Lake Barkley | Genuine Kentucky

Lake Barkley Beach Bash June 21 – June 22, 2014

June 10, 2014 by Joi Sigers 1 Comment

Lake Barkley at Sunset… Gorgeous!

Although this event has expired, there is always something to see and do in Kentucky. Visit our Kentucky Events page for up to the minute happenings and be sure to check out our Things to Do in Kentucky page.

If you read Genuine Kentucky regularly, you already know that the Kentucky State Parks turn 90 this year. The park system is something all Kentuckians can, and should, be proud of. There’s so much history, fun, beauty, and Kentucky pride at each park that it’d be a travesty not to visit as many parks as you can, as often as you can.

Different parks are celebrating the anniversary in different ways. Lake Barkley State Resort Park thought the 90th called for a Beach Bash… how fun does that sound?

The Lake Barkley Beach Bash will take place on June 20-21, with all activities, of course, right on Lake Barkley’s beach.

The fun kicks off on Friday, June 20, at 7 p.m. with living history presentations, followed by an ice cream social. During this Chautauqua performance, audience members will have an opportunity to interact with actors portraying two of Kentucky’s most influential figures in history President Abraham Lincoln and statesman Henry Clay. This event is free.

The party continues through Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. with beach and carnival-themed games, contests, food vendors and prizes. Admission is $4 per person. And at 8 p.m., beach hours will be extended for Lake Barkley’s first sunset cinema, where visitors are invited to watch a free outdoor movie under the stars. Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs, blankets and pillows! Movie refreshments and fun glow-in-the-dark items will be available for purchase.

Use of the beach June 21 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. will be limited to guests who purchase tickets for this event.

Call 270-924-1131 for reservations and information.

Besides the lodge, the park includes cottages, the Windows on the Water Restaurant, a seasonal campground, 18-hole golf course, fitness center with indoor pool, marina, fishing, tennis courts, hiking trails, gift shop, and recreational and nature programming. The park is near Cadiz and the Land Between the Lakes, at 3500 State Park Road just off Interstate 24. Exit at Highway 68. From the exit go west toward Cadiz and the park.

Lake Barkley in the Afternoon… Gorgeous!

Sunset Jazz at Lake Barkley State Resort Park

May 9, 2014 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

View of Lake Barkley from Windows on the Water

I love any and every chance to spend time at Lake Barkley State Resort Park – especially if there’s food involved. Lake Barkley’s Windows on the Water is one of my favorite restaurants in the Kentucky State Park system. They have consistently great food, served in a gorgeous setting.

Everything about Lake Barkley State Park is first rate, from the gorgeous lodge to the breathtaking views of Lake Barkley. They also do a bang up job when it comes to special events and extra special performances, like the one detailed below.

From Lake Barkley Resort State Park:

With the sunset as a backdrop, The Friends of Lake Barkley State Resort Park are sponsoring an evening of jazz at the Lake Barkley Lodge’s Windows on the Water restaurant on Saturday, May 17, 2014. Under the direction of Ms. Beth Stribling, eighteen seventh and eighth grade members of the Murray Middle School Jazz Ensemble will present two sets of music beginning at 6 p.m. Musical choices will include Rock Around the Clock, Jazz Police, St. Louis Blues, September- the Earth Wind and Fire Chart, Sway (made popular by vocalists form Dean Martin to Michael Buble), and Velvet Rain, written in the Miles Davis style, featuring trumpet soloist Luke Armstrong. Ninth grade song birds Anna Cate Brown and Brynn Jones will be singing 20th Century standards. Dining options for purchase include a buffet dinner or items from the restaurantÃ¢â?¬â?¢s regular menu. There is no extra charge for the entertainment.

Families and individuals can enjoy other entertainment and lodging opportunities at the park. Lake Barkley State Resort Park is the largest state resort park in Kentucky and features a lodge, cottages, the Windows on the Water Restaurant, a seasonal campground, 18-hole golf course, fitness center with indoor pool, marina, fishing, tennis courts, hiking trails, gift shop, and recreational and nature programming. The park is located at 3500 State Park Road in Cadiz. From I-24, take the Highway 68 exit west toward Cadiz.

