• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • Flood Recovery Loan
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • TikTok
mountain association logo

Mountain Association

Building a New Economy, Together.

    • Access expertise to grow your business or organization.

      Business Support

    • Start Here
      • Learn About Support
      • Apply to Work with a Consultant
      • Success Stories
    • Resources
      • FAQs
      • Tools & Templates
      • SPARK Nonprofit Collaborative
      • Client Login
    • Expand your impact with our flexible loans.

      Talk to Us About a Loan

    • Start Here
      • Learn About Loans
      • Start the Application Process
      • Success Stories
    • Resources
      • FAQs
      • Flood Recovery Loans
      • CrowdMatch Loans
    • We can help you save money.

      Apply for an Energy Assessment

    • Start Here
      • Learn About Our Energy Program
      • Apply for a Free Energy Savings Assessment
      • Success Stories
    • Resources
      • FAQs
      • Solar Financing & Support
      • Energy Savings Microloan
    • Start something in your community.

      Learn About Training

    • Start Here
      • Training & Ideas
      • 479 Main Street Project
      • Success stories
    • Training
      • Airbnb
      • Business Training
      • Creative Economy Training
    • We can help tell your story.

      Read Our Stories

    • Stories
      • All Stories
      • Business Support
      • Energy
      • Lending
      • Training & Ideas
    • Appalachia’s New Day
      • Press & Media
      • Communications & Policy
    • Building a new economy, together.

      (859) 986-2373

      info@mtassociation.org

      Sign Me Up for News

    • The Big Picture
      • What We Do
      • Just Transition
        • How It’s Working
    • Our Story
      • Our History
      • Team
      • Board of Directors
      • Careers
    • Impact
      • By the Numbers
      • Publications
  • (859) 986-2373

    info@mtassociation.org

     

    Building a new economy, together.
You are here: Home / Training & Ideas / Licking Valley’s Airbnb Movement

Training & Ideas

Licking Valley’s Airbnb Movement

January 4, 2022

Share:

A training program developed by the Mountain Association is teaching property owners in Eastern Kentucky how to succeed in the home-sharing market. The Mountain Association works with local tourism offices and communities across Eastern Kentucky to host virtual “How to Airbnb” workshops.

The training was developed in response to research that found the need for more lodging in many communities, not just for tourists, but also for traveling workers and visiting family members.

wildlife licking Valley airbnb kentucky
Zebras at an Airbnb near Carlisle, KY

Airbnb is a generally low-risk way for people to earn extra money and have total flexibility, often times without much initial investment. As an Airbnb host, you are able to rent out a room in your home or your house when you’re out of town, any other type of property like a cabin, campsite or treehouse through Airbnb’s short-term rental agreement.

The Mountain Association partnered with Licking Valley Adventures to host a virtual training in spring 2021. Since the training, three attendees have opened their Airbnbs. Tracy Pratt-Savage, director of Licking Valley Adventures, shared that she was inspired after taking the class.

“COVID-19 is changing the travel industry as we know it. In many ways, this is good news for rural Airbnb hosts as many families are looking for safe places to get away,” Tracy said. “For my personal listing, the training gave me tons of ideas, from things I need to fix and how to present my property in the very best light. I completed a business plan that was based around booking 11 nights a month and I’m doing more.”

The following are three Airbnbs that attended the spring 2021 training, along with an excerpt of the description from their Airbnb listing.


Hilltop Retreat at Wendt’s Wildlife Adventure – Carlisle, KY – Julie Wendt

licking valley airbnb kentucky
Hilltop Retreat

Take it easy at this unique and tranquil getaway. Newly remodeled home on a 125 acre farm that is home to Kentucky’s newest wildlife park & Daniel Boone’s last home in Kentucky. Expansive views, and a visit to Wendt’s Wildlife Adventure (open seasonally), which is owned & operated by your hosts, are sure to give you just the right amount of rest & adventure that you are seeking.

The Hilltop Retreat is set on the back of our family’s 125 acre working farm. Although, the animals you will find here are different than the average farm. You will see camels, zebras, elk & bison as you come up the drive to your home away from home. This spacious home will sleep up to 7. The master room has a king bed, the second bedroom has 2 twin beds, the living room has a sofa sleeper & the front living room has a futon.

licking valley hilltop country farm house kentucky airbnb
Stays & Visits

After breakfast in the fully stocked kitchen take a walk down to Daniel Boone’s last home in Kentucky, built by Boone in 1795. Then head down the driveway a bit further to our family’s wildlife park to see sloths, kangaroos, African tortoises, the Parakeet Encounter & much more.

