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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 Fast Facts About John James Audubon State Park and the Audubon Museum

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Audubon Museum & Nature Center

  1. John James Audubon State Park was established on October 3, 1934. The Park includes 692 acres of breath-taking beauty. Since it’s a Heaven on Earth for birds, it only stands to reason that it’s also a Heaven on Earth for bird lovers.
  2. The park is located on a MAJOR bird migratory route, so bird lovers of all levels will enjoy an ever-changing, colorful variety of feathered park residents.
  3. A bird checklist is available in the beautiful Welcome Center. Over 160 birds are listed – which will give you some idea of the great number of birds that enjoy the park.
  4. The Audubon Museum and Nature Center (pictured above) is an absolutely gorgeous French chateau. Birds nest in the niches of the tower. The entire setting is like something out of a fairy tale.
  5. The Museum and guest cottages, by one of the park’s small lakes, were built in 1938. Cobbled courtyards, retaining walls, and park office buildings match the main building’s beautiful architecture.
  6. A life-size diorama in the museum shows one of the greatest artists of all time, John James Audubon, at work.
  7. Audubon family possessions in the museum include a silver service that Audubon bought for his wife, Lucy, to replace one they’d had to sell during a financially difficult time.
  8. There’s a large, circular viewing room in the Nature Center with big, beautiful plate glass windows for viewing birds at the many feeding stations. The Nature Center comprises three areas: a wildlife Observation Room, a Discovery Center with hands-on exhibits, and the Learning Center.
  9. There are nine trails of varying length at Audubon. Click here for a description of each trail.
  10. Not only can you fish for largemouth bass, bluegill and catfish from the banks of the 28-acre lake, you can even get free fishing gear to do so!

More Information:

Trails Behind the Audubon Museum and Nature Center

The trails at John James Audubon State Park are some of the most beautiful trails we’ve ever seen.

 

Kentucky State Parks: 8 More Facts You May Not Know

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Kentucky State Parks Events

  1. Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park (Burkesville) definitely boasts one of the more dramatic lodge locations in the Kentucky State Parks system. The three-story glass and limestone lodge at Dale Hollow is perched on a cliff hundreds of feet above beautiful Dale Hollow Lake. When describing the view, I’d go with breathtaking.
  2. Each of the Kentucky State Parks should be visited, enjoyed, and photographed throughout the year. Not only will each have different activities and events each season and not only will the lodge’s decorations change seasonally – Kentucky shows off in different ways each month of the year. A visit to Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park (Dawson Springs) will, for example, be an entirely different experience in Autumn from the one you’ll have in Summer.  Each season puts on a spectacular show and you DO NOT want to miss a minute. Sitting in Pennyrile Forest’s Clifty Falls Restaurant (such a view), I can never decide which is the more season offers the most ridiculously beautiful view.  When the trees are in full bloom during the summer, the view is gorgeous, but when the leaves are different colors during fall, you find it difficult to look away. Spring is a time when everything’s coming alive in the State Parks and there’s a certain feeling of re-birth that’s palpable.  For those who, like me, love spring flowers, it’s a great time for daffodils, tulips, hyacinth, irises, etc. Winter is even a special time at state parks! If you’re lucky enough to see a light dusting of snow over a lake or wooded forest, the sight will stop you in your tracks. The bird and animal lover in me appreciates something else about winter – it’s easier to see (and photograph) birds without all of the leaves!  Also, as any birder knows, different seasons bring different birds to the area.
  3. Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park (Buckhorn) is a nature lover’s paradise. If you love wildflowers and trees, you might want to plan your trip now. The park is filled with beautiful wildflowers during spring and summer, but one of its busiest times is October. Everyone loves fall foliage and Buckhorn puts on a show that few can rival. If you want to visit the lodge during October, be sure to reserve accommodations several months in advance.
  4. The annual Fourth of July Fireworks Show over the lake is also incredibly popular at Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park (Buckhorn). Did you know that thousands attend each year?
  5. Fishtrap Lake State Park (Shelbiana, near Pikeville) has one of the more unusual names in the state park system. It gets its name from the cage-like wooden “traps” pioneers saw Native American Indians using to catch fish.  Today you are likely to catch catfish, bluegill, longear sunfish, and hybrid striped, largemouth, and smallmouth bass.
  6. Greenbo Lake and, thereby Greenbo State Resort Park (Greenup), are named in honor of residents from two counties: Greenup and Boyd Counties.
  7. 225-acre Greenbo Lake is considered to be one of the best lakes for catching largemouth bass.  In fact, this lake is home of two state largemouth bass records!  Greenbo Lake also holds large bluegill, crappie, catfish, and trout.  A special program at Greeenbo (details available at the park’s marina) is the  fishing loaner program where overnight guests can check out FREE equipment. How cool’s that?
  8. The Great American Dulcimer Convention at Pine Mountain State Resort Park (Pineville) is, to say the least, a wildly popular event. Since 1977 the greatest dulcimer players from all over America have gathered at Pine Mountain State Resort Park to make beautiful music and fun memories. Read more about The Great American Dulcimer Convention at Pine Mountain State Resort Park. What is a dulcimer? A dulcimer can refer to two types of musical instruments: Appalachian dulcimer, a fretted, plucked musical instrument which is also referred to as a “mountain dulcimer”, “lap dulcimer”, “fretted dulcimer”, or “hog fiddle” or a Hammered dulcimer, a hammer-struck, trapezoid-shaped musical instrument.