For more information and to make your reservations contact Nick Edmonds, nick.edmonds@ky.gov or call the lodge at call 1-800-325-1708

Also See: Pictures of Lake Barkley State Resort Park

Pictures of the Day from Beautiful Green Turtle Bay Resort & Marina in Grand Rivers

April 9, 2014 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

We were in the Lake Barkley/Kentucky Lake region last Saturday and, for us, that means one thing: Driving straight to Green Turtle Bay Resort & Marina in Grand Rivers with one thing on our mind – lunch at Docker’s Bayside Grille! Their Turtle Burgers, wraps, fries, house chips, and salads are as good as it gets and the view of Lake Barkley is something we’ve become addicted to. Docker’s is open for breakfast and lunch only – maybe that’s why their breakfasts and lunches are so uncommonly delicious… they specialize in their field.

As you can see from the collage above and pictures below, Green Turtle Bay wears Spring especially well. Then again, there isn’t a season this Resort and Marina doesn’t wear brilliantly.

Green Turtle Bay is a very special place with people who are so warm and friendly, you’re fairly certain they’re long lost family.

Click through the pictures in the gallery below to get an idea of how beautiful Green Turtle Bay is – then, go one better and visit them for yourself. You don’t have to be a guest in a Green Turtle Bay Condominium to enjoy the sights of the Resort or Marina or the Yummy-ness that is Docker’s.

Be sure to share pictures from Genuine Kentucky on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter. We do this website for one reason only – to promote Kentucky and Kentuckians. The more people helping us share the word, the better!

Want to learn more about Green Turtle Bay? It’s just a click away.

Docker's Bayside Grill at Green Turtle Bay

See more pictures of Grand Rivers, Kentucky.

Harland Colonel Sanders: More Than Fried Chicken

June 5, 2013 by Joi Sigers 1 Comment

This bit of news includes a few of my favorite things in the world – Kentucky Fried Chicken and Lake Barkley State Resort Park! Well, to be perfectly honest, it really doesn’t have as much to do with Kentucky Fried Chicken as it does its founder, Harland Sanders, but my mind’s still thinking about fried chicken legs, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, baked beans, and rolls.

So good! Before I get myself all worked up, I’d better just get to the news….

Lake Barkley State Resort Park, together with Kentucky Chautauqua, will present a one man show: Harland Colonel Sanders: More than Fried Chicken at 7p.m. in the Elizabeth Hooks room of Lake Barkley State Resort Park lodge. This program is free and open to the public.

Harland Sanders (1890-1980) was born in Henryville, Indiana on September 9th, 1890. After completing the 6th grade, Sanders quit school and over the years worked a variety of jobs farmhand, ferry operator, secretary, tire salesman, and furniture store owner.

Sanders eventually moved to Corbin, Kentucky, where he operated a service station. He opened a lunchroom with room for six behind the station. This marked the beginning of a legendary career in the food service industry. Sanders experimented with recipes and eventually created his famous eleven herbs and spices and perfected the frying process using a pressure cooker, creating what is now known around the world as Kentucky Fried Chicken.

In addition to developing his product, Sanders worked to develop the brand. His white suit, string tie, goatee, and image soon became synonymous with fried chicken. Sander’s life was one of hard work, determination, perseverance, and taking advantage of luck that came his way.

Harland Sanders died in Louisville, Kentucky on December 16, 1980. I remember my mom telling me that he’d once been a patient of her’s when she was a nurse. She said she’d never met a friendlier, sweeter man and that he was the very definition of the word “gentleman.”

As a lifelong fan of his food, I was delighted to learn this!

Henry Dowell portrays Colonel Sanders for Kentucky Chautauqua. Dowell is the founder of The Gusto Theatre Company, a group dedicated to educational theatre and the performance of new works as well as the classics. He is a graduate of Morehead State University and attended the American Musical and Dramatic academy in New York. He is an actor, director, and playwright, with numerous credits spanning 25 years in theatre.

Kentucky Chautauqua is an exclusive presentation of the Kentucky Humanities Council with support from : Scripps Howard Foundation, Lindsay Wilson College, the Cralle Foundation, The Honorable Order of Colonels, People’s Bank & Trust Company of Hazard, the Brown-Forman Corporation, Union College, Morehead State university, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University, Western Kentucky University, PNC Bank in Lexington, and Toyota Motor of North America.

The Kentucky Humanities Council is a non-profit Kentucky corporation affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities. It is not a state agency, but a proud partner of Kentucky’s Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.

Besides the lodge (with a spectacular view of the lake), Lake Barkley State Resort Park includes cottages, the Windows on the Water Restaurant, a seasonal campground, 18-hole golf course, fitness center with indoor pool, marina, fishing, tennis courts, hiking trails, gift shop, and recreational and nature programming. The park is near Cadiz and the Land Between the Lakes at 3500 State Park Road just off I-24. Exit at Highway 68. From the exit go west toward Cadiz and the park.

