 
|
TOURISM
- May 2001 The
Top 25 Kentucky Tourist Attractions
1.
Land Between the Lakes
Address:
100 Van Morgan Drive, Golden Pond, KY 42211
Phone: (502) 924-2000; (800)
LBL-7077
Fax: (502) 924-2060
Web Site: www.lbl.org
General Manager: Ann Wright
|
 |
Come outside and play in
the 170,000 acres of the Land Between the Lakes. This
huge playground, managed by the U.S. Forestry Service,
has 300 miles of undeveloped shoreline and 200 miles of
scenic, heavily forested trails. Private and state
resorts on both lakes provide a variety of vacation
opportunities with plenty of attractions on and off the
water.
2. Mammoth Cave National
Park
Address:
P.O. Box 7, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259
Phone: (270) 758-2328
Fax: (270) 758-2301
Web Site: http://www.nps.gov/maca
Superintendent:
Ronald R. Switzer
|
 |
With more than 350 miles
of explored passageways, Mammoth Cave National Park has
the longest known cave system in the world. The Park has
many types of cave formations and supports several
species of animal life. Above ground, the World Heritage
Site and International Biosphere Reserve offers more than
52,000 acres of scenic protected forestland for camping,
hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing and horseback riding
|
3. Cumberland Gap National
Historical Park Address: P.O. Box
1848, Middlesboro, KY 40965
Phone: (606) 248-2817
Fax: (606) 248-7276
Web Site: www.nps.gov/cuga
Superintendent: Mark Woods
One of the most
important historical sites in the country,
Cumberland Gap encompasses more than 20,000 acres
in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia and includes
55 miles of challenging hiking trails. Daniel
Boone was not the first white man to discover the
Cumberland Gap, but he led the party that marked
the trail that became the Wilderness Road.
Hiking, camping and picnicking are favorite
pastimes at this national historic park.
|
4. Six Flags Kentucky KingdomAddress:
P.O. Box 9287, Louisville, KY 40209
Phone: (502) 366-2231; (800)
SCREAMS
Fax: (502) 366-8746
Web Site: www.sixflags.com
General Manager: Melinda
Ashcraft
|
 |
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
is a world-class thrill park and entertainment complex.
Located in Louisville at the intersection of I-264 and
I-65, the park offers more than 110 rides and
attractions. The Kingdom also features a full water park,
Hurricane Bay.
| 5. Churchill Downs
Racetrack Address: 700
Central Ave., Louisville, KY 40208
Phone: (502) 636-4400
Fax: (502) 636-4469
Web Site: http://www.kyderby.com
General Manager: Alex Waldrop
Churchill Downs,
home of the world-famous Kentucky Derby since
1875, may be the most famous landmark in the
Commonwealth. Churchill conducts live racing in
the spring and fall. In addition to exciting
Thoroughbred racing, visitors may also tour the
newly remodeled and expanded Kentucky Derby
Museum, which is open year ‘round.
|
 |
|
|
|
6. Newport
Aquarium
Address: One
Aquarium Way, Newport, KY 41071
Phone: (859) 261-7444
Fax: (859) 261-5888
Web Site Address: www.newportaquarium.com
General Manager: John Tighe, V.P.
This
100,000-square-foot aquarium on the banks of the
Ohio River is home to 11,000 creatures. More than
60 exhibits showcase sharks, American alligators,
king penguins and fish from all over the world.
Oceanic Adventures features five underwater
walkways that offer visitors an unobstructed view
of the aquatic world.
|
|
|
| 7.
Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park Address:
P.O. Box 69, Gilbertsville, KY 42044
Phone (270) 362-4271; (800)
325-0146
Fax: (270) 362-2591
Web Site: http://www.kystateparks.com
General Manager: Frank Wagner
Located close to
where Kentucky Lake joins with Lake Barkley to
form one of the largest man-made bodies of water
in the country, Kentucky Dam Village Resort gives
visitors more choices in accommodations than any
other park, the resort system’s largest
marina and a championship golf course. With
extensive renovation just completed, still more
choices in cottage types are available. The
dramatic new lodge facade and dining room
makeover extend the resort’s sophisticated
appeal into the 21st Century.
|
 |
|
|
 |
8.
