Monticello is a small city experiencing growth near Lake Cumberland
While tourists and seasonal residents know Monticello because of Lake Cumberland, those who call the city home year-round love it for its community. “We’ve got that real hometown feel,” says Mayor Kenny Catron. That small-town atmosphere comes from the support of local businesses and events like the Lake Cumberland Fall Festival. However, with a fast-paced housing market and new employers coming to the city, Monticello is experiencing some welcome changes.
Lake Cumberland and Big South Fork offer outdoor recreation
At 101 miles long, Lake Cumberland is the largest manmade lake in the U.S. “You’ll see boats on this lake the size of the cigarette boats that are on the ocean, to your small fishing boats and pontoons,” Catron says. “There’s every size you can think of here.” Another common sight is houseboats, earning the lake the nickname “Houseboat Capital of the World.” Lake events include the annual Lake Cumberland Poker Run and fishing tournaments. Within 30 minutes or about 20 miles, people can reach Wayne County’s historic swinging bridges and the vast Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Spanning over 125,000 acres, Big South Fork has plenty of space to hike, bike and go rock climbing. “There’s just a lot of nature areas here,” Catron says.
Within city limits, recreation includes the almost-100-acre Monticello-Wayne County Memorial Park. There are athletic fields like tennis courts and baseball fields, playgrounds, shelters and a nine-hole disc golf course. Also in the park is the Aspire Community Center, which has an outdoor swimming pool and indoor basketball and pickleball courts.
Monticello’s housing market has a quicker turnaround than the U.S.
Sidewalks line Monticello’s residential streets, which have early-20th-century homes like National Folk and Craftsman styles or Tudor-inspired cottages. There are also ranch-style houses from the mid-20th century. Newer properties from the late 1900s and early 2000s are common along the lake. These often have more rustic designs, from A-frame cabins and modern farmhouses to custom-built lodges. Depending on size and condition, smaller homes range from $100,000 to $300,000. Larger ones cost $350,000 to $550,000. Manufactured homes are $50,000 to $210,000. “There’s a lot of property being sold in Monticello,” Catron says. Homes typically sell within 45 days, which is faster than the national average of 52 days.
Local restaurants include Black Stallion Steak House and The Boathouse
While there are a handful of chains, most people dine at Monticello’s local restaurants like Black Stallion Steak House. “If you want a good sit-down meal, you go to Black Stallion,” Catron says. He recommends City Pool Hall for its juicy hamburgers. “You put it in the bag, and the bottom falls out,” he says. People get a latte and a pastry from Happy Hopper’s Coffee & More. The Boathouse is on the lake, with a menu that ranges from seafood to Italian and Mexican dishes. Residents can find fresh produce at the Wayne County Farmers Market, which is on Saturday mornings during the summer. Otherwise, they do their shopping at Save A Lot and Walmart.
Students attend Wayne County Public Schools
As part of Wayne County Public Schools, children complete prekindergarten and kindergarten at Walker Early Learning Center. First and second graders attend Bell Elementary. Both schools receive a B-minus from Niche. Monticello Elementary has a C and serves third through fifth graders. Wayne County Middle School scores a C-plus. The B-minus-rated Wayne County High offers dual credit courses through Campbellsville University. Wayne County has school choice through intra-district open enrollment. Private education includes the unrated Immanuel Christian Academy.
Residents attend Wayne County Fair and Lake Cumberland Fall Festival
The Wayne County Fair & Horse Show is every summer and has carnival rides, food trucks, beauty pageants and 4-H competitions. Every October, the city hosts the Lake Cumberland Fall Fest, which has live music and over 50 food and craft vendors. Kids look forward to the Trick or Treat Trail. “All the local businesses and leaders and churches, they’ll have tables set up and the kids can walk this trail to get candy,” Catron says. The Monticello Market is a craft market on the first Saturday of the month from May to September.
Monticello is a car-dependent city about 110 miles from Lexington
Residents rely on cars, although they sometimes share the roads. “In the city streets, not on Main Street or on highways, you can drive golf carts too,” Catron says. State routes 90 and 92 intersect in the city; the former merges with Interstate 75 and leads about 110 miles to Lexington. Wayne County Airport is in Monticello, but it is only for private planes. The closest commercial airport is Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, which has nearly 20 nonstop destinations. Catron says that residents will also travel 120 miles to Knoxville or Nashville and Louisville, both about 150 miles away. Wayne County Hospital has an emergency room in the neighborhood.
Two new employers are coming to Monticello: Centaurus Farms’ medical cannabis facility, which should bring in about 100 jobs, and Provalus, a technology and cybersecurity company that is adding 200 jobs to the city. “The growth in Monticello is just unbelievable,” Catron says.
