- Barren River Lake State Resort Park (Lucas) hosts Glasgow Highland Games on the first weekend in June. The festival celebrates Scottish heritage and attracts thousands each year.
- World famous Mammoth National Cave Park (with the longest recorded cave system in the world) is located just 27 miles north of Barren River Lake State Resort Park (Lucas).
- In 1991, the Historic Boone Station Site (established by Daniel Boone and his family) was willed to the Kentucky Park System by Robert C. Straden. It was his wish for the site to become part of the Kentucky Park System. In 1992, his wish was granted as Boone Station State Historic Site became a reality.
- Nolin Lake State Park (Bee Spring) is located along the edge of Mammoth Cave National Park. Bass, catfish, crappie, and walleye are in Nolin Lake. The park is about 30 minutes north of Mammoth Cave National Park.
- Lake Barkley State Resort Park (Cadiz) has one of the most beautiful lodges in the entire Kentucky State Park System. Lake Barkley Lodge was designed by Edward Durell Stone, the same man who designed Busch Stadium, the home of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team from 1966-2005 and the St. Louis Cardinals football team from 1966-1987. Read more about Lake Barkley Lodge, Lake Barkley State Resort Park, and even Edward Durell Stone by clicking the link!
- Fort Harrod was the first permanent white settlement in Kentucky, established by James Harrod in 1774. Harrod actually created a settlement before Daniel Boone – although Boone (and Fort Boonesborough) get all of the recognition? What’s up with that?? One reason may be the fact that Harrod lived a particularly tragic life and had a great deal of mystery surrounding his death. Several members of his family were killed in American Indian raids. Harrod actually knew several Indian languages (in addition to French) which enhanced his leadership qualities. Harrod acquired a lot of land and became quite wealthy. He began to go off on long hunting trips and his whereabouts were often unknown. When his stepson was abducted by Indians and burned at the stake (can’t believe I just typed those words), Harrod became almost entirely unhinged. Soon after (1792) he went on one of his infamous, long hunting expeditions and never returned. He was never seen or heard from again. At Old Fort Harrod State Park (Harrodsburg), you can see a full-scale replica of the fort James Harrod built in 1774.
- Lake Cumberland State Resort Park (Jamestown) is situated on beautiful Lake Cumberland. This lake has a certain distinction that it wears like a badge of honor: Lake Cumberland is the Houseboat Capital of the World.
- Lake Cumberland State Resort Park (Jamestown) has the only Disc Golf Course in the Kentucky State Park System. The 18-hole Disc Golf Course, set on beautiful rolling hills, is a converted 9-hole golf course.
- General Burnside State Park (Burnside) is the only island park in the Kentucky State Park system. Like the rest of our state parks, General Burnside has a fascinating history. Read about it here!
- You can see the majestic beauty of eagles as they make a comeback in numbers at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park (Gilbertsville)! KY Department of Parks holds three Eagle Weekends during the year. Click here for more information.
Here's our growing collection of facts and trivia about the beautiful Kentucky State Parks. Kentucky's parks are even more fascinating than you ever imagined. Reading about them doesn't compare to visiting them for yourself, though, so be sure to visit as many Kentucky State Parks as you can this year!
10 Random Facts About Kentucky State Parks
Just when you think you know how fascinating our Kentucky State Parks are, you dig a little deeper and realize there’s even more to them than meets the eye. We’re launching a new category on Genuine Kentucky called Random Facts About Kentucky State Parks. Each addition to the category will include 10 facts you probably didn’t know about our wonderful Kentucky State Park System. For example, did you know that the Kentucky State Park System has been referred to as “the nation’s finest” and experiences more repeat business annually than those of any other U.S. State?
Now that’s something to be proud of!
Below are the first 10 random facts. Watch each Wednesday for more. Each state park will be linked to more information and will be followed by the city that state park calls home.
It’s our fervent hope that more people will make their way to each of these amazing state parks and fall in love with them the way we have.
- Kentucky Dam was almost named Gilbertsville Dam. Meaning one of our own personal favorite Kentucky State Parks could’ve been Gilbertsville Dam Village State Resort Park instead of Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park (Gilbertsville)! Perish the thought.
