Morehead is rural but with a vibrant downtown scene
Morehead is a thriving rural area in Eastern Kentucky that's also the seat of Rowan County. Settled in 1854, it was once a booming lumber town, but its economic growth was secured when Morehead State University opened its doors in 1887. Today, it has a vibrant downtown. "Because of Morehead State University, we have an active Main Street. Most of the kids are local, so they go home to see their parents on the weekend, and the place empties out," says local Phillip Frances, a Realtor with Homeland Real Estate who recently started his career selling homes. "Morehead acts as a hub for all the little communities around it. In Eastern Kentucky, it's rare to have so many options for things to do like you can here." The community has diverse shopping and dining options, drawing in locals from surrounding small towns, and access to plenty of outdoor recreation.
Locals hike, fish and boat at nearby lakes and forest trails
Morehead offers lots of outdoor recreation, from the big playground and sports fields at the Morehead City Park Complex to the fishing at Eagle Lake. Locals can participate in even more water activities at nearby Cave Run Lake, popular for boating, kayaking and hiking. Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail begins just north of Morehead, running through the community and into the Red River Gorge Geological Area and Daniel Boone National Forest. In total, it covers 343 miles between Kentucky and Tennessee. In the stretch through Morehead, turtle statues painted by local artists commissioned by Rowan County Art Center line the trail. "I think the Turtle Walk is a unique, cool little thing for Morehead. We take our kids out every weekend to do it. All over town, following this trail, you'll see turtles everywhere," Francis says.
Spacious lots and diverse housing eras
There's a healthy mix of midcentury housing and contemporary builds in Morehead, most sitting on spacious lots, especially along the outskirts of the area. Ranch-style homes and cottages are common sights, as are large New Traditional homes. "We've seen people come in droves who want that sort of rural escapism. They want to raise animals, have gardens and try out homesteading," Francis says. "You can build your own home and find a nice plot of land here." Due to the student population, there are more renters than owners in central Morehead. While some students elect to live in dorms, many will rent around the campus. The median sales price in Morehead for single-family homes is $245,000, lower than the median price of $480,000 in nearby Lexington.
Local shops and eateries in downtown Morehead
Morehead is a shopping and dining hub for many surrounding rural communities, providing retail plazas and an active, vibrant downtown scene. "Downtown has a bunch of murals and painted turtle statues. We've got Sawstone Brewing, which is pretty great, and lots of locally owned restaurants," Francis says. "It'll be super busy on Main Street on Thursday and Friday, then all the college kids head home, so Saturday and Sunday are more laid-back." Popular errand stops such as Walmart Supercenter, Kroger and Lowe's are on the community's west side.
Education with Rowan County and Morehead State University
Rowan County Schools serve the community, and the district receives a C from Niche. Kentucky offers inter-district school choice via open enrollment. Each school in Rowan County uses PBIS, or the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports system. Students may attend Rodburn Elementary, rated B-minus. Most students will move on to Rowan County Middle, which gets a C-minus, before heading to C-rated Rowan County Senior High. The area is home to Morehead State University, one of Morehead's biggest employers, offering nearly 150 undergraduate majors.
Navigating eastern Kentucky and flights from Lexington
Several main roads run through Morehead, including Route 60 and Interstate 64, which runs 65 miles west into the heart of Lexington. While there are small regional airports around Morehead, many will drive into Lexington to fly out of the Blue Grass Airport, which serves several commercial airlines.
