Golden Pond Planetarium | Genuine Kentucky

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

June 18, 2015 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

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 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.

Land Between the Lakes: One of the Most Incredible Places on Earth

March 5, 2013 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Bison at the Elk & Bison Prairie!

The beauties above are some of the residents of the gorgeous Elk & Bison Prairie in the Land Between the Lakes. When we visit the prairie (which is often, often, often) I’m blown away each time by the beautiful prairie, itself, as well at the majestic animals who call it home. We always see bison and almost always see elk – as in each time. More times than not (partly because my husband is a boss at knowing what time to visit the prairie) we actually drive right to (and park beside) a spot where these big cuties are resting, walking, or rolling in dirt. You can see in the pictures below just how close they were outside of our car.

Trust me, you’ll always want to have your camera handy!

It feels ironic to be writing this with snow falling outside my window (!!!), but Land Between the Lakes would like you to know that they’re all the way open for business and can’t wait to see your face.

Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area begins its 2013 operations on Friday, March 1, by opening several popular visitor attractions.

The Homeplace, Woodlands Nature Station, and North & South Welcome Stations open their doors March 1, along with Energy Lake, Hillman Ferry and Piney Campgrounds. The Homeplace, Woodlands Nature Station, and North & South Welcome Stations will be open Wednesday through Sunday during March, then open seven days a week beginning April 1.

The Homeplace and Nature Station also have new operating hours of 10am-5pm. North & South Welcome Stations, along with the Golden Pond Visitor Center, are open 9am-5pm with the exception of extended hours, 10am-7pm, on Fridays, May 17-Sep 2.

The Elk & Bison Prairie remains open from dawn until dusk every day, year-round. The Golden Pond Visitor Center and Planetarium, Wranglers Campground, and Turkey Bay Off-Highway Vehicle Area remain open year-round as well.

New for 2013 at Land Between The Lakes is the opening of two new nature viewing sites within the Woodlands Nature Watch Area located east of the Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway, near Nature Station and Taylor Bay.

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

The Golden Pond’s Planetarium in Land Between the Lakes

May 4, 2012 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Golden Pond Visitor's Center and Planetarium

The Golden Pond Visitor’s Center Planetarium and Observatory in Land Between the Lakes

There’s always something extra cool going on in Kentucky’s Land Between the Lakes region. As I’ve said a million times before (more, but who’s counting?) you could go to the beautiful area between and around Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake each weekend and see something new.

The Golden Pond Planetarium is definitely one of the places you’ll want to put on your “Must See” list. The gift shop, alone, is worth the trip! Shows at the Planetarium create memories that’ll last a lifetime – they’re very special and the entire experience will leave your jaw somewhere on the floor near your feet.

After reading the following press release from the Friends of Land Between the Lakes, I’m guessing that now the jaw will just go right through the floor. I’m cool with that.

From the LBL:

The world’s first full-dome, full-color digital planetarium with single lens projection, the MEDIAGLOBE II, arrived at Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area just in time for the 2012 season. “This compact, full-color dome projection system has thrilled our audiences since we installed it in March, reported Ross Workman, the new Golden Pond Planetarium manager. He continued, “The projection range covers our entire dome with vibrant colors, sound, and action by using the 3D astronomical simulation function. It’s amazing!”

New digital videos will entertain and educate people of all ages. Computer animated programs are offered throughout the day starting at 10am. People can find the complete schedule of planetarium shows and times on LBL’s website, www.lbl.org, under the See and Do tab. Topics include:

The Little Star That Could - teaches how stars are formed.

Interstellar Boundary Explorer – joins scientists searching for the edge of the solar system.

Earth, Moon, and Sun - explores the relationship between the earth, moon, and sun while weaving in Native American traditional stories.

The Golden Pond Visitor Center, Planetarium, and Observatory are located south of US68/KY80 junction on Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway (KY Hwy 453).

Below is a great video (courtesy RoundAbout U.) that’ll give you an introduction to the Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory. As you’ll see, this is someplace you’ll want to see as soon as possible. Just be sure to see the gift shop!

Land Between the Lakes Gears Up for 2012: That’s Always Welcome News!

February 16, 2012 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Beautiful Oxen at The Homeplace, Land Between the Lakes

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love winter as much as anyone. I’m one of those nuts that just stands at the window staring, without even blinking, at snow. I’m also ALL ABOUT UK basketball, so this time of year is always exciting. And how much fun has Murray State been?!?! Hopefully UK, Murray State, and U of L will all go far in the NCAA Tournament.

Having said all of that, I am SO READY for spring and summer! Baseball, grilling out, gardening, hummingbirds and robins returning… and lots and lots of trips to Land Between the Lakes. How could I not be ready?

Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area is also SO READY for warm weather. LBL begins its 2012 operations on Thursday March 1, when they’ll open several wildly popular visitor attractions.

These Land Between the Lakes events has passed, but there’s always something going on in the LBL! Check our Kentucky Events page for up to the minute events and news. Also, check out our ever-growing Things to Do in Kentucky page!

The Homeplace, Woodlands Nature Station, Golden Pond Planetarium, and North & South Welcome Stations open their doors March 1, along with Hillman Ferry and Piney Campgrounds. The Homeplace, Nature Station, and North & South Welcome Stations will be open Wednesday through Sunday during March, and then open seven days a week beginning April 1.

One of my favorite places in the world, The Elk & Bison Prairie, remains open from dawn until dusk every day, year-round. The Golden Pond Visitor Center, Wranglers Campground, Energy Lake Campground, and Turkey Bay Off-Highway Vehicle Area remain open year-round as well.

The Golden Pond Planetarium, open daily beginning March 1, provides a full dome viewing experience complete with brand new digital multimedia equipment. Visit www.lbl.org or call 270-924-2020 for show schedule. Come join us for an exciting glimpse of the night skies filled with celestial objects, constellations, and more!