Van Lear Vacations, Van Lear Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Van Lear Vacation Guide

Van Lear, KY is most famous as the childhood home of Country-Western singer Loretta Lynn. Loretta’s younger sister, Country-Western singer, Crystal Gayle also called Van Lear home. Van Lear was incorporated in 1912 and named for the director on Consolidated Coal Company (Consol), Van Lear Black. The town came into existence to service the workers of Consol, making it a stereotypical company town. It’s peak as coal producing town came in the 1930’s, but a mine explosion that claimed nine lives in 1935 signaled the end. By the 1950s coal production had shut down.

Presently the town has no industry and the locals work mostly in nearby towns. The population is less than 2000 and there are no hotels in the town itself. The town has an annual celebration in August, a Coal Miners Museum, and Loretta Lynn’s childhood home to offer up as tourist attractions. The tours of the latter are conducted by Herman Webb, Loretta Lynn’s brother.