What's between Fort Knox and Louisville? (Frankfort, Valley Station: homes, neighborhoods, theater)

[mukasa7]

Here's our situation. We may be relocating to Fort Knox army installation next summer. However, I would like to live closer to Louisville. Are there any family friendly areas somewhere in the middle? A good school district is important. The commute to Fort Knox from "home" would have to be 40 minutes or less. My husband doesn't want a long commute and I want to live closer to "city life". Is there any way to have the best of both worlds. I would appreciate any insight.

[mortgageguyKY]

I would consider Bullitt County.....It's in between the outer belt of Louisville and Ft. Knox. This would be within your desired commute and you would not have to battle Louisville traffic either to get to Ft. Knox. You're still close to Louisville for shopping, etc.

Housing is affordable out there too.....Let me know if I can help you further.

mortgageguyKY

[tomocox]

Odd as it might sound there are many opportunities for the kind of place you are describing; however, just exactly what "city" features are you seeking?

[mukasa7]

City life to me is having access to museums, good comedy shows, ethnic dining, large performing art centers for concerts, musicals, theater etc, good shopping. Right now we are stationed in a quiet city where the highlight is either go out to dinner or see a movie. I love exploring the neighborhoods in great cities. It's exciting to find the quaint coffee shop in a funky little shopping district. I'm a nurse and would like to work at one of the bigger medical centers in Louisville, but don't want to have my husband's commute to Ft. Knox be a nightmare. An excellent school district is our first priority and worth adding a couple minutes to travel time. Any thoughts?

[snm77]

Don't know if you are still checking this thread, but you might want to consider Okolona or Valley Station area. Both of these areas are close to major expressways (Okolona is near I-65 and I-265 and Valley Station is off I-265 at Dixie Hwy), which would be a good compromise for your husband's job at Ft. Knox and your love of the city. I-65N would take you right into the heart of the city.

[LouisvilleJake]

You could easily live in Southwest Louisville and still have a 30 minute commute to Fort Knox. Although, with the huge influx of population that Fort Knox is getting with BRAC, you may be able to find a new place right near the base. I know that Radcliff is having a huge building boom because of all this.

From Fort Knox you're probably about 45 minutes form the medical center in downtown Louisville, althoguh there are also large hospitals in southwest Louisville and east Louisville.

In regards to your desire to find funky neighborhoods...you've come to the right city.

Look for Bardstown Road. It is several miles of funky shops, art galleries, bars, restaurants, coffe shops, et cetera.

Another great road is Frankfort Avenue, same deal as Bardstown, but a little more refined.

Look for Heine Brothers Coffee, it is a great local chain that you find in the older, central parts of Louisville. Java is also another good coffee chain around town.

Also, look for Old Louisville, near downtown. It is an amazing old neighborhood form the late 1800's with walking courts and amazing homes. The neighborhood is huge and there is a sign for it off of I-65 near downtown.

Downtown is also flourishing with art galleries from East to West Main Street. There is a trolley hop every month that is very popular.

Another thing about Louisville it's amazing Olmstedian park system. One of the best in the nation, in my opinion.

You won't get bored quickly with exploring Louisville. I moved there form California and made it my adopted hometown. I know live in Chicago and I miss Louisville more everyday...I cannot wait to move back. I'll hope you'll be happy there too.

[dantzd]

To answer your first question, there is very little available housing between Fort Knox and Louisville. Fort Knox has three entrance gates, all off of US 31W (Dixie Highway) on the west side of the post. The southwest end of the Louisville metro area has seen better days. Very little housing is being built there, while Radcliff, Eliabethtown and Louisville itself seems to be in a building boom.

Kentucky is a great place to live in and enjoy. The winters are not too bad. We usually get a average of three snows a year about 4" to 8" deep. Summers are humid and hot with periods of cooler and drier air. Spring and Fall are long and pleasant.

