Corbin, Kentucky - Tourist Attractions

(in and around Corbin - within 90 minutes driving time)


Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park
U.S. 25 South
998 Levi Jackson Mill Rd
London, Kentucky 40744-8944
(606) 878-8000

Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park honors both the first judge in Laurel County, and the road that has been termed by some to be the most significant trail in the westward flow of English colonization. The park encompasses over 800 acres and includes the Defeated Camp Pioneer Burial Ground (McNitt Party Memorial), McHargue's Mill, and the Mountain Life Museum. The Wilderness Road and Boone's Trace, both thoroughfares for many a pioneer coming from the East, pass through the park.

McHargue's Mill:  Built  in 1812 on the banks of the Little Laurel River where it intersects Boone's Trace. This working reproduction mill has authentic interior works, including millstones. It is surrounded by the largest display of millstones in the country.  Tourists can watch as the water-powered gristmill grinds corn into meal.  Open April 1-October 31. A fee is charged for admission.

Mountain Life Museum, a group of cabins constructed from hewn logs house authentic antiques from the pioneer era. A two room building used originally as a schoolhouse now contains frontier guns and a large Indian artifact collection. A second cabin displays pioneer cooking utensils, spinning wheels and a trundle bed used by Levi Jackson. Another cabin is the old Methodist Church of Bald Rock Chapel, with its original pulpit, collection plate and a piano made of rosewood that is over 200 years old. Other museum cabins include the smokehouse where meat was cured, blacksmith shop with early blacksmithing tools and a barn where an old prairie schooner is housed.

McNitt Party Memorial - During the night of October 3, 1786, the McNitt Party became
the victims of a bloody Indian massacre in which at least 24 people were killed. This was the worst pioneer massacre in Kentucky's history. A memorial to the McNitt Party was established at Levi Jackson Park.

Hiking Trails: Boone's Trace was cut by Daniel Boone from Cumberland Gap to the Kentucky River and the Wilderness Road was the first wagon road into Kentucky.  Between 1774 and 1796, more than 200,000 pioneers traveled over these trails during the settlement of Kentucky. Today, 8+ miles of hiking trails include portions of the original pioneer trails.

Camping:  While discovering Kentucky's pioneer heritage at Levi Jackson State Park, visitors can relax in a 146-site campground, nestled in open woodland. Utility hookups, a grocery store, a dump station, and three central service buildings containing an activities room, showers, rest rooms, and laundry facilities assure camping convenience.  Open year-round. No advance reservations. Check out by 2:00 p.m. Camping fee.

Group Camp:  Levi Jackson is a great place for a fun-filled group camping trip. The group camping area has an activities building, and may be reserved up to one year in advance. Open year-round. Minimum charge for up to 25 people. Extra fee per person over 25 people. A separate fee is charged for rental of clubhouse; varies with time of day and time of week. Clubhouse rental must be included with the rental of group cabins.

Swimming Pool:  Cool off on a hot summer day in the community swimming pool.  Open Memorial Day - mid-August. A fee is charged to the public. A new pool containing water slides.

Miniature Golf:  Test your putting skills on the 18-hole, miniature golf course near the campground entrance. Open April 1-October 31. A fee is charged per round.

Amphitheater:  The Russell Dyche Amphitheater seats 1,500 people and is host to many community events, including the week-long Laurel County Homecoming in August.

Athletic Recreation Areas:  Fun and activity are always in full bloom at Levi Jackson. Horseshoe pits, volleyball, and basketball courts are available, and sports equipment may be checked-out to campers.

Planned Recreation: In the camping area, daily summer activities are available for children and adults under the guidance of a trained recreation staff.

Picnicking & Playgrounds:  Picnic tables, grills, and playgrounds are located throughout the park for a perfect picnic outing. Three picnic shelters are available for rental up to one year in advance.

Holly Bay Marina
P.O. Box 674
London, Kentucky 40741
(606) 864-6542

Whether you're renting a boat, picking up camping supplies, getting some bait, or stocking up on groceries, Holly Bay Marina is open year round. Holly Bay also offers covered slips, moorage for houseboats and seasonal slips with twenty-four hour security Once you experience the friendly Holly Bay Service you may decide to leave your boat with us to be pampered by our professional staff. Located on the shore of the crystal clear Laurel Lake, there are plenty of activities for your whole family. Rent a houseboat and wake up for breakfast at sunrise in one of Laurel Lake's hundreds of tranquil, picturesque coves. For serious slalom skiers, measure your skiing skills on a competition slalom course. Your whole family will have the time of they lives playing in one of the clearest lakes in all of the United States. When daytime finally gives way to the sunset at Laurel Lake, it's a sight you'll never forget. Holly Bay also features a Public Beach.

