📍 Meet-Up Kentucky Truck Plant Tour 2027 + Eastern KY off-roading — early interest check

[DTX2023Tremor]

We're a long way from firm dates, but I want to start shaping this so we can move fast once we have them.

The big caveat up front: everything below is subject to change. @gmbpilot757 will be reaching out to the plant team early next year to work out a date they can accommodate us. It's historically been in August, but until that's locked, treat all of this as a sketch. Nothing gets booked until we have a date.

What I'm planning around

The feedback from this year was that people wanted more flexibility to do things that matched their interests, and more time to hang out and look at each other's builds. So the structure is a choose-your-own-adventure with the whole group converging for dinner each night.

Tour day

The plant tour runs roughly 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM. After that, two tracks:

• Distillery tour on Whiskey Row — Old Forester or your pick
• Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory Tour for anyone who'd rather not spend the afternoon tasting bourbon

Both tracks then converge for a barrel pick and fill-your-own-bottle experience, likely Buzzard's Roost, scheduled late enough that the bat factory group can join. Then group dinner at 7:00 near Whiskey Row.

The days around it

One day would be a bourbon trail run through the Frankfort-Lawrenceburg-Lexington corridor — Castle & Key, Woodford, Wild Turkey, Four Roses, and so on. It's hop-on, hop-off, so you can skip stops or take detours.

For anyone not interested in a full day of distilleries, the same day has a horse country track out of Lexington — Kentucky Horse Park, Keeneland, or a working farm tour. Both tracks end up in the same place, since we'd finish at Dark Arts Whiskey House in Lexington's Distillery District and then dinner at Goodfellas Pizzeria on the same block. Dark Arts worked well this year and can do both a simple guided tasting and a fill-your-own-bottle experience, so it accommodates whatever level of interest you have (or you can go get ice cream nearby and have desert before dinner).

Standing recommendation on Buffalo Trace: if you want a shot at the allocated bottle of the day, go first thing in the morning on your own. The line forms before the gift shop opens and it's worth it if that's your thing, but it doesn't work as a group activity — do it early and meet up with whichever track you're joining afterward.

Off-roading

New for 2027. There's a good option about 90 minutes east: the Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway, roughly 100 miles of forest roads through the Red River Gorge area. Gravel and dirt, full-size friendly, a few water crossings, genuinely scenic. Nothing technical.

This would land either before or after the Louisville portion, depending entirely on what day of the week the tour falls on. If the tour is on a Friday, trails the following day. If it's mid-week, we'd likely do it the weekend after. If it's early in the week, the weekend before.

Lodging for the trail portion would be separate — Slade and Natural Bridge have cabins and small motels near the Gorge, or stay in Lexington with a drive out to the trail first thing in the morning.

What I need from you

Vote in the poll for every component you'd be interested in. Multi-select, so check everything that applies. This isn't a commitment — it's so I know how big each piece needs to be.

The plant tour count matters most. We had to trim the group this year and had some late cancellations, so knowing real demand helps @gmbpilot757 make the case for a larger group.

Once we have a date, I'll follow up with a form for the specifics — which distilleries, which experiences, hotel nights, and whether you're bringing guests.

 

[HBTFD]

When the SEC releases the 2027 schedule I prefer the week before Georgia plays Kentucky. 2nd pick would be when Keeneland or Churchhill downs is running.

 

[DTX2023Tremor]

When the SEC releases the 2027 schedule I prefer the week before Georgia plays Kentucky. 2nd pick would be when Keeneland or Churchhill downs is running.

Those are great ideas. Unfortunately, the dates are 100% at the mercy of the KTP team's ability to accommodate our group. Hopefully it works out that there's something else really cool going on while we're in the area for the plant tour.

 

[WakeZilla]

I'm down, especially for a little off-roading. My truck primarily pounds pavement. Been needing a good reason to go to 37's, change out $20k in suspension parts and maybe a bumper or two with a winch!

Hmmmmmm, wonder what a Whipple runs these days?

 

[DTX2023Tremor]

I'm down, especially for a little off-roading. My truck primarily pounds pavement. Been needing a good reason to go to 37's, change out $20k in suspension parts and maybe a bumper or two with a winch!

Hmmmmmm, wonder what a Whipple runs these days?

You don't want to know how much a whipple runs these days, but their current lead time is 6 - 8 weeks. Just spend the money and don't look too closely at the bill.

 

[The Evil Twin]

I was one of those last minute cancellations We do a lot of work for school systems, and I should have known better than to think we would be on schedule.
The off road thing intrigues me. I’m not looking to beat up or pinstripe my truck (yeah, I’m a princess) since that’s what Jeeps and ATVs are for. The wife would probably enjoy it, too.

 

[Jack.]

I am mainly interested in the plant tour and the off-roading. Anything on this side of the MS river I’m interested going to.

 

[TRAMPER]

I’m in for all of it.

 

[gsea]

If I get all the way out there, I'll do anything and everything. I did live out that way for a while many moons ago, so I've visited a number of the distilleries and other sites. Mostly in for the plant tour and some Appalachian mud.

I'd like to be able to time it for a Hillclimb event as well to maximize the road trip, but worst case would be a fly-in for the tour and some camaraderie.

 

[TnTremor2026]

I’m in for this one! Short drive up from Nashville and I’d love to participate in the pant tour and actually meet everyone!