The Rail Takes Shape
Ryder Brown • November 25, 2025
A New 2,000-Capacity Entertainment Venue Arrives at The Commons
A new chapter is officially set to begin in Kentucky's vibrant live-music story with the forthcoming opening of The Rail. This purpose-built, ground-up music venue will anchor developer Daren Turner's 42-acre mixed-use development in Lexington.
A World-Class Venue, Locally Owned and Operated
- Capacity: The venue offers a 2,000-person sellable capacity with a flexible layout that can scale from 1,200 to 2,000 guests. It can be configured as a general admission (GA) room or a fully seated, reduced-capacity venue.
- Design Focus: The design emphasizes artist comfort, a superior guest experience, and daily neighborhood engagement.
- Broad Programming: The Rail's strategy is to host all genres of touring acts—including country, rock, hip-hop, and metal—alongside comedy, club nights, special events, and private functions.
- Premium Amenities: Guests can look forward to Golden Circle mezzanine seating, private VIP decks, and The Underbelly Bar, an exclusive area for premium-seat license holders and sponsors.
An Expert Team to Run the Show
The project brings together an experienced team with deep roots in the independent venue sector:
- Operator: Industry veteran and acclaimed promoter John Peters, founder and CEO of MassConcerts, will operate The Rail. MassConcerts is one of the nation's leading independent concert-promotion and venue-management companies, recently expanding its footprint in Kentucky through the acquisition of Headliners Music Hall in Louisville and this new partnership on The Rail.
- Developer: Daren Turner, developer of The Commons, stated that The Rail will be "the heart of the entire development".
- Partnership Team: The partnership team also includes Graham Brown, Joe Craft, David Helmers (partner in The Rail, also of Railbird Festival and Distilled In KY), and Creative Director Emily Cox (Pinnacle Nashville, Bonnaroo, etc.).
"This entertainment venue will be the heart of the entire development... This will be a locally owned, independently operated venue created by and for people who live in Central Kentucky." — Daren Turner, Developer.
Transforming Lexington's Cultural Scene
The Rail is expected to be a major cultural asset for the city:
- Filling a Gap: Partner David Helmers noted that the scale of The Rail"fills a significant gap in the market."
- National Recognition: Stephen Parker, Executive Director of the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), called The Rail a
"world-class facility"
and expects it to be a
"national success story for the independent venue sector."
- Community Impact: Mayor Linda Gorton praised the project, saying it "demonstrates Lexington's evolving cultural ambitions," and will "attract new visitors, talent, and investment while offering residents a daily destination rooted in creativity and community."
Making National Waves: Media Coverage
The announcement of The Rail is not only a local story but a national one for the independent live music scene. Major industry voices and publications have highlighted its significance:
- National Independent Venue Association (NIVA): Stephen Parker, Executive Director of NIVA, called The Rail a "world-class facility" and expects it to be a "national success story for the independent venue sector."
- Pollstar & CelebrityAccess: The news was prominently featured in top music industry trades, including Pollstar and CelebrityAccess, confirming The Rail as a future key stop on national and international tours.
Mark Your Calendars!
The Rail is scheduled to open in October 2026.
Follow the development progress onThe Rail's official website.
We’re thrilled to officially welcome RD1 Spirits to The Commons—a major milestone not just for our development, but for the city of Lexington and Kentucky’s legendary Bourbon Trail. RD1 Distillery is more than just a tasting room. It's an immersive brand destination, research lab, and full-blown bourbon experience rolled into one. Clocking in at over 10,000 square feet—triple the size of their former Distillery District space—RD1 now anchors our 42-acre mixed-use development with a bold new chapter in Lexington’s bourbon legacy. What to Expect Inside Inside, guests are treated to: A wraparound bourbon bar Two private tasting rooms A VIP lab experience with R&D Master Distiller, Dr. Jarrad Gollihue A hidden speakeasy for private groups "RD1 Forest," an indoor zone focused on wood science and bourbon finishing A gift shop featuring exclusive releases only available at The Commons RD1's approach to bourbon is experimental, sensory-driven, and rooted in Kentucky heritage. With over 50 wood finishes tested on-site annually, their R&D setup invites you to explore new flavors—and maybe even bottle one to take home. Fueling Growth in West Lexington This isn’t just a new distillery. It’s a catalyst for tourism and economic growth on Lexington’s west side. As the official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail here at The Commons, RD1 is projected to welcome 30,000+ visitors each year. The energy is real, the impact is tangible, and the experience is unforgettable. Plan Your Visit Come visit RD1 Distillery at The Commons: 113 Turner Commons Way, Suite 110 . Open daily with tastings, tours, and plenty of reasons to come back again and again. Check out their website to learn more.
We're excited to share the latest construction milestones at The Commons! Our vibrant, mixed-use development continues to evolve, bringing our vision of community-centered spaces closer to reality. Here's what's new:
Pickleball Kingdom is coming to The Commons, bringing a premier indoor pickleball facility to Lexington. Set to open in the summer of 2025, the 42,300-square-foot space will feature 17 professional-grade courts, tournaments, leagues, and community events.
