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You are here: Home / Archives for Kentucky Vacations / LBL / Elk & Bison Prairie

The Elk and Bison Prairie: Winter Is a Wonderful Time to Visit

February 3, 2017 by Joi Sigers 1 Comment

Elk in the Elk and Bison Prairie January 2017
As I said in a previous post, there is no bad time to visit the Elk and Bison Prairie in the Land Between the Lakes. While you automatically think of Spring and Summer as wonderful times to visit (and they are!), winter and autumn are also perfect opportunities to see wildlife, as these pictures prove.

Bison in the Elk and Bison Prairie 2017
You are often able to get SO close to the elk and bison – affording you beautiful pictures and, more importantly, memories that’ll last a lifetime.

Just be sure you put your camera or iPhone down every now and then and simply enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of this one-of-a-kind place.

The past few (read: 6-8) times we’ve been to the Elk & Bison Prairie, the credit card machine at the gate has been broken – so be sure to have $5 with you in cash.  It’s just $5 per car and you can drive around the prairie as often as you like.

Elk in the Elk and Bison Prairie January 2017
Click through the gallery below for more Elk & Bison Prairie Pictures. Of course, to TRULY appreciate this amazing prairie and its gorgeous residents, plan a visit to the Land Between the Lakes and Elk & Bison Prairie as soon as possible.

These animals are just amazing. The Elk on this visit just seemed to pose for me. See the big guy in the last picture in the gallery below? He had been giving me all kinds of great pictures looking forward, then all of a sudden he struck a “profile” pose and I snapped away.

A photographer loves it when their models work it!

Bison in the Elk and Bison Prairie 2017
Elk in the Elk and Bison Prairie January 2017
Bison in the Elk and Bison Prairie 2017
Bison in the Elk and Bison Prairie 2017
Elk and Bison Prairie January 2017
Bison in the Elk and Bison Prairie 2017
Bison in the Elk and Bison Prairie 2017
Bison in the Elk and Bison Prairie 2017
Elk and Bison Prairie in the Land Between the Lakes
Elk in the Elk and Bison Prairie January 2017
Elk & Bison Prairie
Elk & Bison Prairie
Elk & Bison Prairie
Elk & Bison Prairie

Filed Under: Elk & Bison Prairie, LBL Tagged With: Elk & Bison Prairie, Elk & Bison Prairie pictures, LBL, things to do in Kentucky, things to do in the Land Between the Lakes

Beautiful Elk from the Elk & Bison Prairie: There’s NO Wrong Time to Visit the Land Between the Lakes

January 13, 2017 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Elk and Bison Prairie January 2017
Nearly a week ago, Michael and I had what I call a “perfect day.” That means eating catfish, the Land Between the Lakes, and at least two Kentucky State Park visits for those of you who may be new here. I had not been to the Elk & Bison Prairie in the LBL for about a month and I was suffering horrifying withdrawals.

When it comes to the catfish eating portion of the “perfect day,” we switch up – sometimes we eat at the wonderful Willow Pond Restaurant (in Aurora… not Eddyville, never Eddyville – shhhh, it’s not good – like, at all) and sometimes we eat at Catfish Kitchen. I was in the mood for fried catfish this time and Catfish Kitchen is the only restaurant I know of that serves gluten-free fried catfish, so the decision was easy.

The next time, I’ll be ready for grilled or blackened catfish and Willow Pond will play a role in the perfection.

I’ll add more pictures from our recent trip, as well as pics of our visit to Catfish Kitchen, in upcoming posts. I need my husband (*hint hint nudge nudge) to send me his Bison pictures – a huge group walked right by HIS side of the car! – but I was anxious to share this beauty with you. What a precious, beautiful face!

Is it any wonder I could happily visit the Elk & Bison Prairie everyday of my life?

Elk and Bison Prairie in the Land Between the Lakes

Filed Under: Elk & Bison Prairie, Kentucky Picture of the Day, LBL Tagged With: Catfish Kitchen, Catfish restaurants, Kentucky Lake restaurants, LBL, things to do at Kentucky Lake

Land Between the Lakes: Fees Waived in Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

December 29, 2015 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Elk and Bison Prairie
Elk in the Elk & Bison Prairie, LBL
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a billion times, it’s always the right time to visit the Elk & Bison Prairie in the Land Between the Lakes. Now we’re  little over a few weeks away from possibly the “rightest” right time.

