Perry Park is an unincorporated community, country club and golf resort in Owen County, Kentucky, near Owenton and Carrollton. It is located one hour southwest of Cincinnati, one hour northwest of Lexington, and forty-five minutes east of Louisville, and lies on the Kentucky River. It is one of the more popular golf resorts in the area and has a long history. It is very secluded and private and is thus relatively unknown to most people. The bed and breakfast "Glenwood Hall" was originally constructed as a plantation, where tobacco or possibly soy according to some sources, was grown and shipped to the rest of the United States by the Kentucky River. Perry Park is also noted for its low crime rate and for the fact that it is a gated community with staffed security guards at all entrances.
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The current land that is now Perry Park was originally used as hunting grounds by Native Americans, particularly the Iroquois. The first Caucasian to enter the current land of Perry Park, was Jacob Drennon, a land surveyor, working for James McAfee. He had heard legend of a healing spring there, and was led by an Indian to the area. He made the first land claim there, and called it, "Lick Skillet", because the men were so hungry, that when they received their rations, they licked their skillets clean. Kentucky became a state in 1792, and thus more settlers came in, including a former soldier of the American Revolutionary War, Benjamin Perry. He, his children and grandchildren moved to Perry Park from Virginia sometime around 1810, along with the Berryman family. In 1832, Benjamin Perry's grandson, Washington Perry, and his wife Martha, built a house called "Wildwood". For an undetermined cause, they did not reside in that house for long. At some point between 1830 and 1850 the current house "Glenwood Hall" was built. Glenwood Hall is still in use today as a bed and breakfast and dining hall. The other plantation that was formerly located in Perry Park, was the Inverness. Also a tobacco plantation, it was built by Thomas A. Berryman, and was named after his wife Lucy's birthplace, Inverness, Scotland. Sadly the Inverness House was burned down by arsonists in the 1980s. The Perrys and the Berrymans were known for their parties, and had many visitors due to the springs near their homes. In 1849, nearly 1000 guests visited the springs, most likely stopping to see one of the two families. Not everything was good about the lives of the Perrys. One of their children, Merton, died of an unknown cause at the age of 10. Two other children and a servant were possibly killed by a fire, before the Civil War. It is said they are still playing in the attic, and there are numerous reports of strange occurrences. By the time of the American Civil War, Washington, being a slave holder most likely supported the Confederate States of America, yet we do not know for certain which side he chose. During the Civil War there were a number of minor Confederate guerrilla movements in the area. Surprisingly, records show that even though he lost all his slaves, Washington Perry was more prosperous after the war. Washington Perry died in 1875, Martha in 1893 and are buried at Port Royal Cemetery in Henry County, Kentucky. Their neighbors, the Berrymans, are buried at a family cemetery inside the park. Washington's grandson, Perry Minor, son of George Church Minor and Mary Perry, was given the house after Washington's death. He lived there until 1933. Sometime during his time as master of the house, it is believed that Grover Cleveland sat on a chair, still located in the house. While this may be rumor, the Cleveland campaign of 1884, did attack James G. Blaine with stories of wrongdoings to a young woman at Perry Park. In 1933, John Perry, another one of Washington's grandchildren, bought the entire area, built a post office, and named the community Perry Park, after himself. The community, flourished in the 20th century, with many hotels and restaurants springing up, that have since been demolished. One entertaining story tells of a cook "Aunt" Rose Brown, who found a gold nugget in a turkey breast. Between 1970 and 1990 the land was converted into a golf resort, and Glenwood Hall was turned into a bed and breakfast and dining hall. Tours of Glenwood Hall are not conducted, though it is possible to stay in the house, and view the historic rooms.
Perry Park rests on the Kentucky River, which surrounds it on two sides. It is mostly flat, but is surrounded by mountains. Its many rolling hills are perfectly suited for golfing. There are several lakes in the area, the largest of which is "Holliday Lake". Wildlife is also very abundant in the park; the symbol of Perry Park is the Deer, and there are hundreds or thousands of them in the area. Raccoons, possums, and birds such as cardinals are also frequently seen in the area, and the surrounding forests. Perry Park is located at coordinates .
Several events and auctions occur each year, including the 4th of July party, in which golf carts are decorated and paraded through the Park. There is also an annual auction at Glenwood Hall, held to raise money for Breast Cancer, it is named after a local citizen, Shellie Von Hoene, who died due to Breast Cancer a few years ago. Also there are annual pool opening and closing parties held each year on Memorial Day and Labor Day, respectively. The local music group, Joe and the Joettes perform at most events.
Perry Park is also noted for its cuisine. At the pool is the 19th Hole Grill Room, which serves snack fare, such as hot dogs, brats, hamburgers etc. Inside Glenwood Hall is the Perry Park Restaurant. It serves food buffet style, and regularly serves food such as roast beef, ham, mashed potatoes, and daily serves a rising bread made with garlic butter. The head cooks, Iris and Myra, along with assistant chefs Marty and Brenda, serve a different meal each evening. For breakfast they also serve fare such as biscuits and gravy, bacon, french toast, sausage and more. The breakfast buffet stays the same each morning. Because of its geographical location, Perry Park, much like Louisville, has a mixture of Southern, Midwestern and Northeastern Cuisine
Perry Park is rumored to be a haunted area. The house, Glenwood Hall, is said to be haunted by the ghosts of two children and a servant, who were killed in a fire. The attic where they died is supposedly the most haunted room in the house, but other rooms are said to be haunted as well. At night many people report hearing children playing in the attic above their room, others report hearing the grand piano in the parlor playing at night, only to find no one is there, and all the doors are locked. Voices are frequently heard by employees, and one time, when the power went out, there were reports of a child-like voice yelling "Daddy!". There are also unconfirmed reports of a Native American Chief, who haunts the area, and is said to still hunt in the forests where wildlife is still just as abundant as it was 200 years ago. Residents and guests have mentioned, while strolling the grounds after dark, of hearing the ghostly sounds of horses and wagons making their way on Perry Parks roads and pathways.
Perry Park's main attraction is a 27 hole golf course, with 9 different golf packages. It has a par of 72 and 5 sets of tees ranging from 7355 to 4000 yards. Also nearby is historic Carrollton, General Butler State Park and house and the newly opened Elk Creek Vinyards, Kentucky's largest winery which features many Kentucky wines. There are many casinos off park grounds that are within 30 minutes drive of the golf resort
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