Tuxedo Cake at Windows on the Water Lake Barkley SRP

Boots Randolph Golf Course, Lake Barkley State Resort Park

Catfish Sandwich at Lake Barkley State Resort Park

Hamburger and Onion Rings at Lake Barkley State Resort Park

Review: The Condos at Green Turtle Bay in Grand Rivers, KY

April 11, 2013 by Mike Leave a Comment

I recently had the great fortune to stay in one of the condos at Green Turtle Bay Resort in Grand Rivers, Ky.

3 friends and I went on a little mid-week golf vacation. We wanted to stay and play in one area, so we chose one of my favorite locations on the planet – the Kentucky Lake / Lake Barkley area.

The first place, really, the only place we even considered staying was Green Turtle Bay.

Think about it. 4 big guys, golf bag, golf clubs, suitcases. Ain’t no way we could cram into two, much less, one hotel room or suite.

But we could fir easily into a 2 bedroom house and that’s basically what the condo was … a big, nice, ultra clean, ultra nice, ultra well equipped house.

Anything less and we’d never left that vacation as friends. Heck, we’d probably not even been talking to one another.

The condo was:

Sparkling clean
Spacious
Ultra modern
Comfortable
Relaxing

Basically, it was a smile generator!

I got there first, checked us in and ran up to our condo to get some pics, because I knew that if I waited until my friends got there and dropped their bags in the middle of the floor, I’d never be able to show you how nice this thing was.

Remember, this is a condo. It’s not a hotel with folks running in and out of their rooms slamming their doors, leaving their TVs up loud when they leave, banging on the walls and all those other horrible things that happen to you in hotels.

None of that happened to us in out super clean, super nice, super well equipped condo. In fact, my three friends all thanked me multiple times for being the first one to find this little jewel of a place many, many moons ago.

When you first walk in, you’ll notice the bright, beautiful, tastefully done colors. Then you see an enormous flat screen TV and a great looking fireplace. Then you’ll see the comfortable furniture and see the carpet is so clean that you’ll wonder if you’re the first one’s to ever stay in this particular condo.

Then you’ll notice that not only is it clean, it’s immaculate! There’s not a speck of dust on the blinds. Heck, there’s not a hint of dust on the ceiling fan way up there in the vaulted ceiling! And the arched windows bring in beautiful light all day, but especially in the early mornings and early evenings.

Turning the corner you’ll come to the kitchen and see a stainless steel fridge and dishwasher. I mean, really, who has fixtures like this, appliances like this, in a rental?!

And look at how sparkling clean everything is. Shiny! Not even a water spot in the sink. Way cleaner than any hotel room I’ve ever stayed in. Clean smelling, fresh smelling.

It was almost too bad we had no plans to cook or eat in there. C’mon on … 4 guys on a golf vacation? Not a chance, baby! We’re eating every meal out. Breakfast and lunches were at Dockers Bayside Grille and dinners were at the Commonwealth Yacht Club. Both are right there on the property, so it was easy and dang fine food.

The omelets and biscuits and gravy for breakfast were beyond big and beyond good. The coffee was fresh and piping hot!

The Turtle Burgers we had for lunch we fine eatin’ and the fries and onion rings were classics.

At night, we’d head over to the Commonwealth Yacht Club for some great steaks, grilled Mahi tuna and pastas. All of them were 5 stars and the service was just as spectacular.

Then it was back to the condo and hit the back deck, put our feet up on the railings and tell lies about our golf games as the water lulled us into the nicest state of relaxation you can find in the Land Between the Lakes area.

Just so you can see how amazingly clean and shiny everything was, I’ve included some pics of the bathrooms that were fresh smelling and had plenty of towels. Could not ask for more.

And look at the bedrooms, especially the Master bedroom upstairs. I mean, really, who has a staircase like this in a rental?! And look at the Master bedroom and the enormous bed in there, with a good size flatscreen TV on the wall. And the view from up there just makes you feel like a King.

Do yourself, your family and your friends a favor and don’t cram them into a hotel room this year. Head over to Green Turtle Bay Resort in Grand Rivers, get yourself and condo and create memories that will last long after you’ve gone back home.

Really. Do you wanna argue over the one TV in a hotel room? Do you wanna fight over not having enough towels? Do you wanna listen to the neighbor watch his TV all night? Do you wanna get woke up at 6 am as someone slams their door 4 or 5 times as they try to get packed up and leave?

No?! Me neither. That’s why we go to Green Turtle Bay.