Kenlake State Resort Park in Kentucky’s Beautiful Lakes Region
October 4, 2007
Kenlake Hotel
One of my favorite spots in the Kentucky Lakes Region is Kenlake State Resort Park. Same gorgeous surroundings, breathtaking views, and ridiculously friendly people as the other Parks, but with a quieter feel.
Truth be told, the entire gorgeous Land Between the Lakes area gives you a sense of having found a paradise that the rest of the world hasn’t been let in on yet, but no place drives that feeling home quite like Kenlake.
If you’ve ever been to the beautiful Gulf Shores region in Florida (specifically Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach), you’ll have an idea what I’m talking about. Navarre has the same amazing white sandy beaches and emerald waters, but about half the people that flock to Pensacola Beach.
Granted, it’s great, great fun to go to the busier places from time to time - but there’s A LOT to be said for losing yourself in the quieter spots. Spots where it seems like the only ones in the world are you and those you love enough to take with you.
Kenlake Hotel, Pictured Above (click for a larger view) is a family-friendly 48 room lodge, surrounded by pampered, beautiful flower gardens. Kenlake has two nature trails: The Cherokee Trail (.7-mile) and The Chickasaw Trail (1-mile). The beautifully-named trails give you a fun workout while enjoying scenery that you’ll never forget. You’ll want to bring your camera!
You won’t want to spend all your time on land, though, will you? The marina boasts 21 open slips, 127 covered slips, and a launching ramp. Rental fishing boats, aluminum bass boats, pontoon boats, jet skis, and ski boats are also available. And don’t forget, Kentucky Lake is also a great place to bring your sailboat. Open March 1-October 31, (depending on height of lake water level) and there is, of course, a fee charged for rentals.
For those of you who are golf fanatics, the 9 hole golf course is open year round, weather permitting.
Bonus Points:
- Kenlake has a beautiful gift shop that’s open all year round. It features a lot of products that are pure Kentucky, from candies to jewelry and from cookbooks to mugs, Kenlake’s is one of the funner gift shops. The souvenirs and handcrafts will blow you away.
- Fishermen/Fisherwomen will love the fishing opportunities on Kentucky Lake. There’s, literally, and endless population of largemouth, smallmouth, white and Kentucky bass, bluegill, channel and blue catfish, crappie, and sauger - just waiting for you.
- Kenlake is a member of the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arborea. The grounds are honestly gorgeous. When you take your eyes off of the water and trees long enough to really look at the beautifully-manicured gardens, your heart will skip a beat. And so many butterflies!
- Picnic and playground facilities are available in the camping and cottage areas and throughout the park. One shelter, near the tennis courts, is available for rental.
Click HERE to learn more about Kenlake State Resort Park. It’s a beautiful and peaceful experience that will do you a world of good. Be sure to read about the Aurora Landing Restaurant. If your mouth doesn’t water you simply weren’t paying attention!
Kenlake Marina
2007 Moonbow Dates
June 8, 2007
2007 Moonbow Dates
January 1st - 5th, 31st
February 1st - 4th
March 1st - 5th, 30th
April 1st - 4th, 30th
May 1st - 4th, 30th - 31st
June 1st - 3rd, 28th - 30th
July 1st - 2nd, 28th - 31st
August 24th - 28th
September 24th - 28th
October 24th - 28th
November 22nd - 26th
December 22nd - 26th
If you aren’t familiar with Cumberland Falls or its treasured Moonbow, you should check your calendar without further delay and make an appointment to get familiar.
Imagine a wall of water falling 60 feet into a boulder-strewn gorge, a whispering mist that kisses the face and a magical moonbow visible on a clear night under a full moon. Known as the “Niagara of the South,” the 125-foot wide curtain of water is dramatic day or night. But it’s only at night during a full moon that you can see the moonbow, a phenomenon not found anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere!
The area is a natural choice for water-sports enthusiasts, offering white-water rafting and canoeing among other water activities. A professional outfitter is just 5 miles east of the resort.
As spectacular as the setting that surrounds it, the historic Dupont Lodge, built of massive hemlock beams and knotty pine, offers a spectacular view of the Cumberland River Valley. It’s the perfect retreat after a day of hiking, rafting, swimming or horseback riding. - Kentucky Dept. of Parks
Mammoth Cave National Park
May 28, 2007
Mammoth Cave National Park was established to preserve the cave system, which includes not only the infamous Mammoth Cave, but the scenic river valleys of the Green and Nolin rivers, and a section of south central Kentucky as well.Within Mammoth Cave National Park lies the longest, and most remarkable cave systems on earth, with over 350 miles of passageway mapped and surveyed. Little wonder it was named Mammoth!
Even after 4,000, plus, years of eager exploration, this water-formed labyrinth still remains a mystery. It’s this fact, of course, that adds to its beauty and excitement.
A trip to the Mammoth Cave National Park could include:
- Cave tours
- Surface hikes
- Canoeing on the Green River
- A cruise on Miss Green River II
- Picnicking, horseback riding, bicycling, camping and more.
What You Need to Know:
- Visitor Center Hours - Daily: 8:45 am – 5:15 pm
- Click HERE for the Summer Cave Tours Schedule.
- All cave tours and nature walks are pretty strenuous, so be sure you’re up to a particular tour before setting off. Ask questions, the rangers can let you know exactly what will be involved.
- Trails can be slick, so be certain to wear appropriate shoes. All tours have a strict policy requiring the visitors to wear shirts and shoes.
- Camera tripods and monopods, child strollers and infant backpack carriers are prohibited in the cave for visitor safety.
- For further safety advice and tips, be sure to read the literature available at the park. Most of it’s common sense, but read it all to be on the “safe side,” literally.
