Louisville's Whiskey Row To Become Top Tourist Attraction

Whiskey Row is set to become one of the most engaging blocks in downtown Louisville. Nearly two years after its buildings were subject to a fire, the locality has become the seat of development. In fact, it is a matter of one or two years before the streetscape will regain its luster.

Before long, Whiskey Row will be home to multiple tourist attractions, including a distillery, an attractive retail outlet, and upscale hotels. Hotel-wise, there will be a Starwood affiliate for business travelers, a 205-room Westin, a Marriott brand, and a 110-room Moxy. Starwood will anchor the east end of the block and feature a 12-storey tower behind the historic facades. The main street side of the tower will have a copper-like metal to reflect the cast-iron facades, while the exterior sides will have brick and extensive glass cover.

The overall cost of the two connected, upscale hotels stands at $90 million. The dual hotels will open around spring in 2019. Meanwhile, construction will proceed at a rapid pace and the streets will see five new restaurants and 36 apartments.

Although all structural changes are being carried out at the 100 block of West Main Street from First to Second streets, a lot of activities will be happening in and around this area. Officials are planning to host popular festivals and events on Washington Street, a stone’s throw away from Whiskey Row.

Architect Bill Weyland, also a partner in Whiskey Row Lofts said, “It will be so nice to have that wrapped up." He added that restaurants had previously complained about the west end sidewalk’s closure, but it should reopen by the end of May.