Daniel Boone Motocross Park
(606) 877-1364

Enjoy extreme sports racing at Kentucky's premiere Motocross Park featuring Motorcycle/ATV, Bicycle Motocross, and Cross Country Mountain Bike Racing weekly March-November.  AMA sanctioned track.

1999 Schedule Motocross & Mt. Bike Races

July 4-5 - Motocross Weekend Annual Fireworks Show, Sat. Night and Sunday
August - Weekly races: Saturday Night Motocross
August 30, October 11, November 1 - Sunday Mountain Bike Races
Sept. 5-6 - Labor Day Motocross Weekend, Sat. Night & Sunday
Oct. 3-4 - AMA East Coast Four Stroke, National Sunday is Pro Day

North of Corbin

Renfro Valley Entertainment Center
Renfro Valley, Kentucky 40473
(606) 256-2664 or (800) 765-7464

Renfro Valley, Kentucky's Country Music Capital, continues more than 50 years of tradition by offering the very best in family entertainment, with a cast of 40 plus entertainers presenting 10 different live shows on the stages of our two state-of-the-art show-barn theaters.

The Renfro Valley Barn Dance is a traditional showcase of country, bluegrass, mountain and gospel music, plus great comedy. The Renfro Valley Jamboree is an outstanding mix of hot, kickin' contemporary, country music, along with side-splitting comedy. The Mountain Gospel Jubilee, performed every weekend, features the Morning Gatherin', a syndicated radio show that has aired continuously since 1943 and is held live every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Showcases from 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.

A historic museum and quaint shopping village add to tour guests' enjoyment. Call for show and event schedules, special tour packages. Comfortable lodging and 2 restaurants. 20 minutes from London-Laurel County.

Center is open March thru December. Call for schedule of specific events and concerts
Handicapped accessible

Berea Crafts Center
Berea Tourism Commission
Berea, Kentucky 40403
(606) 986-2540 or (800) 598-5263

The town of Berea is a mountain crafts center specializing in handmade crafts and antiques. A popular tour bus destination, it includes a number of attractions as well as Berea College's elegant Boone Tavern Hotel, which houses one of the south's most popular restaurants. The restaurant is nationally famous for its Spoonbread and Chicken Flakes.  Other attractions in Berea  include:

• Churchill Weavers - America's foremost handweavers
• Appalachian Arts and Crafts and Quilt Shop
• Appalachian Fireside Gallery
• Berea College Student Craft Industries
• Boone Tavern Gift Shop
• Log House Sale Room featuring fine handmade furniture
• Chestnut Street Gallery, featuring fine mountain crafts
• Upstairs Gallery, featuring regional arts and crafts

White Hall State Historic Site
500 White Hall Shrine Road
Richmond KY 40475-9159
(606) 623-9178

White Hall State Historic Site not only preserves architectural history but also commemorates one of Kentucky's most colorful and historical figures, Cassius Marcellus Clay, noted abolitionist, politician, publisher, Minister to Russia, and friend to Abraham Lincoln.
   
White Hall is really a house within a house. The "old building," as Cassius Clay referred to his father's home, Clermont, was built in 1798-1799 in the Georgian-style. Clay wrote that the brick structure was "the first of that class" in the country. The new building, White Hall, was built above and around Clermont by Cassius Clay in the 1860s. Also of brick, it is an interesting combination of Georgian and Italianate architecture.

Though sophisticated for its time and location on the Kentucky frontier, Clermont was simple in design. Situated on a small rise and facing the Kentucky River, the home was located at
the center of Green Clay's extensive empire which included distilleries, taverns, farms, and a ferry across the Kentucky River.

The first floor of the two-story home consisted of a large hall on one side, a bearing wall in the center, and, on the other side, a dining room and parlor each with stairways leading to
the second floor. Upstairs there were four bedrooms, each approximately the same size. All seven rooms in the house had fireplaces.

The transformation of Clermont into White Hall occurred in the 1860s when Cassius Clay was in Russia. Mary Jane Clay, wife of Cassius Clay, supervised the construction of White Hall. Prominent architect Thomas Lewinski and builder-architect John McMurty designed and built the addition to Clermont. The new addition more than doubled the size of the house. The first floor of White Hall was made level with the older section of the house. Clermont's old stairways were removed; however, despite the addition of front and rear staircases, circulation throughout the house was very awkward.

Noteworthy features of the house include 16-foot ceilings, a sweeping staircase of nearly thirty steps almost 50 inches wide, and a forerunner of a central heating system fueled by two fireboxes in the basement with ducts leading to fireplaces in several rooms of the newer section of the house. Unique for its time was an indoor bathroom, divided into three closets, one containing a washbasin, another a commode, and the third a bathtub made of a hollowed-out poplar log lined with copper. Rainwater from the roof was collected in a storage tank on the top floor of the house and piped to the bathroom on the floor below.