Members of the public who want to visit the Elk & Bison Prairie (or get a horseback riding day-use permit at Wranglers Campground) can do so for free in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 18, at Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area.

“Experience hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, picnicking, and scenic driving in the great outdoors with your family and friends,” said Jeff Laird, Customer Service Manager at Land Between The Lakes. “We encourage visitors to come out and enjoy numerous free outdoor recreation opportunities year round.”

The Forest Service is participating in the fee waiver day along with the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation. Be on the lookout for other fee waiver days and weekends throughout 2016 at www.landbetweenthelakes.us/visit/rates-hours/ under “Forest Service Fee Free Days.”

Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area manages more than 170,000 acres in western Kentucky and Tennessee as part of the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture’s public lands program. Land Between The Lakes offers outdoor recreation, lake access, land management, and environmental education to over 1.4 million visitors annually. The Friends of Land Between The Lakes works in partnership with the Forest Service providing program services, funds development, and volunteer support.

To find more information about Land Between The Lakes, log on to the official website at www.landbetweenthelakes.us or call toll-free at 1-800-LBL-7077 or local at 270-924-2000.

Don’t think for one second that cooler weather makes a trip to the Land Between the Lakes or the Elk & Bison Prairie any less fun or memorable. You can actually see the wildlife in the prairie more easily, thanks to less leaves and grass in your way.  The same holds true for birding – you’ll find bird watching (and certainly photographing) easier than ever.

Just bundle up!

Filed Under: Elk & Bison Prairie, Holidays in Kentucky, LBL, Winter in Kentucky Tagged With: Elk & Bison Prairie, LBL, Martin Luther King Jr discount in the LBL

Things to do this Weekend in Kentucky’s Beautiful Land Between the Lakes

June 18, 2015 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

The Oxen at The Homeplace (Land Between the Lakes)

Oxen at The Homeplace, Land Between the Lakes

The following press release (from the LBL) will show you just how much is going on in the Land Between the Lakes this weekend!

Saturday, June 20

10am-12pm – Barn Loom Weaving – HOMEPLACE 1850’s FARM

Program included with HP admission. Middle class farms strived to be as self-sufficient as possible; sheep, flax, and cotton were raised, processed, and spun into yarn and thread. Like the 1850’s farm children, lend a hand beating the threads into place or help wind the weft on a shuttle.

1-3pm – Chair Weaving – HOMEPLACE 1850’s FARM
Program included with HP admission. Ideal for home educators.
Today on the farm we will be weaving durable, new seats for the farm chairs with the strong, fibrous hickory bark we harvested last month. Come see how a herringbone pattern seat is woven and experience a true old- time tradition.

2-2:45pm – Slimy Science – NATURE STATION
Program included with NS admission. *Ideal for home educators.
Did you ever wonder how some reptiles and amphibians can hear with no ears? Or how to tell if a turtle is a boy or girl? Come face-to-face with some slimy and scaly critters as we investigate these and other questions through fun activities and demonstrations.

{Continued beneath the sunset!}

Sunset on the Water

Sunset on Honker Lake (from a Canoe Trip we recently enjoyed!)

6:30-9pm – Sunset Kayak Trip – NATURE STATION
$20 per canoe. Participants must be age 13 or above. Cost does not include NS admission. NS closes at 5pm. Registration limited. Reservation required. Call 270-924-2020 to reserve your space. Join us for a relaxed paddle as we explore the nooks and crannies of a Lake Barkley scenic bay. We will search the waters and shorelines for wildlife such as osprey, eagles, beavers, egrets, frogs, and songbirds.

5:30 & 7pm – Laser Light Shows – GOLDEN POND PLANETARIUM
Listen to your favorite retro, country, pop, or classic rock artists as laser lights dance across the 40-foot theater dome. Even if you have seen our laser shows before, you have never seen them like this. Our new laser projector makes them more amazing! All seats $7. Also, see Laser Shows Tue. & Fri. evenings

Sunday, June 21

1-3:30pm – Let’s Play & Ice Cream Treat – HOMEPLACE 1850’s FARM
Program included with HP admission. *Ideal for home educators.
When there was leisure time in 1850, children played with homemade toys or enjoyed games. Today, let’s jump rope, throw washers, and toss corncob darts. Then let’s have some ice cream, but wait in 1850, so there’s a little work involved before anyone could enjoy that special summer treat. Take your turn at the ice cream bucket and we all can enjoy the reward.

