SPRINGFIELD, Ky. — Kentucky is home to a host of historic and tourism treasures, many of which are nestled in the countryside and farmland of the Bluegrass State.

Maple Hill Manor is one such place that has taken a traditional old farm in the middle of one of the state’s most picturesque and visited areas and turned it into one of the most sought-after bed-and-breakfast destinations in the region.

Todd Allen and Tyler Horton own and operate the Historic Maple Hill Manor and Bed and Breakfast, as it is officially known. While the manor has operated as a bed-and-breakfast since 1988, the two present innkeepers have owned it since 2001.

There are seven rooms at the inn, each with a private bath, and guests are served a homemade dessert in the evening and a full country breakfast every morning.

“We do try to feature a lot of Kentucky Proud and local food products in our breakfast, as well as our desserts,” said Allen.

But the manor is also a farm, and Allen said the property was purchased with the idea of raising alpacas and llamas. Currently the operation is home to 50 of the animals, which are sheared once a year and have become a favorite of guests.

“We were looking for a unique agricultural livestock option that we could raise where we didn’t have to kill the animal to benefit from it. We show, breed and sell and have the finished products to sell,” he said. “We have a farm store on-site, which features a wide variety of alpaca-made gift items.”

Allen said the farm was one of the first 10 in the state to raise alpacas, something more than 100 do now. “We feel like it’s a new, up-and-coming agricultural diversification effort that’s under way,” he said.

Allen pointed out the success of the alpaca business just to the north, in Ohio, where there are 800 operations.

He feels that is a good indicator of the business yet to come, especially for Kentucky farmers who can no longer make a living raising tobacco.

Allen added the business works with a local mill that makes yarn and roving for them, while several Kentucky fiber artisans purchase either the raw fiber or yarn to make a finished product. Maple Hill Manor has used local goods and in turn, made business for other producers – a model that has worked well as more farms have diversified and created value-added products of their own.

The manor has also used Kentucky Agricultural Development Funds to improve its operation much the same way other farms have done.

Allen is no stranger to farming, having grown up on a dairy farm in nearby Mercer County. That background has obviously served him well but, as they say in the real estate business, “location, location, location” is paramount – and Maple Hill couldn’t be in a better spot.

The Washington County locale is in the middle of the famed Bourbon Trail, a selection of famous Kentucky distilleries that has attracted nearly two million visitors in the last five years. A total of 12 wineries are also located within a short drive.

The area has a significant historical background, with Perryville Battlefield, the site of the state’s largest Civil War battle, nearby along with the Lincoln Homestead Park, a place once home to Abraham Lincoln’s parents. In fact, the farm is located on the National Lincoln Heritage Byway. Both venues bring countless tourists to the area, another big plus for the bed-and-breakfast.

No conversation about location is complete in this part of the state without mentioning the horse industry. Maple Hill is within an hour of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, as well as Keeneland Race Course in Lexington. Allen said they often have guests at the manor for both.

But guests come from all over the country, and from other countries, as Maple Hill has enjoyed many awards and much recognition in the bed-and-breakfast business, including Best B&B in the South and Kentucky’s Best B&B.

Every year at this time Maple Hill Manor hosts a holiday open house. This year the open house will take place every Saturday in December, complete with refreshments, house tours and special savings in the farm store.

The manor is located at 2941 Perryville Road, U.S. Highway 150 East in Springfield. For more information about the inn or its holiday open house, visit www.maplehillmanor.com or call 859-336-3075 or 800-886-7546.