Tours: Today you can tour White Hall and feel the aura it possessed in the 1860s, complete with period furnishings and pieces original to the Clay estate. Costumed guides will share with you the historical treasures of White Hall and the Clay family. Open April 1-October 31, Open 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m., (closed Mondays & Tuesdays after Labor Day), combination museum
tours are available for White Hall & Fort Boonesborough.  Admission Fee.

Gift Shop:  You can find the perfect memento of your visit to White Hall in the park's gift shop, located in the estate's original corn crib. The gift shop features a large selection of Kentucky handcrafts and souvenirs. Open April 1-October 31.

A Victorian Christmas: Your entire family will enjoy a candlelight tour of White Hall traditionally decorated in 19th century Christmas fashion. Complete with special music and refreshments, this event is becoming a cherished holiday tradition. Open several days each December. Admission charged.

White Hall & Fort Boonesborough can be toured on a combination ticket. Fort Boonesborough State Park also is located in Richmond, 6 miles east of White Hall. For information on Fort Boonesborough, see below.

Fort Boonesborough State Park
4375 Boonesborough Road
Richmond, KY 40475-9316
(606) 527-3131

Fort Boonesborough State Park is the site of Boonesborough, established in 1775 by Richard Henderson and Daniel Boone of the Transylvania Company. Boone, in the advance party, first constructed several log huts in a sycamore hollow which led to the Kentucky River. The settlement was later moved by Henderson to a nearby rise on the river bank. A hollow squared stockade enclosing about an acre of ground with blockhouses and cabins was eventually completed in September 1778 - just in time to withstand a nine-day attack by Indians and Frenchmen, later known as "The Great Siege."

Boonesborough remained a stopping point and trade center on the Kentucky River for the next fifty-one years. However the population of the town declined and the defensive need for the fort ended after peace was secured with the British and Indians. Boonesborough ceased to exist as a town by 1820 and became a mineral spring resort in the early twentieth century.

Today, Fort Boonesborough has been reconstructed as a working fort complete with blockhouses, cabins, and period furnishings. Resident artisans perform pioneer craft
demonstrations on 18th-century antiques and impart pioneer experiences to modern-day visitors.

Campground:  Enjoy camping on the banks of the Kentucky River. The campground offers 167 sites with electricity and water hookups as well as primitive camping sites. An activities building can accommodate 150 people, and a central service building provides showers, rest rooms, and laundry facilities.  Open year-round. No advance reservations, check-out by 2:00 p.m. Eastern time, fee charged.

Gift Shops:  Two gift shops are available on the park; in the beach bathhouse and in the fort. The fort shop has an outstanding offering of Kentucky crafts, handcrafted items made in the fort and throughout the state.  Open April 1-October 31, closed Mondays and Tuesdays after Labor Day.

Museum Tours:  Discover the heritage of the Richmond area. A combination museum tour includes a tour of Fort Boonesborough and a guided tour of White Hall State Historic Site, the home of noted abolitionist Cassius Clay.  Tours available April 1-October 31, closed Mondays and Tuesdays after Labor Day. Hours are from 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m., fee charged.

Meeting Room:  Fort Boonesborough State Park has the perfect accommodations for your next meeting. A multipurpose building in the campground seats 150 people and is available for rental in the off season.

Fishing:  With an abundance of bluegill, bass, and catfish, fishing is a favorite pastime on the Kentucky River.

Launching Ramps:  Launching ramps are available in the park for your access to a fun-filled day on the river.

Miniature Golf:  An 18-hole, miniature golf course is the perfect way for your family to play together as well as test your putting skills! Open April 1-October 31. Fee charged.

Pool Complex:  A junior Olympic-size swimming pool features a water slide, misty fountain, children's area, and a rain tree! A sand beach with a bathhouse and grocery is available for sunbathing.While at the pool enjoy your favorite treats from the snack bar!  Memorial Day- Labor Day. Fee charged.

Picnicking: Three picnic shelters (one with rest rooms), tables, grills and a playground are located throughout the park for a perfect picnic outing.

Kentucky Riverwalk Trails:  This self-guided interpretive trail points out features unique to this portion of the Kentucky River valley. Native plants, animals, pre-historic, historic and geological sites are included along the trail routes.

Planned Recreation:  Daily activities are planned for children and adults in the campground, under the guidance of a trained recreation staff. Memorial Day - Labor Day.

Special Events:  The park hosts many special events throughout the year, such as Admiral's Day in September, and the Kentucky Corp of Longriflemen Tournament in October.

