Visiting Loretta Lynn's Butcher Hollow Homeplace, Van Lear KY

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Country music legend Loretta Lynn famously sang “Well, I was born’d a coal miner’s daughter in a cabin on a hill in Butcher Holler.” Daddy Ted Webb was a coal miner and that cabin on a hill where she was born in 1932 still exists today. Butcher Hollow (Loretta’s accent makes it “Butcher Holler”) is a place not an actual community that is officially part of Van Lear deep in the hills of Eastern Kentucky. To describe Butcher Hollow as off the beaten path is an understatement. You exit the main highway taking a series of country road turns and hope you find your way. The route to Butcher Hollow is not exactly well signed. Yes, I had to stop and ask a local if I was on the right path. The closer you get then you start seeing some signs. The last road is a narrow barely paved way up into the sticks. There is no “blazing” sign heralding this is the place. You see a locked fence gate. A few steps down the road you can get a good view of the cabin so you know you have found it. The family still owns the property and Loretta’s brother Herman began tours in 1986 and continued until his 2018 death. The cost is unchanged at $5 and that is the way the family wants it. One does not realize you are supposed to stop at Webb’s Grocery first to arrange a tour. Fortunately the guy came along. Did not ask if he was a Webb. The cabin is in a hollow between two hills. All lush terrain with a “crick.” Unlike most mine workers, Ted owned the half acre with the cabin which was fortunate when the mine closed in 1949. The family was able to survive for awhile off the land until Ted and wife Clary moved to the city for work in the 50s. Crystal Gayle was just a child while Loretta married and gone. Ted died of black lung at age 51. Having seen the movie and cabin replica in Hurricane Mills, seeing the authentic things is amazing. This is the song come to life. The real “Butcher Holler.” This is where Loretta came from and inspired her music. Loretta was born into these humble surroundings and rose to one of the greatest female country singers of all time. Stepping into the tiny four room cabin is another frozen in time experience. Low ceilings and wood floors. Well and privy outside. Imagine that large family all crammed into that small space. Herman asked family members to donate back items that originally came from the cabin so he got it back to when he was a boy there. That is little Loretta’s bed and bed of her parents. Chairs, furnishings, radio, clock, Ted’s tools, jars, all sorts of items. Herman put up family photos now faded. Conservation efforts are seemingly not practiced here yet that adds to the authenticity and charm. Atmosphere is “real” compared to the usual sterile house tour of the famous. Visitors can just walk around and get away with touching stuff and use flash photography. Ponder the hard, hard existence of a coal miner’s family amidst the beautiful natural surroundings. Checked out Webb’s Grocery on the way back. Over 100 years old, this was the original company store called Number 5 Store after the Number 5 mine. You will see other structures and houses left over from the company era. Herman bought the place. There are vintage items like bottles and typewriter. Check out the faded posters of Loretta and Crystal on the walls. Herman’s cats hang out on the porch. Well worth the long safari to see.