Irvine is a quiet community with deep roots and a welcoming spirit
Life moves slowly in Irvine, a small, rural city of just over 2,000 residents. “We’re 20 years behind the times and that’s how we like it,” says Shayne Puckett, Realtor and owner of Trifecta Real Estate Experts LLC. “That’s how we want to keep it." Still, the community is welcoming to newcomers. “Probably 70% or 75% of what I sell right now is to out-of-towners,” Puckett says. “Because they want a piece of our Mayberry.” Most residents commute from 20 minutes to an hour, but there are some larger employers in the area, including Carhartt Apparel. "They’ve been here for probably around 100 years,” Puckett says.
Home prices are lower than in Lexington, and with room to spread out
“We’re 40 minutes from Lexington and half the price of what the real estate is there,” Puckett says. Within Irvine's city limits, prices range from $60,000 to $275,000. Ranch-style homes and bungalows are common, and most were built between the 1920s and the ‘70s. Some newer homes are farther out, and the prices can get as high as $550,000.
The community is at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, and properties are on a gently sloping street grid. “The river runs directly through the center of our county, and one side of the river is mountainous, and the other side is flatter land," Puckett says. Lot sizes also tend to be larger away from the city limits. “If you buy in Estill County, you’re going to more than likely get a half-acre or better 95% of the time,” Puckett says. “You’re going to have some room to breathe.”
Estill County schools have seen major upgrades in recent years
Niche gives Estill County Schools a C-plus rating. The district has two elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. A few years ago, the county made $47 million worth of improvements to all its schools, including updates to HVAC systems, parking lots and safety measures. Estill High is rated C, and their band program has won State Champions several times, most recently in 2024. Eastern Kentucky University is around 20 miles away in Richmond.
Annual festivals and outdoor venues bring the community together
The county’s largest park is Veteran’s Memorial Park. It was formerly known as the Choo Choo Park because it’s near Ravenna’s historic railroad tracks. The Hardy Pavilion is a 4,500-person venue that’s part of The Yard, a railroad-themed tourist attraction currently in development. They host the annual Ravenna Railroad Festival to celebrate the area’s heritage. The Mountain Mushroom Festival is another annual event celebrating Appalachian culture.
Outdoor enthusiasts can kayak and canoe at Kentucky River Recreation Park. “They’ll have 200 or 300 inner tubes with people floating down the river," Puckett says. Hikers can head to Lily Mountain Nature Preserve, which has over 560 acres to be explored. The Estill County Golf Course is a 9-hole course open to the public.
Irvine’s food scene mixes drive-in classics and Mexican fare
The Wigwam is a local staple that’s been open and family owned since 1957. The drive-in restaurant also has indoor seating, where diners can order burgers, pies and all-day breakfast. La Cabaña is an upscale Mexican restaurant that Puckett calls affordable. Irvine has a Save A Lot grocery store, but some residents may choose to travel a little further. “We’ve got a good supply of stores with a 20- or 25-minute drive if you’re wanting something bigger than just the local grocery store,” Puckett says. The city only recently got its first liquor store. “The whole county is dry except for the city of Irvine,” Puckett says. “We were an alcohol-free town until about 5 years ago."
Drivers rely on Route 52 and the Mountain Parkway for access
Kentucky Route 52 runs from Irvine to Madison County. “We’ve got a great road system here,” Puckett says. “Probably 95% of roads in this county are blacktop — we have very few gravel roads. I know that sounds stupid if you’re from a big town, but 25 years ago, the majority of our rural roads were gravel.” The Mountain Parkway takes drivers to Winchester. Some homes may be within walking distance of nearby parks, restaurants and businesses, but the area is primarily car-dependent. The closest major airports are Louisville International Airport and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, which are around 125 miles from Irvine.