Southeast of Corbin

Colonel Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum
U.S. 25
Corbin, Kentucky 40701
(606) 528-2163

Visit the "Birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken" at Colonel Harland Sanders original restaurant. First opened in 1940, the new restaurant was completely restored to its original look and a museum added in September, 1990, the Colonel's 100th birthday. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Colonel Sanders created his Original RecipeTM fried chicken here and perfected the technique of pressure frying, thus launching the fast food industry and providing the beginnings for the Kentucky Fried Chicken system.  Open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.  Handicapped accessible.  No admission charge.

The WORLD CHICKEN FESTIVAL is held in September each year in downtown London, KY.   In celebration of Colonel Sanders and heritage to our area, this festival commemorates the Colonel as one of the most highly recognized figures in the world.  The World Chicken Festival continues to be one of the top ranked events in the Southeast United States, and one of the top 20 events for September by The Southeast Tourism Society. The World Chicken Festival attracts over 200,000 visitors during the four day event each year that is filled with "egg-cite-ment", special events and attractions for the whole family. Events and attractions include; The World's Largest Known Flying Skillet, Exotic Chicken Display (150 exotic chicken breeds), Colonel Sanders Look-A-Like Contest, Parades including children's parade and pet parade, Continuous Live Shows, and over 200 booths of arts, crafts, and food vendors.  Contact the London-Laurel County Tourist Commission at (606) 878-6900 or (800) 348-0095.

Dr. Thomas Walker State Historic Site
HC 83, Box 868
Barbourville, KY 40906-9603
(606) 546-4400

Although Daniel Boone is remembered in legend, Dr. Thomas Walker in fact preceded Boone by 17 years into Kentucky. A physician and surveyor, he led the first expedition through Cumberland Gap in 1750. Near the river which he named the Cumberland, Walker built a cabin, a replica of which stands on the site today.

The house and surrounding grounds can be toured free of charge. Open year-round.

Gift Shop: features Kentucky handcrafts and souvenirs. Open March to mid-November.

Miniature Golf:  An 18-hole miniature golf course is located close to the entrance of the site. Open April thru October.

Concession Stand:  The site sells snacks and drinks at a walk-up booth next to the gift shop. Open March - mid November.

Basketball Court: Enjoy an energetic game of basketball after a family picnic on the site's basketball court. Open year-round.

Picnic Shelters & Playground:  Two picnic shelters on the site's twelve acres provide a nice spot for a gathering. The playground is close-by. Open year-round. One shelter contains restroom facilities. Shelters can be reserved by rental up to a year in advance.

Pine Mountain State Resort Park
1050 State Park Road
Pineville, KY 40977-0610
(606) 337-3066 or (800) 325-1712

Pine Mountain State Resort Park is a destination for all seasons. The first Kentucky State Park, created in 1924, has its lodge and trails embellished by beautiful rockwork crafted by stonemasons of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s. Located in the heart of the Kentucky Ridge State Forest in Kentucky's southeastern mountains, the setting of this modern resort features some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the state!

Evans Lodge:  You will be charmed by the skilled craftsmanship of stone and wood throughout Herndon J. Evans Lodge. Two lobbies have stone fireplaces for cozy visits with friends. The upper lobby has three showcases displaying a large selection of antique knives. Each of the 30 rooms has a private patio or balcony to enjoy the mountain views. And for the perfect memento of your visit, you can find a large selection of Kentucky handcrafts and souvenirs in the gift shop.  Open year-round. Rooms are available by late afternoon,check-out by noon, Eastern time.

Cottages:  Enjoy rustic charm in one or two-bedroom cottages. The nine one-bedroom log cabins have stone fireplaces and private decks. The eleven two-bedroom cottages have porches or decks surrounded by woodland settings Grills are furnished for the cabins and cottages.
Cottages are available by late afternoon, check-out by 11:00 a.m. Eastern time.

Primitive Camping:  For unspoiled beauty, Pine Mountain is the perfect place to camp. Surround yourself with nature in the 36-site campground. All campsites are primitive (no electric hookups), and a central service building offers showers and rest rooms. Grills, picnic tables, and a picnic shelter are available.   Open April 1 - October 31. No advance reservations; check-out by 2:00 p.m.

Dining Room:  Every table has a beautiful mountain view in the 216-seat dining room. Join us for gracious dining and courteous service for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Meeting Rooms:  Enjoy private dining in a 20-seat dining room. The Ray Harm Room, located in the lodge, can accommodate 70 guests for banquets.

C. V. Whitney Convention Center:  This modern facility adjacent to the lodge will accommodate groups of 50 to 300 guests. Complete food service is available.

Laurel Cove & Mountain Laurel Festival:  Laurel Cove is a natural forest cove transformed into an amphitheater. With seating for 2,000, Laurel Cove is the site of the Mountain Laurel Festival, held the last weekend in May. The celebration features concerts, dances, fireworks, and the crowning of the Mountain Laurel Queen.

