Think back to the year 1962. Many of us weren’t even born yet! John F. Kennedy was president. Something we’re all familiar with, Rock and Roll music, was just becoming popular. Can you imagine?
As for Hollywood, Doris Day, Rock Hudson, Cary Grant and John Wayne were among the famous movie stars. Dr. No, Lawrence of Arabia, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Music Man, and Patty Duke’s The Miracle Worker were some of the most popular movies in 1962.
Something else of monumental importance happened in 1962, six Kentucky State Park lodges opened, which means they’re turning 50 years old this year!
The six resort park lodges celebrating their 50th birthdays this year are:
- Kentucky Dam Village
- Carter Caves
- Lake Cumberland
- Jenny Wiley
- General Butler
- Rough River
The Kentucky State Parks would like to know if you may have visited one of six state park lodges that opened that year and still have a photo or memories.
Each of the six parks will be holding special events to celebrate their Golden Anniversary later this year. Below is a list of the parks, the dates for their special events and phone numbers. If you have photos or memorabilia you�d like to share, please call the park.
More details of the special events will be posted at the Kentucky State Park website www.parks.ky.gov.
Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, Gilbertsville. Aug. 10-11. Call 1-800-325-0146.
General Butler State Resort Park, Carrollton. Sept. 14-15. Call 1-866-462-8853.
Rough River Dam State Resort Park, Falls of Rough. Sept. 21-22. Call 1-800-325-1713.
Lake Cumberland State Resort Park, Jamestown. Sept. 28-29. Call 1-800-325-1709.
Carter Caves State Resort Park, Olive Hill. Oct. 5-6. Call 1-800-325-0059.
Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, Prestonsburg. Oct. 19-20. Call 1-800-325-0142.
I am absolutely obsessed with our State Parks and the lodges of the state resort parks.Ã? The lodge kind of sets the mood for the whole park experience.Ã? I love how each lodge is decorated differently and has, over the years, developed its own personality and individual “vibe.” Next time you visit a Kentucky State Resort Park (and… hey… why not this weekend?!), hang out for a while in the lodge. Visit the gift shop for amazing Kentucky crafts, food items (I buy jams, honey, and relish just about every time I step into a lodge), browse through the circulars, chat up the staff behind the desk, sit and tweet (telling the world where you’re lucky enough to be at the moment), and by all means, eat breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner in the lodge’s restaurant! The food’s amazing – each and every time.
In fact, here’s a quick story. One of our beautiful daughters, Stephany and her brand new husband, Rusty (they were married Saturday!) have had a very unique approach to a honeymoon.Ã? They’re actually traveling and seeing as many different special places as they can in a week. I think that’s a pretty cool approach – unique and fun, just like they are. Anyway, I had been telling them all about Rough River Dam State Resort Park – and that’s the first place they went!Ã? They ate off the buffet in the lodge’s wonderful restaurant and said the food was “to die for.”Ã? Steph said the catfish, fried chicken, and desserts were out of this world and that the mashed potatoes were some of the best she’s ever had.
She said the ladies at the front desk in the restaurant were uncommonly friendly – which I expected because it’s a very friendly place.
They also raved about the beautiful lake.Ã? She said she checked Genuine Kentucky to see what all she should check out. Sniff, sniff… I’m so proud.
Tell everyone YOU know to head to our state parks and give them the love and support they deserve.Ã? I”m afraid that most people just don’t realize how lucky we are to have the BEST state park system in the entire country.Ã? One of our own personal missions is to spread the word about these special parks and to get more people (Kentuckians as well as our cherished guests from other states!) to our state parks.Ã? We know that if we can just get them on the premises, they’ll return again and again.
What’s more, they’ll seek out the other parks as well. Each one has something unique and special to offer and different things to do and see.Ã? Get out there and see what you’ve been missing!
More Pictures of Kentucky Dam Village’s Lodge and Beautiful Pool:
More pictures of Rough River Dam State Resort Park’s Lodge and Immaculate Lodge Rooms:
More Pictures of Lake Cumberland’s Lodge and an Adorable Resident:
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*** I’m afraid we don’t have any pictures of Jenny Wiley, Carter Caves, or General Butler YET (we’re working on it!). Please see www.parks.ky.gov for more information and pictures of these beautiful state parks.
