Small-town pride and shared community between Ravenna and Irvine
Ravenna takes great pride in its locomotive heritage. “It’s been such a staple in the CSX railroad community for so many years,” Puckett says. “CSX downsized a little bit when coal dwindled in Eastern Kentucky, and they cut our track out. All the coal from Eastern Kentucky used to come through Ravenna until about 15 years ago.” With a population of under 600 people, Ravenna is often intertwined with the slightly larger Irvine. “You can leave Irvine for Ravenna and not even realize you left one town and entered another,” says Shayne Puckett, Realtor and owner of Trifecta Real Estate Experts LLC in Irvine. “But they’re sister cities and they work hand in hand.”
Real estate is more affordable than in surrounding counties
Most homes were built between the 1920s and '70s, and Ranch-style homes are typical. Housing prices range from $132,000 to $374,000. “Madison County and Richmond are 20 minutes away, so you get the same amenities as the bigger towns get, but real estate is at least a third to 40% cheaper,” Puckett says. On average, homes stay on the market for an average of 25 days, nearly half of the national average of 52 days. Properties are on quiet streets that form a grid pattern. There tends to be more land farther from city limits. “Half acre to an are yards are very common,” Puckett says. “When you get to the bigger towns, they might have 10 houses on an acre lot, we don’t have that here.”
Recent upgrades support safety and comfort in local schools
Estill County Schools earns a C-plus grade from Niche. The county recently made $47 million worth of improvements to its two elementary schools, middle school and high school. This includes updating the HVAC systems, parking lots and safety measures. C-rated Estill High has a State-Champion-winning band program that last took the prize in 2024. Upper-level students can take dual credit courses in aviation at Eastern Kentucky University, which is around 20 miles away in Richmond.
Railroad history and outdoor recreation shape the city's culture
Formerly known as the Choo Choo Park, Veteran’s Memorial Park is by the city’s historic railroad tracks. The Yard is a railroad-themed tourist attraction that is still in development, but includes The Hardy Pavilion. “They just built a half-million-dollar amphitheater for music festivals, and they want to start doing them on a bigger scale here,” Puckett says of the 4,500-person venue. The Yard is owned by The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp., which organizes the annual Ravenna Railroad Festival. Kayaking, canoeing and floating on inner tubes are common activities at Kentucky River Recreation Park. Puckett says there will sometimes be 200 or 300 inner tubes out on the water. The 9-hole Estill County Golf Course is open to the public, and there are over 560 acres of hiking trails at Lily Mountain Nature Preserve.
Local restaurants include a 1950s diner and a Mexican eatery
The Wigwam is a diner serving burgers, pies and all-day breakfast. “It’s the oldest business in the county right now,” Puckett says. “It’s a mom-and-pop restaurant that’s been here since the 1950s. You’re not going to get any cheaper than The Wigwam, a meal is going to cost you about $8 there—and that’s a double cheeseburger, fries, coleslaw and a drink.” Puckett calls La Cabaña an upscale Mexican restaurant that’s affordable.There is a Save A Lot grocery store, but residents have other options a short drive away. “Richmond and Winchester have more dining facilities, but we don’t have the congestion and traffic that those counties have getting to those restaurants,” Puckett says. Irvine has the only liquor stores in the county, as the county is primarily dry except for Irvine.
Improved roadways make commuting easier across Estill County
The city is mostly car-dependent, but some residents live within walking distance of parks, restaurants and businesses. Drivers can take the Mountain Parkway to Winchester. “We’ve got a great road from Irvine to Madison County," Puckett says. "It’s called Highway 52, and it’s two to four lanes depending on where you are.” He adds that 25 years ago, most roads in Estill County were gravel, and now they’re paved. Louisville International Airport and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport are both around 125 miles from Ravenna.