Regulation Golf:  This facility is currently closed for major renovation and expansion. It is tentatively scheduled to reopen in May, 2000.

Miniature Golf:  The miniature golf course offers fun for the entire family! Open April 1 - October 31. Fee charged per round.

Hiking Trails:  Pine Mountain is a hiker's paradise with 8.5 miles of self-guided trails. Hike to Chained Rock, the Hemlock Garden or various other trails with names like Honeymoon Falls, Rock Hotel, and Living Stairway.

Swimming Pool:  Cool off with a dip in our new pool (completely A.D.A.-accessible)! The swimming pool adjacent to the lodge, is for the exclusive use of overnight park guests. Seasonal Planned Recreation/Naturalist Programs.

Recreational Activities:  Enjoy year-round, interpretive programs on native plants, animals, and local history under the direction of a full-time naturalist. Daily summer recreational activities are conducted by seasonal recreation staff.

Picnicking & Playgrounds:  Tables, shelters, grills, and rest rooms are located near Laurel
Cove. Playgrounds are located throughout the park. Shelters are available for rental up to one year in advance.

Special Events: The park hosts many events throughout the year, such as the "New Astronomer's Weekend" in March, "Mountain Adventure Weekend" at the end of April, and "Hawk Watch Weekend" the first of October.

Cumberland Gap National Park
Box 1848
Middlesboro, Kentucky 40965
(606) 248-2817 This huge national park, which covers 20,000 acres in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee, is the largest historical park in the nation. Carved by wind and water, Cumberland Gap forms a major break in the formidable Appalachian Mountain chain. First used by large game animals in their migratory journeys and followed by American Indians, the Cumberland Gap was the first and best avenue for settlement of the interior of this nation. From 1775 to 1810, the Gap's heyday, between 200,000 and 300,000 men, women, and children crossed the Gap into the unknown land of Kentucky.

Park is open year round and there is no admission fee. Handicapped accessible. Motorcoach parking available. Buses over 34 feet long cannot make the curves to Pinnacle Mountain Overlook.  Visitation peaks in July and in October when the mountains come alive with brilliant fall foliage.  The Visitor Center is open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. From Labor Day through Memorial Day, the Visitor Center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Visitor Center is closed on Christmas and New Year's Day.

Park Grounds are open daily with picnic areas operating on a seasonal schedule. The road leading to Pinnacle Overlook may be closed periodically due to inclement weather, including ice, snow, and lightning.

Camping: $10/night for sites without electricity
$15/night for sites with electricity
Sites one-half price for Golden Age/Access Passport holders

A nominal fee and reservations are required for some of the ranger-guided activities offered throughout the year.

FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
Visitor Center/Exhibits:
Visitors to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park should set aside an hour or two to browse through the park's Visitor Center, located on U.S. Highway 25E just south of Middlesboro, Kentucky. Exhibits, artifacts, and a film tell the story of the Gap as a transportation corridor.

Trails, Roads:  Leaving the Visitor Center, park visitors can drive a winding four-mile-long road up the mountain to the Pinnacle Overlook (elevation 2,440 feet) for a spectacular view into the three states of Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. The road is closed to vehicles 20 feet or longer in length. When park staff is available, shuttles to the Overlook can be arranged; cost is $1.00 per
person.

Over 55 miles of hiking trails meander through eastern deciduous forest in this 20,000 acre national park. Distances range from a 1/4-mile loop trail to the 21-mile-long Ridge Trail. Trails lead to Hensley Settlement, a restored mountain community located atop isolated Brush Mountain. Folks can visit chestnut-hewn cabins and learn about the self-sufficient lifestyle of the Hensley and Gibbon families, who kept alive characteristics of early pioneer life. Restored by the National Park Service, the Settlement is accessible by hiking, horseback, or shuttle (seasonal; shuttle reservations are recommended).

Towering 3,500 feet above the valley, White Rocks was a welcome sight to the settlers traveling along the Wilderness Road in the 1700s. Upon seeing this massive limestone outcropping, the settlers knew they were but a day's journey from the Cumberland Gap. Today, visitors can hike or ride horseback three miles to the top of White Rocks, from where the view into Virginia is breathtaking.

Sand Cave, a 75 foot high sandstone overhang, is decorated by nature with at least seven different colors of sand. In rainy seasons, a small waterfall cascades over the edge. The cave is reached via a beautifully wooded eight-mile round trip hike or horseback ride.

Programs/Activities:
Folks visiting Cumberland Gap not only have the opportunity to journey back into history, tracing the footsteps of notables such as Daniel Boone, but can also participate in a wonderful medley of ranger-guided activities. Toe-tapping mountain music, tours to the restored Hensley Settlement, walks along the Wilderness Road, longhunter and pioneer encampments, and campfire programs are but a sampling of the programs offered. Each program offered by park rangers introduces visitors to the magic which makes national parks so special.

