One of Kentucky’s most historically significant state resort parks is beautiful Blue Licks Battlefield State Park. Located near Mount Olivet, Kentucky (in Robertson County), Blue Licks Battlefield State Park encompasses 148 acres, and features a monument commemorating the August 19, 1782 Battle of Blue Licks. This battle was regarded as the final battle of the American Revolutionary War.
The lodge at Blue Licks is open year round and offers 32 rooms with full amenities, including two suites, one of which can be used as a hospitality center for meetings and family reunions. If you’re looking for a more “home-like” atmosphere, cottages are also available. Lovely modern cottages located on the Licking River offer tableware, cooking utensils, and linens, with fresh linens daily. And a view you won’t soon forget!
Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park has no intention of letting you go hungry while visiting. Their celebrated Hidden Waters Restaurant is well known in central Kentucky for outstanding southern food. If you’re in the mood for southern-fried catfish or country ham, you’re in luck. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch or dinner any day of the week. Restaurant Hours: Breakfast- 7:00am to 10:30am, Lunch- 11:30am to 3:00pm, and Dinner -4:00pm to 8:00pm
If you’re wondering where Blue Licks got its name, this little bit of history will clear things up: Early accounts of Blue Licks describe it as a place where animals gathered to lick the salt deposits flowing from the springs in the area. The Reverend James Smith provides this account in his 1795-97 diary:
“As you approach the Licks, at the distance of 4 or 5 miles from it, you begin to perceive the change. The earth seems to be worn away; the roots of the trees lie naked and bare; the rocks forsaken of the earth, that once covered them, lie naked on the neighboring hills, and roads of an amazing size, in all directions, unite at the Licks, as their common center. Here immense herds of buffalo used formerly to meet and with their fighting, scraping etc., have worn away the ground to what it is at present.”
The Pioneer Museum is the Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park’s most popular attraction. It houses a variety of artifacts including a mastodon tooth found during an excavation of the site to relics from the American Civil War! Exhibits focus on the area’s natural and cultural history, including prehistoric animals and fossils, area Native Americans and 18th century pioneers, as well as a diorama of the battle.
Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park’s gift shop won the 2009 Kentucky Crafted Retailer of the Year award in the state park gift shop category.
The museum was dedicated in 1931 and restored for the 225th commemoration of the Blue Licks Battle in 2007. The museum is open year round.
There are a variety of things for the entire family to enjoy at Blue Licks including miniature golf, swimming, picnicking, and trail hiking. There’s also a gift shop that’ll you’ll want to spend hours in.
See Kentucky State Parks: Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park for more information.
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