- Blue Licks Battlefield (Carlisle) is one of the few places in the world where the federally endangered Short’s Goldenrod grows. IN THE WORLD! See it growing alongside an old bison trace in the Kentucky State Nature Preserve within the park. Short’s Goldenrod Festival is held each September.
- Columbus-Belmont State Park (Columbus)will become a favorite spot for Civil War enthusiasts. You can FEEL the history! The site was a strategic location as the North and the South fought for control of the Mississippi River. This struggle led to the Battle of Belmont on November 7, 1861. Today, you can see the massive anchor used by the South to block Union gunboats. You can also see earthen trenches dug to protect over 19,000 confederate troops. My favorite part? A farmhouse that served as a Civil War hospital is now a museum.
- Grayson Lake State Park‘s (Olive Hill) 18-Hole Hidden Cove Golf Course was ranked #4 by Golf Digest in 2005.
- Carr Creek State Park (Sassafras) has the longest sand beach in Kentucky’s State Park System. Carr Creek Lake was once home to some of the area’s earliest pioneer settlements as early as the 1770’s.
- Pine Mountain State Resort Park (Pineville) was the first Kentucky State Park, created in 1924.
- The upper lobby of the Pine Mountain State Resort Park (Pineville) lodge was built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a federally-funded program designed to put young men to work during the years of the great depression.
- Big Bone Lick State Park (Union) has been named by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Natural Landmark.
- E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park (Louisville) was named in honor of Jefferson County Judge/Executive Erbon Powers “Tom” Sawyer who was killed in a car accident on Louisville’s Interstate 64 in 1969 while still in office. If you haven’t heard of E.P. Sawyer, you have undoubtedly heard of his beautiful and intelligent daughter, journalist Diane Sawyer.
- Mineral Mound State Park (Eddyville) has a fascinating history. The beautiful property was once the farm of Willis B. Machen. Machen wore many hats – he was a road builder, bridge builder, lawyer, member of the Kentucky General Assembly, and U.S. Congressman. He was also what you’d call a polarizing figure, but more on that in a minute. Mineral Mound State Park is named for his mansion – a stately home he built overlooking the Cumberland River. His granddaughter, Zelda Sayre spent a lot of time at her grandfather’s place while she was growing up. Zelda would go on to become one of the best known figures of the Jazz age as a short story writer. You may have heard of her husband…. F. Scott Fitzgerald. Willis Machen was a supporter of the Confederacy during the Civil War and even flew a large Confederate flag on his property. This blatant show of support for the Confederacy drew cannon fire from a Union gunboat passing along the Cumberland and damaged his mansion. After the war, Machen and his family laid low in Canada until he was pardoned by President Andrew Jackson. They then returned to Kentucky.
Fast Facts About the Jefferson Davis State Historic Site
Jefferson Davis State Historic Site marks the birthplace of the Confederate president, Jefferson Davis. Davis was born on this site on June 3, 1808.
Kentucky has always taken pride in the fact that the President of the Union (Abraham Lincoln) as well as the President of the Confederacy (Jefferson Davis) were BOTH born in Kentucky. In fact, President Lincoln was born just over eight months later and less than 100 miles to the northeast.
More Facts About Jefferson Davis and Jefferson Davis State Historic Site
- This Historic State Park features a 351-foot monument (obelisk) that was completed in 1924, 35 years after Davis’ death. It even includes an elevator.
- There is a large Amish community in the surrounding area, so it isn’t uncommon at all to frequently see horses and buggies.
- Jefferson Davis State Historic Site also has a museum, gift shop, playground, and picnic area.
- Jefferson Davis was a graduate of West Point.
- Davis served as both a U.S. Congressman and U.S. Senator (from Mississippi). He also served as Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce.
- Jefferson Davis married Knox Taylor – daughter of President Zachary Taylor. She died from Malaria only three months after their wedding.
- The gift shop features Kentucky handcrafts, souvenirs, books and Civil War memorabilia. The site is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through October.
- There is a fee for the museum and monument.
- The monument is the world’s tallest concrete obelisk and the United State’s fifth-tallest monument.
The site is 9 miles east of Hopkinsville on U.S. 68.
U.S. Highway 68 East
Fairview, KY 42221-0157
(270) 889-6100
Official Website: Jefferson Davis State Historic Site