Rockcastle County, located in the foothills of the Cumberland Mountains in south-central Kentucky, was established in 1810 from portions of Lincoln, Madison, Pulaski, and Knox counties. It was named after the Rockcastle River, which forms part of its eastern boundary and was so called for the towering limestone cliffs that line its banks.
The county seat, Mount Vernon, was laid out shortly after the county’s formation and became a hub for trade and travel due to its position along early stagecoach and wagon routes—later replaced by the historic U.S. Highway 25 and Interstate 75. Three major routes in Rockcastle County include the Boone Trace, Wilderness Road, and Sheltowee Trace.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Rockcastle County’s economy was largely agricultural, with small farms producing corn, tobacco, and livestock. Timber and limestone quarrying also played important roles in the area’s development. With the arrival of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, new opportunities for commerce and communication connected the county to the broader region. The Great Saltpetre Preserve is the home of Great Saltpetre Cave, a historic limestone cave once mined for saltpeter, during the War of 1812. The cave is now normally closed to the public, except for the annual Open House (weekend after Mother's Day). The remainder of the grounds consist of a natural preserve consisting mostly of pasture and woodlands. The property is managed for historical purposes in an attempt to preserve a part of Kentucky's natural beauty for generations to come.
Culturally, Rockcastle County has long been known as Kentucky's Music Capital for its deep musical heritage and Appalachian traditions. It is home to Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, founded by John Lair in November 1939. Renfro Valley became a gathering place for musicians and fans alike, preserving the sounds of all genres of music. What would come to be one of the most iconic, storied and historically significant live music venues in the United States, Renfro Valley, was born on November 4, 1939. Renfro Valley was one of the first places to introduce the world to country music and is considered one of the three holy places in country music history; Nashville (Music City), Bristol (home of the famed Bristol recording sessions), and Renfro Valley, whose importance to the origins of country music is just as significant as the Grand Ole Opry.
Between that November night in 1939 and today, music has rang from the rafters of the Renfro Valley barns and across the Valley nearly every weekend of every year in between. Making Renfro Valley one of the longest continuously operating music venues in America. Countless thousands of singers and pickers have played Renfro Valley’s stages. And countless millions of fans have been moved by the music they have heard come from Renfro Valley’s speakers and over the radio waves. Patrons and music lovers are truly the most important part of Renfro Valley’s success. Music icons including names like Hank Williams, Red Foley, Old Joe Clark, Coon Creek Girls, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Bill Monroe, Conway Twitty, Ralph Stanley, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Flatt and Scruggs, Marty Robbin, Patty Loveless, Ted Nugent, Keith Whitley, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Travis Tritt, Trace Adkins, John Michael Montgomery, Montgomery Gentry, Oak Ridge Boys, Exile, and many more.
Next door is the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum, which holds 16,000 square feet of exhibit space of music memorabilia, performance space, and gift shop. It is open daily and is also the home of the Mount Vernon - Rockcastle County Tourist Commission Offices. The lobby and gift shop are located in what was formerly John Lair's horse barn. The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum celebrates, preserves, and promotes the rich musical legacy of Kentucky by honoring influential artists, educating the public, and inspiring future generations through dynamic exhibits, performances, and community engagement. You can learn more about the history of Kentucky’s rich music heritage, as well as interact with the instruments to create your own sound.
Behind the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum is the outdoor amphitheater where concerts and plays have taken place on the wooden stage, including the Kentucky Blues Music Festival.
Today, Rockcastle County remains proud of its natural beauty, musical legacy, and strong sense of community—where the spirit of Kentucky’s past continues to thrive alongside its modern growth.