Elkhorn City: Hometown of Patty Loveless and Daniel Boone's First Steps in Pike County, Kentucky

[@LarrySVAS]

Thanks for showing up Elkhorn City. I've been following Patty Loveless for 30 years and have all of her music. She is the best.

[@realappalachia]

I love her music too plus she seems like a really genuine person

[@jillybear6007]

i had relatives who lived in a holler in Ashcamp, KY. My mother-in-law was related to The Hatfields. I miss going there to visit, but she passed in 2020, sadly. It is just so beautiful and peaceful and so many wonderful folks there too. This video made me miss those days and family so much - thank you for posting it.

[@virginiamartin7312]

Great tour. These mountain towns sure look peaceful. Hardly no traffic. GOD BLESS You and THANKS

[@realappalachia]

thank you, God bless you too

[@TheWabbit]

I bet the mountains come alive in Spring and turn into a painting during Autumn. Nice little town. Thanks for the ride!

[@realappalachia]

I hope to get back and see that town then, the way it sits would be perfect for fall

[@lora1492]

Patty, moved away at age 4 and I've heard she claims Pikeville as her hometown. Thank you for the video. Much Appreciated

[@renitawallace3016]

I've been through Elkhorn City many times but it is always nice to see it through your lens. Thanks for doing these & sharing with all of us.

[@realappalachia]

I really appreciate those kind words, thanks for watching Renita

[@alphonsotate2982]

BEAUTIFULL COUNTRY JUST LIKE THE BEAUTIFULL MUSIC

[@debbieepperly3821]

I really enjoyed this "ride along". Thats a neat looking place to visit or live. Ive heard a lot of Patty Lovelace's songs, but don't think she's done anything recent. I know she sang the song with Vince Gill, Go Rest High on That Mountain, which he wrote when his brother died. My niece sang that song at both parents' funerals & even tho its been almost 20 yrs for mama & 16 for daddy, I still have a hard time listening to it. Most times I have to change stations or turn radio off. I do enjoy riding thru residential areas, but mostly like the older ones. Enjoyed the beautiful ride! Thanks Shane! Hope you get home before the weather gets crazy! Stay safe! God bless!

[@realappalachia]

Ice has been everywhere but I'm safe and sound, thanks!

[@debbieepperly3821]

@@realappalachia Good...I'm glad you're safe & sound but what on earth are you doing up at this hour??!! I know why I'm up (pain, as normal), but YOU should be sound asleep in bed, young man! Lol!

[@nancymcgee4776]

Thank you!

[@jennifergross6015]

I grew up in Elkhorn City. It's only been a couple of years since I was there last and I was sad to see that the Russell Fork restaurant had been town down. That was a war memorial you mentioned just before the fire dept on the left. The other older school was my junior high. It has recently been turned into affordable housing for the community. The last I knew Patty Loveless was there was in 1990 for the fall festival. The town renamed Russell street after her as patty Loveless Dr. She, Vince fill and Ralph Stanley done a concert at the high school which is the elementary now as you stated. Her limo was in the parade and I believe that was the last time she was there. Officially anyway. There as roughly 3000 people in Elkhorn City when I was in high school in the 90's.

[@realappalachia]

thanks for all that awesome info, really helped to fill in the blanks. I hope they have rebuilt the theater that was there that burned down a year or two ago.

[@tonybelcher8386]

Some of the important geographical features are: At 4:20 crossing the bridge over the Russell Fork of the Big Sandy River. Lots of timber was floated down this river in days past. At 4:40, Elkhorn Creek on the left, empties into the river just past the schools. There were lots of coal mines up this way toward Jenkins. At 5:40 Elkhorn City Cemetery is visible on the right, across from the schools. It is reported William Ramey lived in this vicinity. At 7:40 second bridge crossing the river at the east end of the city. Lots of coal was loaded onto trains in this area. From 8:00-9:00 you can see a change in the hills ahead: the larger ridge in the background is Pine Mountain which runs through the Breaks and Cumberland Gap. This tall mountain range is the reason Boone and others chose Cumberland Gap to bring other settlers into Kentucky. Thanks for the video.

[@realappalachia]

Thanks a ton for that information, fills in so many blanks for me and others watching. I appreciate you taking the time to do that

[@mountainfolk2000]

Thanks Shane, another great video. I've always had a hankering to visit here but never got the opportunity. Thanks to you I have now been introduced to it anyhow.