Several of the programs require reservations or are seasonal in nature; others include a nominal fee. For a listing of park programs, please call (606) 248-2817, or write the park at: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, P.O. Box 1848, Middlesboro, KY, 40965.

Lodging and camping facilities:
The Wilderness Road Campground, located off Highway 58 in Virginia, is open year-round. The 160 woodland sites welcome tent, trailer, and RV campers. Electrical hookups are available. Hot showers are located at the comfort stations. Campsites are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Camping: $10/night for sites without electricity
$15/night for sites with electricity
Sites one-half price for Golden Age/Access Passport holders

Group camping is available with reservations in advance:
20 people or fewer: $20/night per site
More than 20 people: $20/night per site plus $1 for each additional person in the group.

Backcountry campsites are located throughout the park and require a backcountry use permit, which must be picked up in person at the Visitor Center.

Motels, hotels, and bed-and-breakfast establishments are available in the area.

At an elevation of 2,440 feet, the Pinnacle Overlook is perhaps the most visited area in the park. A level 1/4-mile paved trail provides access to this overlook, from which visitors have a spectacular view into Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Accessible drive-in campsites are available at the park's Wilderness Road Campground. Surfaces within these sites have been hardened, the height of fire grates has been increased, and picnic tables have been modified. A short, paved trail guides visitors to the campground's amphitheatre, where park rangers present programs on the cultural and natural history of the park.

Southwest of Corbin

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park 
7351 Highway 90
Corbin, Kentucky 40701-8814
(606) 528-4121 or (800) 325-0063

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park is located in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Known as the "Niagara of the South," the waterfall forms a 125-foot wide curtain that plunges 60 feet into the boulder-strewn gorge below. The mist of Cumberland Falls creates the magic of the moonbow, only visible on a clear night during a full moon. This unique phenomenon appears nowhere else in the Western Hemisphere!  See below for moonbow dates.

Dupont Lodge:  Solid hemlock beams and knotty pine paneling complement the massive stone fireplaces in historic DuPont Lodge. Fifty-two rooms offer beautiful views and full amenities. Open year-round. Rooms are available by late afternoon, check-out by noon, Eastern time.

Woodland Rooms:  Cumberland Falls has special accommodations adjacent to the lodge that offer the privacy of cottages with the convenience of daily maid service. These duplex rooms also feature wet bars and small refrigerators.  Woodland Rooms are available by late afternoon, check-out by 11:00 a.m. Eastern time.

Cottages:  The one and two-bedroom cottages have unique appeal. Most cottages have fireplaces. Tableware, cooking utensils, and linens are provided, with fresh linens available daily. Cottages are available by late afternoon, check-out by 11:00 a.m. Eastern time.

Camping:  Enjoy the great outdoors in the campground, featuring 50 campsites with electric and water hookups. The campground has a central service building with showers and rest rooms, a grocery, and a dump station. Seasonal, April 1 - October 31; no advance reservations.
Check-out by 2:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Dining Room:  Experience fine dining in the 300-seat dining room in DuPont Lodge. Admire the view of the river while enjoying Kentucky cuisine and courteous service for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Meeting Rooms:  Cumberland Falls is the ideal location for meetings. A multipurpose building, adjacent to the lodge, can accommodate 350 people. There is a 75-capacity combination meeting-recreation room near the lodge lounge. For smaller groups, a 30-capacity meeting room is located near the dining room.

Gift & Coffee Shops:   Visit the gift shop, featuring a large selection of Kentucky handcrafts, and the coffee shop, both located in the falls area. Coffee shop open April 1 - October 31. Gift Shop open year-round.

Bob Blair Museum:  The Blair Museum, located in the lodge, features Native American artifacts and exhibits relating to area plants, animals, and history.

Nature Trails:   Cumberland Falls is a hiker's paradise with 17 miles of hiking trails that wind through the park to scenic areas. The Moonbow Trail connects with many backpacking trails in the Daniel Boone National Forest.

Fishing:   Enjoy fishing in the Cumberland River, where there is an abundance of bass, catfish, panfish, and roughfish.

Recreation Area:  Enjoy tennis, horseshoes or shuffleboard on the outdoor courts near the Woodland Rooms. Overnight guests may check-out sports equipment.

Swimming:  Cool off on a hot summer day with a dip in an Olympic-size pool.  Use of pool is free to lodge and cottage guests; fee for visitors. Open Memorial Day - Labor Day.

White Water Rafting:  Guided rafting trips are offered on the Cumberland River. The park arranges the trips through Sheltowee Trace Outfitters.   Daily; May - October depending on water levels. Fee is charged. Call 800-541-RAFT (7238).

