Kentucky Horse Park will get $39 million from state budget for upgrades. What to know

One of the commonwealth’s largest tourism attractions is getting a facelift.

The Kentucky Horse Park will receive $39 million of state funds over the next two years to improve its facilities, with the passage of Kentucky House Bill 1 and House Bill 6.

Most of that money, $36 million, will come from a one-time spending bill, HB 1, which invests $2.7 billion of Kentucky’s reserved funds back into the state, Republicans Sen. Steve West and Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer announced last week.

The remaining $3 million is earmarked for park maintenance and is part of the biennial budget bill, HB 6.

The park is a working horse farm, educational center and an equestrian competition venue that opened in 1978. Tourism leaders tout it as the world’s only park dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse.

“The Kentucky Horse Park is a testament to our state’s equestrian heritage, attracting over half a million visitors annually,” West said in a news release. “This funding will help preserve the park’s historical significance, boost tourism and support the local economy. I look forward to these upgrades as we further solidify our standing as the Horse Capital of the World.”

The competition barns and stalls will be replaced using $15 million of the allotted budget, making it the most expensive of the projects planned. Its campgrounds and bathhouses also will be replaced, along with renovations to the park’s restaurant, entertainment pavilions and the International Museum of the Horse.

“Our horse park is a global attraction, and the success of our horse racing industry highlights the necessity for ongoing improvements,” Thayer said in the release.

The 1,229-acre Kentucky Horse Park attracts more than 1 million visitors every year, according to the attraction’s website.

Kentucky Horse Park officials did not respond to requests for comment.