derby Fashion,” a new permanent exhibit that showcases the bold and unique fashion of the Kentucky Derby, from its origins in the 1870s to modern times. The exhibit, which includes dozens of physical outfits and over 150 items accessible via interactive touchscreens. Additionally, the museum has updated its Winner’s Circle display, which honors the latest Kentucky Derby winner every year, features a life-sized replica of the winner “Sovereignty” and an updated version of “The Greatest Race” film, which shows Derby highlights.   https://www.derbymuseum.org/    
  • Louisville’s Mega Cavern – One of Louisville’s most unique attractions has introduced a revamped Historical Tram Tour. The guided, educational ride takes visitors on an immersive journey through the cavern’s history, highlighting how its limestone shaped Kentucky’s past, from filtering water for bourbon to nourishing the bluegrass for racehorses. The tour maintains a steady 58 degrees year-round. https://louisvillemegacavern.com/  
  • Kentucky African American Heritage Trail – This new trail features more than 50 sites across the Commonwealth, From the Muhammad Ali Center to the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Birthplace, African Cemetery No. 2, and Camp Nelson National Monument, the trail highlights significant landmarks. Tourism officials are in the process of reviewing more sites to add to the trail in the coming months.  https://www.kentuckytourism.com/aaht  
  • Kentucky Golf Trail – Since launching in May 2025, the Kentucky Golf Trail combines the worlds of golf, bourbon, and horses into one fantastic experience. The trail offers access to meticulously maintained courses between Lexington and Louisville. Visitors can also experience bourbon distillery tours, thoroughbred farm visits, and horse racing at Keeneland and Churchill Downs, along with diverse culinary and cultural attractions in both cities. https://www.kygolftrail.com/  
  • John James Audubon State Park – A Kentucky State Park in Henderson has launched the “Gnomes of Audubon Forest” Scavenger Hunt Experience. This free, self-guided adventure invites visitors to find ten hidden gnome homes, each with a unique gnome character and QR code for a special message. Participants use clues to locate the homes, and those who find all ten can claim a prize at the Audubon Museum & Nature Center gift shop. The experience blends nature, storytelling, art, and education. https://hendersonky.org/2025/05/gnomes/  
  • Kentucky Kingdom – The Louisville based theme park, Kentucky Kingdom unveiled Discovery Meadow, a new section featuring three new rides and eleven reimagined attractions with fresh storylines. This new addition is part of a $25 million investment planned over the next two seasons. The area also boasts new restaurants, a playground, and retail shops. Celebrating Kentucky’s nature and animals, Discovery Meadow aims to provide an immersive experience for guests. https://www.kentuckykingdom.com/   
  • PlayPort – A new playground has opened in Louisville’s Waterfront Park. This 3.5-acre interactive playground offers STEM-based learning through custom-built equipment from repurposed materials. It celebrates the Ohio River’s heritage with authentic artifacts converted into play structures. Developed in partnership with the Kentucky Science Center, PlayPort includes educational signage and QR codes linking to science activity videos, providing an inclusive and engaging experience for all ages. https://kysciencecenter.org/playport2/  
  • Dinosaur World – Located in Cave City, Kentucky, transports visitors to a prehistoric era with over 150 life-size dinosaur models along a scenic walking trail. This Kentucky location, established in 2003, recently introduced the Jurassic Jungle, an immersive exhibit featuring animatronic dinosaurs, offering an exciting experience for all ages. https://www.dinosaurworld.com/   

For the latest information on What’s New in Kentucky, visit https://www.kentuckytourism.com/media/whats-new-in-kentucky

 [WK1]Please fix weird spacing throughout.