White Light Diner

One of my favorite places to nosh in our state capitol is the White Light Diner (Thanks to dhecker2000 for the photo!), run by the famous/infamous Rick Paul, restauranteur extraordinaire. It's only open for breakfast and lunch, and it's a small place, so get there early and bring an appetite. Though the White Light Diner may be "only" a tiny old-school diner, Rick is a five-star Chef and knows his onions.

He used to have a cajun restaurant out on Highway 127 which was also great, but the location was kinda humdrum, near strip-mall kinda businesses. I'm glad he's kept the White Light going all these years and made it his primary culinary home base. I had a key lime pie there once and couldn't eat it because it was just too legit for me - I actually prefer the fake green-colored cheesecakey stuff to the real thing. When I told Rick this, he shook his head at me like I was king of the louts. (I am.)

Willow Lake Tavern

Willow Lake Tavern has existed for decaded near the corner of Lakeland and LaGrange in Anchorage, is on property formerly near the Central State Asylum's 19th century grounds, and not surprisingly, has been the source of many hauntings, sightings, and ethereal disturbances.

I dropped into the place last summer while researching the Weird Kentucky book. I tossed back a few brews and grilled the locals about whether they'd seen anything spooky around the joint. One patron of the bar, without my prompting, even went so far as to compare it to Bobby Mackey's, and noted: "I never believed in ghosts until I moved to Kentucky".

In its early years, the asylum operated a trolley car on its own private railroad tracks that existed where Lakeland Road sits today (you can still see the paved-over railroad ties peeking out from under the asphalt in some places). The Willow Lake Tavern's location back then was on the border of the Huston and Whipps farms. This is quite near where the "switching yard" would have been, for transferring the patients being shuttled in on their bleak journey from the incoming train car on the main tracks.

Recently the Willow Lake Tavern has become Selena's Restaurant but thankfully, the new owners have left the old neon sign intact. The mood there is considerably more upscale and the food is great, check 'em out!

Parkette

New Circle Road in Lexington has always been a great source for still-intact retro businesses, although they're becoming fewer and farther between nowadays. The best and most beloved of them would be the Parkette Drive-In diner.

Parkette's probably best known locally for two things: their great Poor Boy sandwiches, and their Biblical messages on their marquee, which were often confusing and obtuse because of the limited space (Sort of like the Estill County religious billboards).

The Parkette began in 1952, and once had a second branch on Georgetown Road which is long demolished. At the time of its opening, New Circle Road didn't exist. There was only a dirt road called Belt Line Highway.

Although Parkette's doors are currently dark, I hear they're about to reopen under new management and are renovating in such a way that will preserve the Parkette's old-school style. According to an article in the Lexington Herald Leader, the partners who currently own the Parkette are looking at unveiling the new improved Parkette in December.

Burgers! Shakes!

This is a wonderful old 50s era burger joint out on New Circle Road in
Lexington. When I took this picture back in 2003, the burgers were a
mere 75 cents but currently have been inflation-adjusted to 79 cents.

Anyone have any older photos of the place back when they were cheaper?