Sleeping in a Horse and Goat Stable in Berea, Kentucky

“Close to I-75.” Ok…

“Walkable to downtown.” Eh…

“Sleep with the animals.” Now we’re talking.

That third headline was sure to stop my scroll while scouring Airbnb for a place to stay in Kentucky this past November.

We were merely planning to pass through while driving from Wisconsin to North Carolina for my cousin’s wedding, and needed a dog-friendly accommodation for one night not far from the highway.

Who could resist such a tempting offering?

Welcome to Nicura Ranch

Not me. And I had no regrets as we pulled into the driveway of Nicura Ranch, tucked away in the countryside only 1.5 miles from I-75 in Berea, Kentucky.

It was dusk, a bit later than we anticipated due to an impromptu stop for bourbon tasting at Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. on the way through. As we parked, we saw a man waving to us from the second floor of the barn.

We soon learned this was Nick, the owner, and he was just about to tuck the horses and goats into the barn for the night.

Sharing a room with goats

Nick gave us a rundown of the property and directed us to our entrance at the inn—which just so happens to be a renovated area of the barn.

Our suite was the most unique of the three they offer: It had a window in the bedroom looking directly into the goat stall!

There is just no way not to smile with the faces of Ginger and Cinnamon looking back at you.

In lieu of going out for dinner, we opted to stop at Apollo Pizza & Beer Emporium for a beer and ordered pizza to-go so we could get back to our room and enjoy the company.

Watching Law & Order has never been more entertaining than with the sounds of animals settling in to bed in the background!

Dog-friendly accommodations

The suite included a farmhouse kitchen, spacious bathroom, and thoughtful touches for a dog-friendly stay.

In fact, Nick and Laura go above and beyond to create accommodations that are welcoming for “the whole family.” They actually specify it is okay if your dog barks and they will check on them and let them out if you are away for more than a few hours.

A property with room to roam

We didn’t have time to linger in the morning, but made a point to explore the property to stretch our legs and meet the other faces that call the property home.

Paisley quickly made friends with the retired racehorses grazing in the pasture.

Unfortunately, the third horse, Bubba B, was at the vet during our stay. We learned Bubba B is Laura’s pride and joy. You can read the heartfelt story of how Bubba B and Lady DeVille came to be part of Nick and Laura’s family in this blog post on their website.

Besides friendly animals to mingle with, the 15 acre property offers a fishing pond with peddle boat, a creek, gardens, mountain views, and a patio area with a fire pit and grill outside the guest suites.

An experience not for everyone

Our night at Nicura Ranch ended up being a hot topic of conversation throughout the weekend with my family.

Most people thought it was hilarious. Some said, “You slept in a barn?!” and “You actually paid money for that?!”

True, the evening was a bit noisy and Paisley was slightly alarmed by the goat’s unfamiliar evening routine.

To each their own, but our trip would not have been the same without this experience.

It was more than the average vacation rental. We felt invited to be part of the ranch. To meet a family, who, like us, has chosen an unconventional way of life.

It was comfortable, informative, entertaining, and 100% memorable.

To me, it doesn’t get much better than that.

What do you think?