- For all the information you could possibly ask for about Mammoth Cave National Park, Visit http://www.nps.gov/maca/
Did You Know?
- Early guide Stephen Bishop called the cave a “grand, gloomy and peculiar place.“
- Mammoth Cave is the world’s longest known cave. As for the competition, if the second and third longest caves in the world were joined together, Mammoth Cave would still be the planet’s longest cave. But that’s not all, there’d be over 100 miles left over!
The Top 10 Trails in Kentucky
May 12, 2007
According to Trails.com, the following are the Top 10 Most Popular Trails in Kentucky:
- Courthouse Rock and Double Arch
Stanton, KY - Bernheim Forest
Louisville, KY - Mammoth Cave Park Long Loop
Bowling Green, KY - Mammoth Cave Tours
Mammoth Cave, KY - Gray’s Arch
Stanton, KY - Koomer Ridge
Stanton, KY - Berea Forest
Berea, KY - Jefferson County Forest
Louisville, KY - North - South Trail
Calvert City, KY - Yahoo Falls
Whitley City, KY
Benham School House Bed and Breakfast
May 6, 2007
In 1926, the Wisconsin Steel Corporation built a school house for coal camp children. The last high school class graduated in 1961, but the building was used, until 1992, as an elementary school.
Today, the building is retired from the field of education and can be found living the good life as a charming Bed & Breakfast! Although it’s now elegant and peacefully comfortable, the Benham School House Bed & Breakfast has never forgotten it’s proud historical and educational roots. Some of the rooms have the same wood floors on which children once learned their ABC’s and 123’s.
Across the street from the Benham School House Bed & Breakfast stands the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum. The museum is housed in a Commissary (company store) built in the 1920’s.
Spanning 4 floors, the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum has a diverse collection of artifacts from the early years of industrial coal mining in Kentucky, the history of the towns of Benham and Lynch, and hte families who came to support the mining options. Featured exhibits include the Loretta Lynn Exhibit and the Mock Mine Exhibit.
Benham Shool House Bed and Breakfast
- 30 Guest Rooms
- Banquet hall that seats up to 350 guests. (The hall once served as the school gymnasium!)
- Conference rooms available
- Tour buses welcome! Call ahead for times of operation.
Camping
- 10 sites with electric and sewer hook ups
- Suitable for self contained RVs
- No Bath Houses available
Dining
- The Apple Room Restaurant features fine mountain dining in a warm and intimate setting.
For More Information:
Contact
Benham School House Bed & Breakfast
100 Central Avenue
Benham, KY 40807
Phone: (606) 848-30000
Barren River Lake State Resort Park
May 5, 2007
Simply put, Barren River Lake State Resort Park, and its surrounding region, is Kentucky showing off. The longest cave system in the world, Mammoth Cave, is located just 27 miles northwest of beautiful Barren River.
Barren River Lake Resort Park is a water-lover’s paradise and, with an abundance of largemouth, white and hybrid striped bass, bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, and rough fish, it’s a fisherman’s (or woman’s!) dream come true.
Love boating? The beautiful 10,000 acre Barren River Lake features 100 open slips, a launching ramp, rental fishing boats, pontoons, deck boats, and john boats.
A swimming pool is provided for exclusive use of lodge and cottage guests, and there is even a public beach and bathhouse.
Barrren River Lake State Resort Park Cottages
22 stylish and contemporary cottages each include two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Each boasts a clear view of the beautiful lake and come with tableware, cooking utensils, and linens. Fresh linens are available daily. Cottages are available by late afternoon, check out by 11 am.
The Louie B. Nunn Lodge
The lodge is surrounded by rolling, tree covered hills and overlooks Barren River Lake. The lodge includes 51 rooms and offers full amenities. A gift shop features a large selection of Kentucky handcrafts and souvenirs.
Rooms are available by late afternoon, check out by noon, Central Time.
Meeting Rooms
A variety of meeting facilities are available. For small group dining, there are two private dining rooms that seat 32 and 20. The Thistle Room seats 33 guests, the Tartan Room seats 75, and the Highland Room accomodates up to 400 guests.
Camping
The beautiful campgrounds are available for use from April 1 - October 31. The 99-site campground features utility hookups, a dump station, and two central service buildings wiht showers and rest rooms.
Check out by 1 pm.
Restaurant
Kentucky’s infamous cuisine can be enjoyed in the 146-seat dining room. Breakfast, lunch, and supper are all served by a courteous staff who embody the phrase Southern Hospitality.
Golf
Barren River Lake State Resort Park includes an 18 hole regulation golf course with pro shop, riding carts, and rental clubs.
Horse Stables
Guided trail rides through the park. Open Memorial Day - Labor Day.
Nature Trails
4 miles of beautiful wooded trails, 1-1/2 mile paved trail - easy to moderate level.
Swimming
Swimming pool for exclusive use of lodge and cottage guests, plus a public beach and bathhouse.
Boating
100 open slips, 149 covered slips, launching ramp, rental fishing boats, pontoons, deck boats, and john boats.
Special Events
February: Buffalo Night
June: Glasgow Highland Games
October: Spookout Weekend!
Nearby Cities
Glasgow - 11.28 miles SE
Bowling Green - 40.79 miles SE
Louisville - 106.05 miles S
Nashville, TN - 102.69 miles N
For More Information:
Contact
Barren River Lake State Resort Park
1149 State Park Road
Lucas, KY 42156-9709
Phone: (270)646-2151
Lodge Reservations: 1-800-325-0057
Go Fly a Kite at Barren River Lake
May 5, 2007
May 12, 2007 is Go Fly a Kite Day at Barren River Lake State Resort Park. There will be sessions on building kites and a variety of other activities. Call 1.800.325.0057 for more information.
To learn more about Barren River Lake State Resort Park, click the link.