Horse Stables:  Guided horseback trail rides are available, daily. Open Memorial Day - Labor Day. Fee is charged.

Planned Recreation:  Your family can enjoy year-round, interpretive programs focusing on native plants, animals, and local history under direction of a full-time recreation specialist. Daily summer activities are conducted by seasonal recreation staff.

Picnicking & Playgrounds:  A picnic area with tables, grills and playgrounds is ideal for family outings. A picnic shelter (without rest rooms) offers tables, grills, water, and electric; it may be reserved for rental up to one year in advance.

Moonbow Dates (Visible during clear weather):

Jan. 99 1,2,3,29,30,31
Feb. 99 1,2,28
Mar. 991,2,3,4,29,30,31
Apr. 99 1,2,28,29,30
May. 99 1,2,28,29,30,31
Jun. 99 1,26,27,28,29,30
Jul. 99 26,27,28,29,30
Aug. 99 24,25,26,27,28
Sep. 99 23,24,25,26,27
Oct. 99 22,23,24,25,26
Nov. 99 21,22,23,24,25
Dec. 99 20,21,22,23,24

Big South Fork Scenic Railway & Museum/Blue Heron Coal Mine Community
Box 368
Stearns, KY 42647
(606) 376-5330 or (800) 462-5664

ALL ABOARD! for an adventurous scenic railway excursion from the historic community of Stearns, Kentucky down into the gorge of the Big South Fork River and Recreation Area. The Big South Fork Scenic Railway connects two unique areas: the historic community of Stearns and the coal mining community of Blue Heron along the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River. Trains depart from the picturesque community of Stearns, which was built as a company town by the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company in 1900. Blue Heron Mining Community (KY) is an outdoor museum dealing with the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company, coal mining and life in a company mining town. Your 11-mile round trip carries you down a gradual decline of 600 feet into the gorge and along the way your train enters a massive rock tunnel, squeezes between high rock ledges, hugs the steep banks of a wild mountain stream (Roaring Paunch Creek) and passes by long abandoned coal camps to reach its destination in the bottom of the great canyon along the Cumberland River. This excursion has long been judged by experts as one of the most scenic railways in the U.S. today. It is a unique way to reach the heart of the vast (105,000 acres) Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

Big South Fork Scenic Railway is open mid- April thru October but the schedule does vary.  Call for specific schedule and reservations. Handicapped-accessible. Motorcoach parking. Tour groups of 25 or more - complimentary passes to tour director and driver.

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is open year round from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.  The free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries pass through 90 miles of scenic gorges and valleys containing a wide range of natural and historic features. The area offers a broad range of recreational opportunities including camping, whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, hunting and fishing. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with its experience in managing river basins, was charged with land acquisition, planning and development of facilities. Now completed, these lands and facilities are operated and maintained by the National Park Service for the benefit and use of the public.

Summer evening programs Saturday night from Memorial Day through September. Special events throughout the year including Pioneer Encampments, Astronomy Programs and Storytelling Festival. For additional information on these and other special park events visit our special events page or call the park for specific dates and times.

A wide variety of recreational uses are promoted at the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Whitewater rafting, canoeing and kayaking are popular in the spring months while canoeing and canoe camping on non-whitewater sections are available all year. Swimming is available in rivers and at the Bandy Creek Pool. Hundreds of miles of hiking and horse trails exist with no restriction on backcountry camping. Developed campgrounds and primitive lodging exist. Mountain biking is allowed on bike trails, horse trails and 4-wheel drive roads. Hunting and fishing are allowed in season with appropriate state licenses. Scenic overlooks are located in both the Tennessee and Kentucky portions of the park.

Lake Cumberland State Resort Park
5465 State Park Road
Jamestown, KY 42629-7801
(502) 343-3111 or (800) 325-1709 

Lake Cumberland State Resort Park is one of the finest fishing and pleasure boating areas in the Eastern United States. The resort is a haven for large deer herds and raccoon populations. Lake Cumberland also features the only indoor pool complex in the park system. A glass-backed elevator, atrium, exercise room, and hot tub add a pampering touch to Lure Lodge!

Lure Lodge: With all the amenities, 63-room Lure Lodge overlooks beautiful Lake Cumberland. The gift shop boasts a large selection of souvenirs and Kentucky handcrafts.  Open year-round. Rooms available by late afternoon, check-out by noon, Central time.

Pumpkin Creek Lodge:  Nearby Pumpkin Creek Lodge offers full amenities with the added attraction of privacy. With 10 rooms and three suites everyone will feel at home. Open year-round. Rooms available by late afternoon, check-out by noon, Central time.