Dulcimer

The Dulcimer (pictured above) is apparently a pretty popular instrument with incredibly enthusiastic fans. When you search for “Dulcimer Festivals,” Google brings up hundreds of thousands of results! How’s that for passionate fans?

Mastodon Bones, Musicals, and the Fifth-Tallest Monument in the Country!

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Facts About Kentucky State Parks

 

Enjoy Random Facts About Kentucky State Parks trivia below and, as I always preach… visit at least one Kentucky State Park this weekend!

  1. The Pioneer Museum at Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park (Carlisle) has a lot of fascinating exhibits featuring everything from Mastodon bones to American Indian and Kentucky Pioneer artifacts.
  2. Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park (Carlisle) is one of the few Revolutionary War battlefields left in the country.
  3. At Big Bone Lick State Park (Union), you can see life-size replicas of mastodons and bison. There is also a live bison herd at the par (exciting for me, since bison are one of my favorite animals).
  4. Stephen Foster – The Musical, Kentucky’s longest-running outdoor drama plays at My Old Kentucky Home State Park (Bardstown) each summer from June to August.  We’ve been a couple of times and I can assure you, this is something you don’t want to miss.  See Stephen Foster – the Musical for more information.
  5. Jenny Wiley State Resort Park (Prestonsburg) is another place in Kentucky to enjoy great outdoor musicals and shows. A professional theater company stages plays in the 580-seat Jenny Wiley Theater from mid-June to mid-August. Productions have included West Side Story, The Wizard of Oz, A Chorus Line, and Disney’s High School Musical.  See Jenny Wiley Theatre for more information.
  6. The beautiful Breaks Interstate Park (Breaks, Virginia) actually spans across Kentucky and Virginia. This area has been called the Grand Canyon of the South.The Russel Fork of the Big Sandy River has carved a five-mile-long, 1,600-foot-deep gorge, the oxbow of which is located in the park. It is, as you’d expect the largest canyon east of the Mississippi.
  7. The woods in Breaks Interstate Park (Breaks, Virginia) are home to more than 100 kinds of songbirds and you may very well see golden eagles enjoying the view as much as you are.  I’ve heard of many people who have even seen bobcats in the area.  Needless to say, take your camera… and, for that matter, never put it down.
  8. The impressive monument at Jefferson Davis State Historic Site (Fairview) honors Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America.  He was born on this site on June 3, 1808.  Fascinatingly, Abraham Lincoln was born just over eight months later and less than 100 miles to the northeast. Leaders of both sides of the Civil War were Kentuckians.
  9. Biographical information about Jefferson Davis, and more, are on display in the visitor center at the Jefferson Davis State Historic Site (Fairview).  You’ll find information about the construction of the 351 foot tall monument.  The monument was commissioned by a group of Confederate Civil War Veterans and built with a combination of money raised by the United Daughters of the Confederacy and an appropriation from the Kentucky General Assembly.  It was completed in 1924, 35 years after Davis’s death.  Visitors can ride an elevator to the top of the monument, the world’s tallest concrete obelisk and the United States’ fifth-tallest monument.

Funny, each time I put together one of these Facts About Kentucky State Parks posts, I want to go to each park I’ve written about – all at the same time.

10 More Random Facts About Kentucky State Parks

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Random Facts About Kentucky State Parks!

Continuing the Facts About Kentucky State Parks series…

  1. Fishermen (and women) love Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park (Buckhorn).  Not only is Buckhorn Lake (a mountain reservoir lake) filled with largemouth and Kentucky bass, crappie, bluegill, and channel catfish, they can enjoy angling for muskie!   large population of the predator fish lives in the lake.
  2. Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park (Buckhorn) is adjacent to beautiful Daniel Boone National Forest.
  3. Nesting eagles can be seen during winter months from the windows in the lodge or dining room at Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park (Buckhorn).
  4. Enjoy Elk Watching during tours at Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park (Buckhorn).  Click the link to check for times and dates.
  5. Taylorsville Lake State Park (Taylsorsville) is the most heavily stocked lake for fishing in Kentucky. For a state that takes great, great pride in all of its lakes and the excellent fishing Kentucky’s known for, that’s really saying something!
  6. Taylorsville Lake State Park (Taylsorsville) is named after the town of the same name. Taylorsville was named in honor of President Zachary Taylor’s father, Richard Taylor, who donated 60 acres of his own land for creation of the town.
  7. Nolin Lake State Park (Bee Spring) is one of the Kentucky State Park System’s newest parks. It opened in 1996.  This is the perfect (PERFECT) place to enjoy quiet camping, hiking, or fishing. During the week, you’ll find all the solitude you could hope for.
  8. The excellent golf course at General Burnside State Park (Burnside) is considered by most to be the best golf course in the Lake Cumberland area.
  9. Fishtrap Lake State Park (Pikeville) is home to Fishtrap Lake Dam, the highest dam in the state (a staggering 195 feet!).  Fishtrap Lake was created to help control flooding along the Ohio and Big Sandy Rivers. The Army Corp of Engineers began in 1962, and President Lyndon Johnson dedicated the project upon its completion in 1968.
  10. Kingdom Come State Park, with an elevation of 2,700 feet, is the crowning jewel in the crest of Pine Mountain. Named after the popular Civil War novel, “The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come,” by Kentucky author John Fox Jr.

10 More Random Facts About Kentucky State Parks

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Facts About Kentucky State Parks

  1. 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.
  2. 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).
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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!
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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!
  10. 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.

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Flowering Tree in Bowling Green
Fraley Music Festival
Maddox