Louisville for the Derby

Two of us are in charge of planning our good friends bachelor party. He wants to go to the Derby. Great! He has invited 18 people. Not so great.

It's a struggle to find a rental big enough. We found one that fits the bill but they want about 50% down as first payment and, the kicker, it's non-refundable. We fully expect the wedding and bachelor party to move forward but it's a lot of money to just lose should something go wrong. 

This is sort of a call for help for anyone that may have a lead on a place for that many people, in Louisville, the weekend of the 2023 Derby - May 5/6/7.

Affordable rental for Derby Weekend likely means Cincinnati.  

If you want "in Louisville" and walkable accommodations then ignore this but...

Half way between Cinci and Louisville is Sparta, KY which has the Kentucky Speedway.  That tourist attraction might be ripe for some tourist accommodations.  It is also very close to The Ohio River.  There is even a  river crossing bridge there which would then make the other side, Florence, Indiana an option.  There is a casino and golf resort there too.  It's one hour from Casio to Churchill Downs

As 19 people and likely drinking.  See if you can  private pre-hire a bus or a few minivans to shuttle you.  The casino concierge should have leads on local companies.  

In reply to John Welsh :

I guess to clarify, I'm not looking for things that are cheaper necessarily, just more options. It's going to be expensive looking for this size of a place on derby weekend, I know. 

We did look at Shelbyville, and there were some options, but they all seem to be gobbled up. 

What else do you plan on doing? Where is everyone coming from? 

I'd be looking at places like French Lick/Patoka lake - everything from golf to indoor racing to casinos to fishing... You can go high end, at West Baden Springs, or go for something more rustic, like This place that looks like it has some bunkhouses that sleep 16, or This one that has a cabin that sleeps 15. 

But personally, I would go for the Fairfield Inn in Bardstown. Looks like they have space. Bardstown has bourbon. Yeah, I'm boring, but trying to organize all of that seems like a nightmare to me. 

In reply to mtn :

The biggest group of us is coming from Cleveland. I think then comes a group from Chicago and then a smattering around the east coast and midwest. 

We had talked about doing a bourbon trail tour but we all decided that may be a bit much for one weekend. He just wants to go out in Louisville Friday night. So I think some sort of minor-ish festivities Friday afternoon/night and then big day Saturday for the race. 

There were some very cool cabins sort of on the outskirts of Louisville a couple months back but they've been gobbled up.

Westport Wine and Liquor has *the* best whiskey tasting room in Kentucky.

Yeah, it's an unassuming liquor store. Don't be fooled. Unassuming tasting room is in the back.

All kinds of rare stuff. Pappy, Eagle Rare, lots of great malts, etc. Pour prices are basically if you took the standard retail price broken down to per-ounce.

AxeHealey said:

In reply to mtn :

He just wants to go out in Louisville Friday night. So I think some sort of minor-ish festivities Friday afternoon/night and then big day Saturday for the race. 

There's a downtown Louisville area called 4th St Live which is maybe more but not that unlike what Cleveland wants E4th St to be.  It's probably the place that bachelorette party go.  It should be ultra "off the hook" being Derby Weekend.  

The Derby is Saturday but on Friday there is a race too...The Oaks and it is the second largest attended horse race in the world with Saturday being the world largest.