Caproni's Restaurant: Our story begins in a small town

Caproni's has been a Maysville dining tradition since the 1930's as a sandwich shop for railroad workers. But in 1945, Leo Caproni along with his brother Alfred and sister in law Lea Caproni purchased and operated the restaurant for many years. Located beside the Amtrak railroad station and along CSX tracks, overlooking the Ohio River, at the base of what is now Rosemary Clooney Street. A fast freight and passenger train roars by within feet of diners.

In the early years, the railroad station was a source of customers for the restaurant. Alfred and Lea Caproni bought the business in 1953. In 1966, Alfred passed away and Lea decided to remodel the building so that the wall of windows on the north side brought the Ohio River vista to nearly all of the diners. In 1975, writer Billy Reed named Caproni's one of the 10 best places to eat in Kentucky.

Many diners were regulars, including John Skilman, who was involved in the construction of the floodwall which protects the river town. In 1970 he married the owner, Lea Caproni and together they ran "Caps" until his death in 1987. Lea gave up the business in 1990 and the namesake family was no longer associated with the restaurant.

It went through a succession of owners and was closed when Jerry Lundergan, a Maysville native and nationally known caterer, bought the business in 1999. After extensive remodeling, Caproni's reopened in December of 2000. Over the years many dignitaries have dined there including governors of Kentucky John Y Brown, Wallace Wilkinson, and Martha Layne Collins, Miss America Heather French, as well as First Lady and Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Caproni's has been a longtime favorite of the Clooney family and has hosted a myriad of movie stars and recording artists.

We're including a $100 voucher for you to redeem at Caproni's when you book our exclusive "It's a Wonderful Life" package.

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