Kenlake State Resort Park is one of my favorite places in all of Kentucky. There’s just something about it that gets to me.

When I was looking through my pictures of Kenlake State Park earlier, one of the reasons I love it so much occurred to me. It’s a crazy cool contradiction and I get a big kick out of its contradictory ways!Ã?  Take a look at Kenlake Hotel in the picture above.Ã?  This is Kenlake State Resort Park’s lodge. As you can tell, she has a lot of character and more than a little history to tell.

Driving up to the white stucco hotel (lodge) never fails to leave an impression on me. It’s as though you’re driving a little into the past.Ã?  It looks like a hotel my mom and dad would have stayed in before I was born.

Given the fact that Kenlake State Resort Park opened in 1952, it makes perfect sense that you feel a little sweet nostalgia.Ã?  I get a huge kick out of it and I wasn’t even born in the 50’s, so I can only imagine how special it is for those who were.Ã?  Even the beautiful… let’s make that gorgeous… flower gardens that surround the hotel are reminiscent of a time when people took more pride in landscaping and seem to get a huge kick out of working alongside Mother Nature to create magic.

The rooms in the hotel have been updated. In fact, as soon as you enter the hotel, it’s as though you leave the 50’s behind. It’s a beautiful lodge – inside and out, the inside simply looks more modern than the outside. You can walk down to Kentucky Lake behind the lodge.Ã?  The entire setting is absolutely beautiful.

When you drive around Kenlake State Resort Park, you’ll be struck by the wonderful bluesy artwork – a tribute to the Blues, something Kenlake’s wild about. This is another beautiful contradiction.Ã?  Kentucky’s known, of course, for bluegrass music – as well as country music.Ã?  Kenlake reminds us that Kentuckians also love, love, love the Blues.Ã? Ã?  In fact, Kenlake State Resort Park’s famous Hot August Blues Festival attracts thousands of fans each summer.Ã?  The art (including a really cool sculpture in addition to paintings that memorize me) pays homage to the wonderful Blues.

The art’s almost as beautiful as Kentucky Lake, but not quite. That’s okay, though, there’s no shame in coming in second to the master Artist.

For more pictures of Kenlake State Resort Park, click the link. Then go to Kenlake State Park and take better pictures, yourself!