Kentucky has some of the best state parks in the nation and many important historical sites. Abraham Lincoln's birthplace is about 25 miles SE of Ft Knox, My Old Kentucky Home site and outdoor summer theatre is about 40 miles away in Bardstown. Daniel Boone's exploits are all over Kentucky. Mammouth Cave is about an hour's drive down I-65. The northern edge of the Ohio River at Louisville has the only known inland deposit of ocean fossils in a small Indiana State Park that has a video presentation explaining how the Ohio River was formed. Lewis and Clark started their exploratory journey from Louisville so there are places to commorate it. Louisville has recently started painting the sides of large buildings with famous Louisvillians - Muhammed Ali, Colonel Harlan Sanders, Dianne Sawyer and several others.

Come on to Kentucky. I am not a native Kentuckian, but I love it here, and we have room for more.

[zilanay]

I am from Puerto Rico (warm and sunny place) and I moved here three years ago and I won't move from KY because is a very nice place to live and to raise kids; plus my husband is from KY. Well, we go to Puerto Rico whenever we want to escape from the mild-cold weather but I love the state. Well, we just bought our second home but as an investment Moderator cut: realtor advertising
We live in Elizabethtown KY is about 48 miles from Louisville KY (I worked in Louisville) and the real state property in Radcliff KY. Fort Knox-Army post is located in Radcliff and is about 7 minutes from the downtown. I loved KY and I love my town (Elizabethtown is very quiet) and we are planning to stay of course; well my husband is from here and I am very glad that in the future we will be raising our children in this state. I hope you can feel more secure of the decision. Let me know if you need any help. Good Luck and I hope you have a better idea about KY so far!

[kimmieyky]

Have you considered looking in the Elizabethtown area? The schools are wonderful, and recent development has included all of the major department stores, without traveling 40+ minutes to get there.

I do live in Bullitt county - born and raised here - but having raised two sons in the school system, I believe the schools in Hardin County (Elizabethtown area) are slightly above the norm.

E-town (as we lovingly call it) is a smaller, homier version of Louisville. A historic town, big enough to offer amenities, but small enough to know your neighbors. Quaint shops, ( You have to visit "Back Home Again"), friendly people, and a strong committment to community. Also, the Medical world is very up to date and many docotrs from Louisvile have moved their practices there, and/or have satelitte offices a few days a week.

Knowing the growth, I would suggest it over Louisville, only because of the small town values vs. fast paced city life - but that is a personal preference.

I absolutely would investigate both before deciding - north to Louisville, south to E-town - both on Hwy 31W.

If you choose Louisville or the suburbs, the interstae system is more acessible with the addition of Hwy 313 (Joe Prather Hwy.), but the commute from Ft. Knox via 313 to louisville will take more like 50 minutes 0 depending on where you land.

These are the things you need to consider - what are my childrens interests, large "small town" vs. growing Metro area, and housing preferences.

The South end of Louisville - Valley Station, Dixie Hwy area is growing and coming back to life, but from the sound of your letter, I would absolutely encourage a trip south before you make up your mind.

Good Luck - and check out Elizabethtown's website - so much good info! (P.S. - you may also want to give Bardstown a try - a little farther, but well within the traveling time one would have to Louisville)

Merry Christmas! KimmieyKY

[Vagus]

Originally Posted by mukasa7

Here's our situation. We may be relocating to Fort Knox army installation next summer. However, I would like to live closer to Louisville. Are there any family friendly areas somewhere in the middle? A good school district is important. The commute to Fort Knox from "home" would have to be 40 minutes or less. My husband doesn't want a long commute and I want to live closer to "city life". Is there any way to have the best of both worlds. I would appreciate any insight.

What's between Louisville and Ft Knox?
A lot of little river towns,bars, and an electrical generating station.
It looks ideally placed on a map, but I wouldn't recommend living there. Southwest Louisville is not that great either (posters opinion)
You can make it from Ft Knox to downtown Louisville in about 30 minutes on most days. That's driving rather fast up highway 31W.
Sadly, there aren't many good ways to get what you want -- I was in the same situation and ended up in E-town. Either your husband has a longer commute or you give up on "city life."