McConnell Springs is the birthplace of Lexington and is a wonderful hidden gem. We have a 26-acre historic and natural city park right under our noses!
McConnell Springs is located just inside New Circle off Old Frankfort Pike. You turn on Rebmann Lane and follow the signs that weave through industrial lots before stumbling upon the visitor’s center and picnic area.
In June 1775, William McConnell and his fellow frontier explorers camped at a natural spring in the wilderness of the Virginia territory known as Kentucky. Word came from nearby Fort Boonesboro that the first battle of the American Revolution had been fought in Lexington, Massachusetts. In honor of the battle, the group named their future settlement “Lexington”.
To register for an event call 859-225-4073
McConnell Springs welcomes visitors with an information center, complete with educational activities for children, tanks with live animals, and artifacts to touch. There is a staff working in the center available to answer questions. The center is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sundays, 1-5 p.m. The park is open from dawn to dusk every day. To register for programs call 859-225-4073
Review
Once you depart from the Visitor’s Center, there are 2 miles of trails, and many are paved. This makes it a perfect area for families with strollers or those requiring wheelchair accessibility. You can head back to “The Boils” and see a real spring in action (check it out after a good spring rain to guarantee it bubbles). Walk the trails and stop at a bench along the way to enjoy the sights and sounds, discover the remnants of the old buildings that were part of the original settlement, and check out the critters and insects that call the McConnell Springs’ pond home.
It’s a great place to pack a picnic and enjoy for a few hours. My boys love to wander the trails, stop by the pond and watch for a groundhog to pop up, and touch the cool water flowing through the streams.
Founders’ Day
May 2024
10 am – 5 pm
FREE
Mark your calendar for the annual Founders’ Day Celebration planned each May. Experience life as it was in 1775. Enjoy demonstrations, educational activities, period music, storytelling and Native American Programs. It’s free!
Check out the Lex Fun 4 Kids Review of Founders Day!
Celebrate Lexington’s official “birthday” at the annual Founders’ Day celebration and experience the frontier life of 1775 for yourself. Concessions are available on-site, with proceeds benefiting McConnell Springs programs.
Activities for the day include:
- Traditional live music and dance;
- Guided tours of the park’s 27 acres of woodland trails;
- Colonial crafts such as woodworking, quilt making, weaving and gun-smithing;
- Exhibits of colonial tools and Indian artifacts;
- Demonstrations of pioneer cooking and blacksmithing;
- A special frontier living history area around the primitive log cabin; and
- Children’s activities include bow & arrow, tomahawk throw, and pioneer kids toys and games.
This free event will be held rain or shine. Sunscreen, rain gear and insect repellent may be needed. Visitors taking guided tours are encouraged to wear hiking shoes.
Jack-O-Lantern Trail (formerly Little Goblins Galore)
Enjoy an enchanting Halloween experience at McConnell Springs featuring hundreds of hand-carved pumpkins as they light up the night. In addition to marveling at the glow of the pumpkins, there will be campfires and s’mores, live owls from Critters in the Classroom and tasty fall food and beverages. Perfect for all ages, this night hike will be a great event for all.
Jack-o-Lantern Trail Hike Nights
Watch for 2024 Dates
2024 Events REGISTER ONLINE
Valentines Day Candle Walk
February 14, 2024 6 pm – 8 pm
$5.66/each
The trails around McConnell Springs will be lit by candles so that visitors can enjoy a charming walk in the woods to celebrate Valentines Day. Pre-register online.
Junior Naturalist: Feathered Friends
February 17, 2024 10 am – 11:30 am
FREE
This month, learn all about our feathered friends who call the park their home! We will also help park staff participate in the global citizen science event – The Great Backyard Bird Count – by identifying and counting the birds we see. Junior Naturalists are students ages K – 5th grade who love nature and want to learn more. Program topics will change each month, including activities, crafts, and a guided walk. Registration is required.
Beginner Birding
February 18, 2024 3 pm – 4 pm
Free
Learn the basics of bird watching and participate in the global citizen science event – the Great Backyard Bird Count. Park staff will lead the walk, help identify birds, and report our sightings to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Registration is required.
Tiny Tot Naturalist: Feathered Friends
February 21, 2024 10 am – 11 am
FREE
Tiny Tot Naturalist Classes are intended for children ages 2 – 5 years old. Program topics will change each month but will include activities, crafts, and a nature walk. This month, we’ll learn all about our feathered friends: the birds who call the park their home. Registration is required.
Full Moon Hike
February 24, 2024 8 pm – 9 pm
FREE
Take a walk with McConnell Springs staff through the nighttime to look and listen for our nocturnal wildlife and take in the beauty of the full moon. Dress appropriately for the walk through the trails. Registration is required.
Winter Tree ID
February 25, 2024 2 pm – 3 pm
FREE
Learn about trees through their bark, branching, and buds! Identifying trees in winter can be hard but McConnell Springs is here to help. Join park staff on a guided walk discussing trees and how to identify them in the dormant season. Dress appropriately for the walk and weather. Registration is required.
To register for an event call 859-225-4073 or visit ONLINE
Registration typically opens 2 weeks prior to the event.