Stays & Visits – Carlisle, KY – Tracy Pratt-Savage

Restored farm house with fabulous views, comfortable spaces, wood and carpeted floors, front and back porches, swing and benches outside with firepit. Just added solar and EV electric vehicle charging station. On a dead-end street, perfect for long walks. 40 minutes from Lexington or Flemingsburg Covered Bridge Tours, Cynthiana Walking Dead tours, Paris micro distillery and great restaurants, or Maysville on the Ohio River. Plenty of family friendly attractions nearby.

Stays and Visits Licking Valley solar airbnb
Mountain Association’s energy experts worked with Tracy to add solar, which is expected to bring their bills down to zero.

Great space to unplug. Excellent for family reunions, weddings, or for getting away with friends. No streetlights out here, so the stars are bright, even with a bonfire going. Watch hummingbirds while sitting on the porch, cows behind the fence during the day, or fireflies at night. The crickets and three frogs get so loud it can almost drown out the conversation. You can sit on the porch and watch a storm come in or the lightning bugs at night. The sunset is different every night.

Linville House – Millersburg, KY – Robert Barker

This historic brick home (Linville House) is located in small town America in the heart of Kentucky close to Horse Country. Easy access to nearby Paris, Lexington, The Kentucky Horse Park, The Arc Encounter, Keeneland Race Track, Mustard Seed Hill Events Center and more.

Artcroft Licking Valley airbnb
Linville House

Future trainings

“These successes are inspiring others in the area. For instance, I’m helping a farm open their lodge, farmhouse and shepherd’s cottage in Bourbon County, and someone else who has a one room cabin in the area,” Tracy said. “We highly recommend the Mountain Association’s course.”

Developed with the guidance of nine Airbnb hosts from across Eastern Kentucky and facilitated by an Airbnb superhost, the virtual workshop teaches participants how to develop an Airbnb listing, market their property, comply with local taxes and regulations, and more.

The next training will be February 10 & 16 from 6-7:45PM. Register here. If you are interested in hosting a training in your community, please contact Zuojay Johnson: zuojay@mtassociation.org or (859) 671-0205.

Author

Ariel Fugate

Communications Coordinator

ariel@mtassociation.org

Recent Posts

moutain grrl pikeville)ky

Community Development

Mountain Grrl Experience: More than a Music Festival

Imagine you are roaming the streets of Pikeville, Kentucky one summer day and you’re handed a set of spoons to make music with. You knock out a number ... Read This Post

Kidfolk sensory prestonsburg ky eastern

Business Support

Eastern KY Moms Help Their Communities Become More Accessible

“There are days I would move a mountain to make sure my kids got everything they needed,” Courtney Crider said over the phone as she makes the long ... Read This Post

Energy

What to do if you got a bad install by Solar Titan

File a Complaint Against Solar Titan Many Kentuckians are reporting bad solar installations completed by the now defunct Solar Titan. There may be ... Read This Post

Footer

mountain association logo

For more than 40 years, we were known as the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED).

As we enter a new decade and a new look, we have become the Mountain Association. This change underscores our commitment to a new beginning that is more inclusive and welcoming to the people and communities we serve.

Donate Now 1

Get the Newsletter

Sign Up Now

  • Programs
    • Business Support
    • Lending
    • Energy
    • Stories
    • Training & Ideas
  • About
    • What We Do
    • Just Transition
    • Team
    • Our History
    • By the Numbers
  • More
    • Donate
    • Careers
    • Board of Directors
    • Publications
    • Sponsorships

BEREA
(859) 986-2373
433 Chestnut Street
Berea, KY 40403

Meetings by appointment only

info@mtassociation.org

We are happy to make any
accommodation to better serve you.
Inquire via phone or email.
If hearing or speech impaired,
please dial 7-1-1 for relay
services prior to calling.

 

HAZARD
(606) 439-0170
420 Main St
Hazard, KY 41701

PRESTONSBURG
(606) 264-5910
268 E Friend St, Ste 101
Prestonsburg, KY 41653

Copyright © 2023 Mountain Association | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Non-profit Disclosures

made by P&P