Cottages:  For more private accommodations, choose a one or two-bedroom cottage. Ten Wildwood cottages feature contemporary design and fireplaces. Tableware, cooking utensils, and linens are provided with fresh linens available daily.   Open year-round. Cottages available by late afternoon, check-out by 11:00 a.m. Central time.

Campground:  The park's 147-site campground offers utility hookups, two central service buildings with showers and rest rooms, laundry facilities, two dump stations, and a grocery nearby. Open April 1-November 30, No advance reservations, check-out by 2:00 p.m. Central time.

Dining Room: The Lure Lodge offers Kentucky's finest cuisine in the dining room. Elegance and outstanding service are yours for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Meeting Facilities:  Lake Cumberland provides the perfect ambiance for every event! A meeting room is adjacent to the dining room in Lure Lodge. The Activities Center seats 300 guests, and the Activities Center Veranda seats 150 guests. Meeting Room A, located on the veranda seats 30 guests. Pumpkin Creek Lodge has meeting space for 40 guests, with a lobby and a hospitality patio. Park catering service is required for conventions and family reunions.

Water Sports:  Marina Lake Cumberland is a paradise for the water sports enthusiast. The marina offers 100 open slips, rental fishing boats, pontoon boats, houseboats, and ski boats. Open April through October. 1-800-234-3625.   Fishing With 50,250 acres, Lake Cumberland has an abundance of largemouth, smallmouth, white and Kentucky bass, bluegill, crappie, rockfish, and walleye.

Indoor & Outdoor Pools:  The indoor pool complex at Lure Lodge features a temperature controlled pool, an atrium, a retractable skylight for warm weather, a game room, and an exercise room with a hot tub. An outdoor, public pool is open seasonally. Public pool open Memorial Day thru mid-August

Golf: A beautiful nine-hole, par-three golf course is located near the lodge. For a day of just "putting around," the 18-hole miniature golf course is perfect for family fun.  Course open April 1-November 30.

Hiking Trail:  Enjoy the beauty of the beech, oak and hickory forests on a four-mile loop trail around the Lure Lodge area.

Riding Stables: The entire family will enjoy guided trail rides that depart every hour. Open Memorial Day till Labor Day

Athletic Recreation Areas:  The entire family will enjoy a day of fun and games on the tennis and shuffleboard courts, adjacent to Lure Lodge. Overnight guests may check out sports equipment.

Planned Recreation:  Interpretive programs on native plants, animals, and local history are conducted at various times throughout the year by a full-time naturalist. Daily summer activities are conducted by a recreation staff.

Picnic Shelter & Playgrounds: The picnic grounds have tables, grills, and playgrounds for family outings. A picnic shelter has tables, grills, water, and electric; and may be reserved for rental up to one year in advance. Fee for shelter rental.

Spa & Exercise Room: Workout machines and a water massage hot tub will help you unwind after a strenuous day exploring the park. You'll find them in the indoor pool complex.

General Burnside Island State Park
P. O. Box 488
Burnside, KY 42519-0488
(606) 561-4104

General Burnside State Park is a 430-acre island surrounded by 50,250-acre Lake Cumberland. Named for the sideburn-whiskered Civil War general Ambrose Burnside, this park offers vacationers a home base from which to explore cool, secluded lake coves. As the only island park in the Kentucky State Park's system, General Burnside is truly a unique treasure!

Campground: Cool lake breezes and beautiful views make camping at General Burnside a great getaway. The campground features 94 sites with utility hookups, two central service buildings with showers and rest rooms, and a dump station.   Open April 1 through October 31. No advance reservations. Check-out by 2:00 p.m., Eastern time. Fee charged.

Golf:  Tee up on the challenging 18-hole golf course, complemented by beautiful scenery and lake views. A fully equipped pro shop with rental clubs, pull carts, and riding carts caters to your every need.  Course open year-round, weather permitting. Fee charged.

Boating: A marina next to the park has everything you need for a great day on the lake: rental slips, rental fishing boats, ski boats, pontoon boats, and houseboats are offered. A six-lane launching ramp at the park provides you with the perfect access to a fun-filled day on the lake.  Fee for rentals.

Swimming:   The community pool at General Burnside is a great place to cool off on a hot summer day. While you spend the day at the pool, enjoy some of your favorite treats from the concession stand. Open Memorial Day-Labor Day. Fee charged.

Shuffleboard: Meet your opponent on the court for a friendly game of shuffleboard. Campers may check out sporting equipment.

Planned Recreation:  During the summer, enjoy daily planned activities and special events for children and adults under the guidance of a trained recreation staff.

Picnicking & Playgrounds:  General Burnside extends you an invitation to enjoy great facilities for your next picnic outing. Picnic tables, grills, and a playground are available. Two picnic shelters (one with rest rooms) are available for rental up to one year in advance.