House in Lexington, KY

The Martin House - In the heart of historic downtown Lexington

The Martin House - In the heart of historic downtown Lexington

Photo gallery for The Martin House - In the heart of historic downtown Lexington

The Martin House of Lexington KY
Front yard
The wrap around front porch is a great place to be part of downtown happenings.
Old school architectural elements mix with modern day conveniences.
The dining room is central to the house and can seat 8 people.

Overview of The Martin House - In the heart of historic downtown Lexington

10 out of 10 Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8232 sq m

Popular amenities

  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • Pet-friendlyPet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • Free WiFiFree WiFiFree WiFi
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • DryerDryerDryer
  • Air conditioningAir conditioningAir conditioning

Enjoy the area

Lexington, KY
  • Popular LocationRupp Arena9 min walk
  • Popular LocationUniversity of Kentucky11 min walk
  • Popular LocationThe Red Mile Racetrack6 min drive
  • AirportLexington, KY (LEX-Blue Grass)14 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Front bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Front bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Rear Bedroom

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Garden

About this property

The Martin House - In the heart of historic downtown Lexington

This spacious 2 story brick home centrally located in Lexington’s Historic South Hill district is the perfect spot for Bluegrass area visitors. A unique home, built in 1908, it is registered with the Bluegrass Trust for Historic Preservation, and is an intriguing combination of private retreat with modern amenities and downtown convenience. The newly remodeled, completely fenced in back courtyard will keep your pets safe while providing an inviting, peaceful venue for relaxing, and grilling out – but one has only to walk out the front door to discover all that downtown Lexington has to offer. This charming home has lots of character with 10 foot ceilings, hardwood floors and six uniquely tiled fireplace mantles throughout as well as 1st floor screened in porch and 2nd floor balcony overlooking the courtyard and downtown Lexington. Both bathrooms were completely renovated in 2017. Other special features are a cozy seating area in the open, airy kitchen, a beautiful spa like bathroom downstairs, and another quaint seating area located upstairs. A wonderful get away after a long day of sightseeing in central KY!

Architecture:

The Martin House is a late Queen Anne "Free Classic" residence, and is a good example of this transitional period in architectural styles. Sophisticated in it's massing, simple in it's trim, it is balanced between the Queen Anne use of variety of surface and form and the Craftsman emphasis on simplicity.

House History:
Jesse Woodruff and his family lived on this block from 1864 through 1908, first next door and then, from 1893 onwards, on this site in a house whose one story footprint on the 1907 map is much different from the current building's. His relative, Thomas B. Woodruff continued to live next door through at least 1925. The present house was built between 1908 and 1911 when J. M. Martin, agent, Chattanooga Brewing Company, and his family acquired the property. They lived here through 1921.

A 1976 renovation moderinized the interior and the rear of the building while preserving well-cared for details. It served as a duplex until 1983, when it was returned to single-family use.

We acquired the house in April, 2004 and initially planned to return it to duplex form, using one for ourselves and renting the other. However, we fell in love with the entire home and couldn't bear to make those changes! So instead, we started renting it as a vacation home in September, 2005. We found this to be a great compromise as it allows us to share our home with visitors to Lexington, hopefully bringing them great enjoyment, while also being able to stay in and enjoy our home as well!

About our neighborhood:
The South Hill Historic District is a neighborhood of early residential homes adjacent to downtown Lexington. In 1781, Lexington's five-man Board of Trustees successfully petitioned the Virginia Assembly for 710 acres of land that was divided into half-acre and five-acre lots, according to a town plat. "The south hill" was made up of larger lots located outside of the town of Lexington that were soon subdivided. South Hill is so named because in pioneer days the area overlooked the Town Branch of Elkhorn Creek that once flowed through the center of the city. The homes in this district were built over a period of time spanning more than 100 years. The earliest homes were built during the early 19th century and are mainly Federal and Greek Revival styles. Most of the older homes are in the northern half of the district. The district also includes homes built after the Civil War into the early 20th century. Buildings designed by two of Lexington's greatest architects, John McMurtry and Cincinnatus Shyrock, can also be found in this district. The mixture of styles on each street is aesthetically compatible, of similar scale and placed on lots of similar size. However, the scale and lot size on each street differs, with the bordering streets of the district such as South Limestone and South Broadway containing larger houses on larger lots set further back from the street.
This district consists of many homes that were once owned by free African Americans at a time when slavery was still an institution in Kentucky. Prosperous whites lived alongside prosperous African Americans with many middle class citizens also living in the district. The oldest home in Lexington, the Adam Rankin House is located in this district on South Mill Street.