[@realappalachia]

glad to hear it, it has been on my radar for a long time too but I have had a hard time getting there myself.

[@craxd1]

I went to school with Bumper Jack Stiltner. He was a year older than me, and we graduated in the old brick high school that you drove past at the mouth of Elkhorn Creek below the new elementary, (which used to be the new high school for several years, where we received our diplomas. Two years in both.). Bumper Jack received that nickname, because he lifted the rear of a VW Beatle that belonged to an Anderson boy in HS. I heard he died of diabetes. That was a war memorial you drove by on the way to the east end of Elkhorn. Some of my family is on it. Patty Lovelace also attended school with my first cousin for awhile. She is from the same Rameys as the founder, as my family is distantly kin through our grandmother, who was a Ramey, and is from the line of the founder's brother. The town has changed a lot since I've visited last.

[@chris2fur401]

The “museum to the right” used to be the old movie theater. It was later turned into a place where they had country music concerts. I’ve heard many old country stars played there back in the day.

[@melissafoley5612]

You passed where I grew up on the left of the Baptist Church. I grew up on Patty Loveless Drive. I graduated from Elkhorn City High School. Love my little town. We walked everywhere and felt safe. Patty was Patty Ramey while in EC.

[@realappalachia]

I loved my visit, first time there but felt very at home

[@lelswick90]

Terry Taylor is my father-in-law. Great man who did a lot for the city's water company. They named the street after him when he passed away.

[@SarahColeman-mo2dw]

I was raised about twenty minutes from there. Place called Elkhorn creek

[@chris2fur401]

Around the 9:30 mark is close to what us locals call pool point. There’s a place over the hill where the river is super deep. There’s a train track above it and people ( not me!) Dives into the water. For any thrill seekers it’s a great place. And you’re correct about the breaks. Beautiful place

[@SarahColeman-mo2dw]

I went to school in Elkhorn city. When you passed the elementary school. It was an high school. Then when they put east ridge in. They shut the high school put in elementary school in. The mascot is the cougars.

[@dianaoneil5469]

The mountains must be beautiful in autumn when the leaves change. Curious, in these small towns, what do the residents do for a living? Thanks

[@realappalachia]

A few different things depending on the town. There are various healthcare jobs and if the town has a functional school, they employee people. Not sure about Elkhorn in particular but in some cases they commute to larger towns for work.

[@lora1492]

I lived in Elkhorn City for a few years on 6th street. You need to adjust the audio, difficulty hearing you. Thank You for the tour. Very familiar

[@realappalachia]

Thanks for watching, I just got a new camera and had no clue the mic was as terrible as it is. I bought a new one but, sadly, this one was all I had at the time.

[@timsheneman1826]

Yes sir - mix the business and residential as much as allows - my nosey-ness loves it. Really, though, I'm watching for older houses and storefronts and institutional buildings - history that still hasn't been erased.

[@realappalachia]

that is pretty much what I visit for too. A lot of people get mad when I don't show certain newer things but they don't usually interest me as much as older structures and architecture so I don't even notice them at all half the time.

[@moparedtn]

Digging the windshield mount, my friend! -Ed

[@realappalachia]

thank you sir, much like the old Johnny Cash song I am getting there one piece at a time lol

[@redhead56]

Did you completely miss Breaks Interstate Park? Then you missed the best thing in Elkhorn City. Affectionately known as the Grand Canyon of The South. It spans two states, Ky and Va at Elkhorn city.

[@larrynelson4361]

I know she's a great singer

[@kevinmiller5665]

The Elk statues represent the elk population, sort of a marker for tourist. Knott County (Hindman) was the first to start it as a celebration of bringing the animal to east Kentucky.

[@jonnykaykorn3060]

Crazy to know you drive through places everyday Daniel Boone and other famous Americans walked through more than 200 years ago.

[@cadygirl1747]

That is so cool I live there I go to Elkhorn City elementary I it's so cool I've never thought we'd see our own hometown on KZbin that is so cool

[@realappalachia]

Glad you liked it

[@michaelgordon7618]

Hi Shane. I think you are doing a great job covering KY. Mike.

