Butcher Holler-Loretta Lynn Home

Loretta Lynn’s childhood home is located in Van Lear, KY. Butcher Holler, made famous by the song “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and biography of the same name is a flat spot between hills in Van Lear.

From US 23 you head south to KY-1428 E/ KY-1828 E. make a left, and continue to KY-302/ KY-1828, turn right. Make another right onto KY-302/ S Railroad St. Follow that into Van Lear.

To tour the home you need to stop at Webb’s Stop and Shop. It is also know as Webb’s Market or the No. 5 General Store. Van Lear is a tiny town with only one main street, so it will be easy to find, but should you run into trouble, just ask at the Coal Mining Museum or anyone you happen to see. They will get you there. You stop at the Market first, because tours are not scheduled. You show up at the Market and the lady there, Madonna, will ring up her Dad on the phone. Her Dad is Herman Webb, brother of Loretta Lynn. He conducts the tours.

The tour is a tad steep at $5 per person. If you are a fan of country music legend then this is worth your time. It is a nearly lost experience in that you can still get a personalized tour by the brother of the singer. If you are interested in coal mining Van Lear also has something to offer you.

The grounds and home itself are pretty small and there is only so much to see. But, Herman knows plenty of stories and local history. The tour will be much more fun if you ask him questions and get him talking. He has done the tour so much that he has a pretty well rehearsed speech, and while that is informative, you miss are missing out, if you don’t get him to meander a bit.

The house has lots of old things. Most of them directly related the Webb family, but some just for local flavor and color. Herman is happy to tell you the story about any of them. You will almost certainly be the only there at the time, as it is never busy. Tourists come down in a trickle, but steady enough to keep Herman busy.

The road to the old home is gated and usually closed, so you can’t get too close without an escort.

When you are done head back to the Market where you can pick up souvenirs and visit with Madonna, if she isn’t too busy. As her for directions to Words and Stuff, a small bookstore with a lot of local color or the Coal Miners Museum which is housed in the Van Lear Historical Society building. Each are worth a stop if you are in the area anyway.