North Middletown’s “tight-knit” community and rustic embrace
North Middletown is among the small cities in the horse country around Lexington, Kentucky. During the fall, people from here and beyond flock to the city’s Middle Springs Farm to pick pumpkins, while spring allows for picturesque portraits among the property’s poppy field. This community of fewer than 700 people further enjoys conveniences like its own school and bordering farmland with institutions like the renowned Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa. With its luxurious grounds and buildings, the 1,400-acre site and thoroughbred breeding farm has been called the Biltmore of the Bluegrass. “It’s a tight-knit community, but at the same time very friendly and welcoming,” says Justin Menke, owner of Middle Springs Farm, a seasonal agritourism business. “It’s absolutely beautiful. Some of the most renowned horse farms in the world are right around us.”
From small ranch-style homes to luxury estates with horse farms
Homes within city limits sit on neatly maintained lots no larger than about a third of an acre. Outside the city, more spacious and fence-lined properties are spread across gently rolling farmland. The area has ranch-style, farmhouse, Colonial Revival, Craftsman and Traditional homes. Homes mainly go from $150,000 to $250,000, but some sell above that range. Upscale homes on multi-acre horse farms can fetch from $1 million to nearly $3 million. Prospective buyers will also find multi-acre plots from about $40,000 to $500,000. The community’s overall CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, below the national average of 4.
Mexican cuisines and comfort foods in North Middletown
Dining options in North Middletown include El Jacalito's Mexican cuisine. Down the street, Miles Diner serves homestyle cooking. For more comfort foods like classic burgers, there’s the Mid Mart Restaurant, which shares a building with a gas station. Although North Middletown has a couple of chain variety stores, Paris’ Walmart provides the nearest place for grocery and retail shopping.
Middle Springs Farm and horse country activities
North Middletown Park offers a small green space with a pavilion and some stone benches. Another park neighboring North Middletown Elementary School is open to the public outside of school hours and includes a basketball and volleyball court. Nearby horse country attractions include Big Creek Livestock, a beef farming operation that provides riding lessons and cattle handling clinics. The organization also hosts women-focused activities, including occasional cowgirl retreats. The Hill ‘n’ Dale hosts tours, allowing visitors to see its stallions and attractions like its historic stone barn. Middle Springs Farm bustles with excitement a few times a year. Along with the pumpkin pickings, many explore the farm’s corn maze or go on hay rides during the fall. Visitors also make bouquets from picked wildflowers and get to pet farm animals. Easter time involves the traditional egg hunt and photo opportunities in a giant basket.
Daffodil Days, Easter egg hunt and the Poppy Festival
Middle Springs Farm’s other spring events include Daffodil Days and May’s Poppy Festival. Spanning a few weekends, Daffodil Days coincides with Easter activities and invites those attending to pick the event’s signature flower. Along with its numerous photo opportunities, the Poppy Festival brings out vendors selling handmade crafts. “We draw from as far away as Indianapolis. They’ll go on a 3-hour drive just to come to our farm,” Menke says. “We try to have activities for pretty much everybody. It’s often families with younger kids, but it’s sometimes older couples without kids.”
North Middletown Elementary’s community events and archery program
North Middletown Elementary is the town’s flagship school and gets a C from Niche. A community destination, the school puts on plays like The Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins. The elementary school also has an archery team, which has been quite successful and reached the state tournament in 2025. “For a small rural town, that’s impressive,” Menke says. “They’ve had one for a long time at the middle and high school, but it’s new to the elementary school.”Beyond primary education, North Middletown is zoned for Bourbon County middle and high schools, which get C and B-minus grades from Niche.
U.S. Highway 460 commute Bourbon County hub Paris
U.S. Highway 460 goes directly to Paris and Mount Sterling, 11 miles west and 13 miles east of North Middletown. Lexington commuters usually travel on Thatchers Mill Road, or Kentucky Route 57, and North Middletown is 29 miles from the horse capital’s downtown. Located 34 miles away on the western end of Lexington, the Blue Grass Airport is the region’s hub for commercial flights. Bourbon Community Hospital in Paris is the nearest major medical facility.
