Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden and Toyland
9351 US-68, Calvert City, KY
Driving down a rural stretch of US-68, nothing seems out of the ordinary.
A few houses and farms line the sometimes hilly and winding road, a row of crops tucked further back from the pavement. It seems like the type of area where, unless you live there, you're probably just passing through. Quiet and peaceful, aside from the occasional hum of a diesel engine.
Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden and Toyland comes up almost unsuspectingly. No arrows or signs ushering visitors in, tracking how many miles until you reach your destination. But once it comes into sight, it's hard not to stop and take in the eclectic collection of folk art, toys, and rich history this roadside attraction has to offer.
Co-owner Keith Holt's grandfather Oral Wallace bought the property in 1928. Back then, it included a two-room house, an apple orchard, and about six acres of land. Wallace started selling apple cider and when the highway was paved in the early 1930s, he decided to build a guest bedroom for visitors to stay. Over time, the site became home to many different business ventures and activities.
"It was a gas station," Holt said. "They cut people's hair in here, they served chicken dinners in here, country store, the whole kit and kaboodle."
The history doesn't stop there. It's rumored that an infamous couple of American outlaws stayed here for two nights.
Bonnie and Clyde may or may not have spent some time at Apple Valley back in the day. Holt is adamant that this is a rumor and not fact. His mom believes the gun may have belonged to Holt's uncle, Clyde Wallace.
"Supposedly they stayed here for two nights," Holt said. "They had their car hid behind the original garage and they stayed here, and supposedly, they were kind of rude and mean and all that."
Holt said he's spoken to several Bonnie and Clyde historians who are trying to trace their route. He said the historians have proof the outlaws crossed into Kentucky from nearby Cave-in-Rock, IL. Along with stories from older locals and an unsolved bank robbery case from the time period, that is all the proof he has for now.
Operations ran until 1964 when Wallace passed away, and Holt's grandmother shut it down. Holt promised his grandmother he would do something with the property, and as it was passed to his mom, then eventually to him, that vision became clearer.
Holt moved away to Colorado and then Los Angeles to pursue acting. During that time, he was also a limo driver for the likes of Paul Reubens and Ray Charles. He was working in LA when he first had the idea for Toyland:
"I started doing model train layouts for different, basically like A-list directors or producers, stuff like that. I started seeing these cool collections that no one got to enjoy but them and a few of their close friends," he said. "One day it hit me; wouldn't it be kind of cool to collect toys and have the trains run through the toys."
Now, with his wife Dianne, the two work to keep the history - and jokes - alive. Enormous objects, smaller ones, and even full cars decorate the lawn at Apple Valley. Visitors are welcome to walk through and interpret the artwork themselves, but they're happy to guide you through some of it.
There's puns and jokes galore:
It's a place where things are always changing. No, the main art installations may not change, but due to weather, the landscape and artworks shift. Nature becomes part of the installations, often blending in with everything else. Holt said he tries to add new pieces when he can. There's so many puns, details, and displays that it's easy to miss something during any one visit.
Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden and Toyland is open 8 a.m. to dusk all year. Visitors are welcome to explore the outside on their own, although someone will most likely be there to greet you. It's free to visit but donations are appreciated.
For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/p/Apple-Valley-Hillbilly-Garden-and-Toyland.
Donations can be made in-person and here:
Venmo: @applevalleyandtoyland
Cashapp: $DianneKarnes
