Rough River Dam State Park’s Gift Shop (A Personal Favorite!)

The Kentucky State Resort Parks are, honestly, some of the best places for shopping – whether you’re shopping for yourself, loved ones, a teacher, co-worker, or postal worker.  I remember when my parents would leave something special for our mailman every Christmas!

Personally, I shop in these gift shops year round. I’m ALWAYS popping into these shops for Kentucky Food (jams, honey, jellies, sauces, candy, tea, etc.), jewelry, and coffee mugs.  I also love shopping in the park’s shops for gifts.  Whether it’s birthdays or Christmas, you can find a little bit of everything.

When it comes to gift-giving, I’m a stickler for originality. I loathe the idea of giving someone something that they’ve seen – or, worse yet, something they may already have!

Plum Jam (delicious!) is tough to find – In fact, the only place I CAN find it is in Kentucky State Park Gift Shops. I always make sure to have at least one jar on hand. The Yoder’s Plum Jam, pictured above on my dining room table, is Heavenly on Buttermilk Biscuits and Cornbread. And, yes, as a matter of fact, I have a thing for pigs… how could you tell?

You’ll find highly unique Kentucky crafts, cookbooks, t-shirts, toys, figurines, mugs, pitchers, boxes of candy, wind chimes, jewelry and more in the Kentucky State Park gift shops. One of my own recent goodies is a beautiful bracelet that I get compliments on every time I wear it.  I got it at Kentucky Dam Village last summer.  I collect bracelets and have found that the parks consistently have some of the most originally beautiful bracelets around.

Another great idea for gifts that can be found at the Kentucky State Resort Parks is a State Park Gift Card. These can be used as cash at the different parks – for events, food, gift shops, etc.

My favorite idea for gift giving, though is to create your own gift basket. The State Park gift shops make it easy to create one with a Kentucky Theme. Visit at least one Kentucky State Park this weekend and do a little last minute gift shopping.

Not only will you find great gifts, you’ll be supporting “our own,” which is always priceless.

Bracelet I bought at Kentucky Dam Village’s Gift Shop this summer.