Despite the rapid growth of Lexington and the neighboring University of Kentucky, the South Hill Historic District has remained virtually untouched with some commercial infringement on the outer edges of the community. At one time located on the outskirts of Lexington, the neighborhood is now in the heart of the city.

Property manager

Jeannette Bracken
Premier Host
Premier Host

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Lexington

Located in Lexington, this holiday home is in the city centre. Legacy Trail and Explorium are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those in the mood for shopping can visit Victorian Square Mall and Hamburg Place. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Rupp Arena or The Red Mile Racetrack. Break out the clubs and hit the links on a nearby golf course, or seek out an adventure with cycling and horse riding.

What's nearby

  • Lexington Convention Center - 8 min walk
  • Rupp Arena - 9 min walk
  • Lexington Opera House - 9 min walk
  • University of Kentucky - 11 min walk
  • The Red Mile Racetrack - 6 min drive

Getting around

  • Lexington, KY (LEX-Blue Grass) - 13 min drive

Restaurants

  • McDonald's - 5 min walk
  • LexLive - 6 min walk
  • Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers - 5 min walk
  • The Local Taco - 3 min walk
  • Joe Bologna's Office - 2 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is The Martin House - In the heart of historic downtown Lexington pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Martin House - In the heart of historic downtown Lexington?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Martin House - In the heart of historic downtown Lexington?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Martin House - In the heart of historic downtown Lexington located?

Located in Downtown Lexington, this holiday home is within a 10-minute walk of Lexington History Center and Rupp Arena. University of Kentucky is 0.6 mi (0.9 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 92 out of 99 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 99 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 99 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 99 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 99 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Garin F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
Disliked: Location
Historic Home, Historically Overpriced
Checked in on weekday evening. Neighborhood wasn’t nearly as nice looking as the house. (Heard sirens most of the full hour that we stayed trying to convince ourselves that the place was going to be great!).Barely able to fit regular size vehicle into driveway. Parking area was difficult at best to pull into. Street parking was wishful thinking. Backyard was was pretty unimpressive and looked much better in the pictures. House itself was clean and unique. All bedrooms were up an old awkward staircase so climb carefully. Neighbors lack of window coverings left nothing to the imagination. As sunset neared we cut our losses, packed up the vehicle and headed to a lovely historic hotel for a fraction of the price!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Amy B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful stay!
Our family (two kids, three adults) loved it! House was so charming, I spent much time on the screened in porch. And it was close to everything! The owners thought of so many nice touches, and had fresh baked cookies and breakfast essentials in the fridge when we arrived. Would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dhiren C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great property and excellent hosts!
If you’re visiting Lexington for a Bourbon tour or anything else for that matter, this is a fantastic option for you. We slept five grown men comfortably with all the amenities and comfort you could imagine. The hosts were very gracious and commutative if we ever go back, we will definitely stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laura H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful stay at The Martin House
We really enjoyed The Martin House. The location was blocks away from downtown and nightlife and very walkable to UK campus. The host was so thoughtful and responsive. We loved hanging out in the spacious backyard and back porch. It should be noted that the upstairs has great AC so no need to worry about the heat. We would recommend to others and book again in a heartbeat.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Southern hospitality at its finest
Staying at the Martin House is just like staying with family. There were many thoughtful touches throughout the home. The kitchen is stocked, plenty of toiletries in the bathrooms, lots of seating, and a lovely yard. The pictures don’t do the home justice. Our party of five and family canine had plenty of room to spread out and relax. As many others have said, the house is in a great central location between campus and downtown. Our minivan fit down the driveway no problem and it was nice to have the option to park on the street. We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2023

About the host

Hosted by Jeannette Bracken

Host profile image
We began renting our home in 2005, and have found the best thing about it to be helping visitors to Lexington have a unique, memorable experience in our city! We are happy to help with anything you might need in planning your stay, or with any questions that may arise at any time that need a local's input. Our number one goal is to have happy guests!

Why they chose this property

We have always loved downtown Lexington, and we couldn't resist this unique property when it came on the market. We love staying here, and really enjoy being able to share it with others that are visiting Lexington.

What makes this property unique

There are so many restaurants within walking distance of our home - you could eat in a different one each night! Also, our home is unique in that it is a 100 year old home with beautiful woodwork, located in the center of a historic district. We recently completed a remodel of our backyard and both bathrooms, so we now find it more charming than ever! :) - hopefully you will too!

Languages:

English

Premier Host

Premier Host
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