[@realappalachia]

thank you, Mike, I very much appreciate the kind words

[@cranerigging3604]

Thank you for the history and tour Shane ! I like the coal truck beside the True value store at 2:25 . It's 10 degrees in south Indiana now and I'm piling coal up in the furnace " wink " . Keep up the good work !

[@realappalachia]

I drove past a place on the side of the road selling bags of coal this week. I don't remember seeing that in years and it warmed my heart...no pun intended lol

[@twistoffate4791]

I reside in Boone County, Missouri, which was named after Daniel Boone. Both Missouri and Kentucky have quite the enthusiastic claim on Daniel Boone's storied history.

[@GreatIdioteque]

Have you seen the Hellier (goblin) documentary series? I'm curious if you might have a video of that area. I know Elkhorn City is pretty close to there.

[@chris2fur401]

I live in Pikeville but was raised in Fleming Neon. Would love to see one of neon

[@realappalachia]

I did one there a few years ago but need to do another one, it was on my old channel

[@ShilohTN1969]

Visit Irvine and Ravenna Kentucky. 8 dollar stores, an upcoming railroad museum. Beattyville is a cool place as is Booneville.

[@realappalachia]

Thanks for the heads up on those, I'll put them on the list to check out

[@scottthomas3792]

Elkhorn is a fairly common name here... there's an Elkhorn creek near me, and I think one of the branches of the Kentucky River is called Elkhorn..

[@realappalachia]

I have seen it a lot in my travels too, seems to be a lot in Kentucky. If you're the Scott Thomas that wrote a letter, it was bizarrely timed. I am 50 years old and just saw the first ghost in my life about a month ago. I am going to mention it Monday on my video then. I absolutely did not believe in them until then.

[@scottthomas3792]

@@realappalachia That's me. So far, I haven't seen a ghost....or, if I did, I didn't recognize it as one. I'm not a big believer in the paranormal, but people I know and trust claim to have seen ghosts. I file it under " I don't know... waiting on evidence".

[@user-cr9qz2ww8f]

residential is always interesting (:

[@monmixer]

Elkhorn City Baptist church is on Patty Loveless drive.

[@realappalachia]

ok, I do remember seeing that church. I saw the name Patty Loveless drive on my GPS too but wasn't quite sure where it was located.

[@kenben7989]

Interesting to watch this ride along, it has been to long since I have been back to my hometown. Born and raised with many family members still in the area. Ciao from Italy!

[@realappalachia]

Great to hear from someone in Italy, hope you're doing well

[@SarahColeman-mo2dw]

The elementary school they turned it into apartments. It is an vet memorial

[@billseward2274]

Why was the sound so muffled on this one? Good subject matter, though.

[@realappalachia]

I am ready to pull my hair out lol. I invested in a new camera and had heard that the mic was fairly solid so, like a dummy, I trusted it without testing so I have a couple more of these that I am trying to work with to make even audible. Super frustrating but I did invest in a very good mic so the quality should jump dramatically in the next month or so once I get it all worked out.

[@wildnhairyone1632]

I dunno Patty Loveless says she's from Pikeville?

[@lelswick90]

Yes and no, she was originally from Elkhorn but moved when she was very little 1st or 2nd grade I believe. I have family who attended elementary school with her at Elkhorn Elementary.

[@sarahhewlett3639]

You should do one of olive hill ky that’s where my daddy’s from

[@realappalachia]

I would love to because I am a huge fan of Tom T. Hall

[@garybelcher8259]

I enjoyed the video. I graduated from Elkhorn City High School in 1974.... and we were the Cougars.... I moved away a few years later.. a lot has changed there. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@chadhumphries5569]

She's from oak Grove, N.C.

[@SarahColeman-mo2dw]

Yes it is. Keep on going you can go the breaks

[@csxns]

Elkhorn City the start of the CC&O the Clinchfield RR.

[@lora1492]

Video too dark, trying to watch because I live there

[@kymtnrebel]

u drove right by my moms place lol

[@charleswells5266]

🦁

[@brianb5791]

Wait a minute where are the Cougars

[@realappalachia]

I am too old for them, sadly

[@sarahhewlett3639]

Daniel Boone is my way back kin

[@realappalachia]

that is awesome

[@SarahColeman-mo2dw]

Now your talking our language

[@ReedThomas71]

I thought Patty Loveless was kin, daughter, niece, sister, something to Loretta Lynn?

[@realappalachia]

Distant cousins from what I remember