2-2:30pm – Batty for Bats – NATURE STATION
Program free with NS admission. *Ideal for Home Educators.
Let’s get a little batty as we learn about one of nature’s most fascinating, but unfamiliar creatures, bats! Meet “Betty the Old Bat,” who will teach you a fun bat song and challenge you with some bat trivia. Finally, step outside to look and listen for live bats roosting in our backyard bat boxes.

{Continued below the elk…}

Elk at The Elk & Bison Prairie, Land Between the Lakes

Elk at the Elk & Bison Prairie on a Summer Evening

Daily & Weekly Things to Do in The Land Between the Lakes:

GOLDEN POND PLANETARIUM
Located inside the Golden Pond Visitor Center, offers full-dome views of night sky. Daily shows at 10 & 11am; 12, 1, 2, 3, & 4pm. See our Planetarium Show Schedule Adults $5; Children $3
Laser Light Music Shows Tue, Fri, & Sat at 5:30 & 7pm. All seats $7 for Laser Shows. Call 270-924-2243 for more information

ELK & BISON PRAIRIE
Open daily from dawn until dusk. The Elk & Bison Prairie offers a native prairie habitat where you can see wildflowers and songbirds too. Elk and bison roam free within this 700-acre enclosure. Best time to see wildlife is early or late in the day. $5 per vehicle – purchase entry cards at the Prairie or Golden Pond Visitor Center.

HOMEPLACE
Open daily 10am-5pm. Last ticket sold at 4pm. Adults $5; Children $3
Every Wed at 10am – Taste of The Homeplace. Daily at 3:30pm – Feeding Time on Farm
Travel back in time to 1850’s farm life at the Homeplace. Talk to interpreters as they go about their daily chores of a typical farm family. Daily programs. Check out our period crops, livestock, crafts, tools, farming, and conservation techniques. Call 931-232-6457 for more information.

NATURE STATION
Open daily 10am-5pm. Adults $5; Children $3
Every Sun. at 11:30am Snake Feeding; every Tue. at 11am Morning Nature Hike; Mon-Fri at 2pm Animal Programs. Get up close with owls, deer, bobcat, turtles, bald eagle, wolves, and more. See beautiful native gardens and learn how you can plant your own. Call 270-924-2299 for more information.

Filed Under: Elk & Bison Prairie, Golden Pond Planetarium, LBL, Summertime in Kentucky, The Homeplace, The Nature Station Tagged With: Golden Pond Planetarium, LBL, The Homeplace, The Nature Center, things to do in the Land Between the Lakes

New Elk & Bison Prairie Pictures Added

May 4, 2015 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Elk at the Elk and Bison Prairie, Land Between the Lakes

Elk Passing in Front of Our Car

Another weekend, another trip to the Land Between the Lakes for me and Michael.  Saturday, while in the Land Between the Lakes, I overheard a few workers talking about their commutes and I couldn’t help but think, “I bet we’re here almost as much as y’all!”

This part of Kentucky is just off the charts beautiful and provides endless fun with a million and one things to do. What with Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, three of the best Kentucky State Resort Parks, The Hitching Post, and the Land Between the Lakes ALL within a short drive of one another… who can blame us for being regulars?

Naturally we spent time in the Elk & Bison Prairie – one of my favorite places anywhere. We normally hit the prairie around suppertime, but we were early Saturday. Fortunately, there were still plenty of wildlife to photograph and enjoy.

At one point, we were watching a turkey scratch and roll in the dirt – then, as we slowly began to drive off, he acted like he was racing the car. You haven’t seen cute until you’ve seen a turkey run!

A few bison were near one watering hole and a group of elk were enjoying a beautiful afternoon in the shade.

Whenever you go, always be sure to check around the watering holes – there are several and the animals frequent them regularly, especially in the warmer weather.

See the newest pictures as well as past pictures in the Elk & Bison Prairie Photo Album on Genuine Kentucky.

 

Bison at the Elk and Bison Prairie, Land Between the Lakes

 

Bison at the Elk & Bison Prairie, Land Between the Lakes

Filed Under: Elk & Bison Prairie, Kentucky Picture of the Day, Kentucky Wildlife Tagged With: bison picture, Elk & Bison Prairie, Elk picture, Kentucky pictures, LBL

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