Kentucky Horse Park Address:
4089 Iron Works Pkwy., Lexington, KY 40511
Phone: (859) 233-4303; (800)
678-8813
Fax: (859) 254-0253
Web Site: http://www.kyhorsepark.com/
Executive Director: John
Nicholson
|
The Kentucky Horse Park is
a working horse farm of more than 1,000 acres surrounded
by 39 miles of white-planked fences. This one-of-a-kind
facility, dedicated to the horse, is highlighted by
museums, galleries, theaters and other attractions. The
Park provides opportunities for visitors to view more
than 40 breeds of horses at work and play.
| 9. Louisville
Riverbats Baseball Address:
P.O. Box 36407, Louisville, KY 40233
Phone: (502) 367-9121
Fax: (502) 368-5120
Web Site: www.batsbaseball.com
President: Gary Ulmer
|
 |
The RiverBats are the AAA
minor league affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play
baseball at their new home, Louisville Slugger Field.
Slugger Field, at the intersection of I-65 and I-64, with
the Louisville skyline and the Ohio River as backdrops,
is one of the most spectacular sporting venues in the
U.S.
 |
10. Keeneland Race Course Address:
4201 Versailles Road, P.O. Box 1690, Lexington,
Kentucky 40592-1690
Phone: (859) 254-3412; (800)
456-3412
Fax: (859) 255-2484
Web Site: www.keeneland.com
President: Nick Nicholson
Keeneland is a
combination Thoroughbred race course and sales
company located six miles west of Lexington in
the heart of Kentucky’s famed Bluegrass
Region. The finely manicured grounds that have
become a trademark of Keeneland are open year
‘round. Public workouts are held from 6-10
a.m. on the main track from mid-March to late
November. During live racing in April and
October, there are many special events, including
Breakfast with the Works, which offers free
children’s activities and expert commentary
on the morning workouts.
|
|
|
| 11. Louisville Zoological
Garden Address: 1100
Trevilian Way, P.O. Box 37250, Louisville, KY
40233
Phone: (502) 459-2181
Fax: (502) 459-2196
Web Site: www.louisvillezoo.com
Director: Dr. William R. Foster
|
 |
Nestled on 73 acres in the
heart of Louisville, the Zoo exhibits more than 1,300
animals in open, natural settings. Other attractions
include the HerpAquarium and the African Outpost.
| 12. Lake Cumberland State
Resort Park Address: 5465 State
Park Road, Jamestown, KY 42629
Phone: (270) 343-3111
Fax: (270) 343-5510
Web Site: www.kystateparks.com
General Manager: Larry Totten
|
 |
A key component of the
Southern Kentucky Lakes tourism region, Lake Cumberland
Resort sits majestically on its own peninsula, surrounded
by deep green waters that lap into countless coves and
rocky inlets. Year after year, visitors return to Lake
Cumberland Resort to enjoy its wildlife-filled, serene
woodland setting and easy access to some of the finest
fishing and boating in the country. The recently
completed renovation of the lodge’s rooms, lobby,
dining area and activities center joins with the addition
of a beautiful indoor pool complex to enhance the
park’s luxurious accommodations.
 |
13.
Louisville Science Center Address:
727 W. Main St., Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: (502) 561-6100
Fax: (502) 561-6145
Web Site: www.lsclouienet.org
Executive Director: Gail Becker
Kentucky’s
largest science center is located on
Louisville’s West Main Street, where
visitors can experience nearly 40,000 square feet
of hands-on exhibits. The Center also features a
four-story Imax Theater.
|
| 14.
Lake Barkley State Resort Park Address:
Box 790, Cadiz, Kentucky 42211
Phone: (270) 924-1131
Fax: (270) 924-0013
Web Site: www.kystateparks.com
General Manager: John Rufli
Visitors continue
to return time and again to Barkley Lodge, a
recently renovated lakeside resort that offers
spectacular sunset views of Lake Barkley. The
resort features a trapshooting range, a
championship golf course and a fitness center
with a new heated indoor pool.
|
 |
 |
15. Cumberland Falls State
Resort Park Address: 7351
Highway 90, Corbin, KY 40701-8814
Phone: (606) 528-4121
Fax: (606) 528-0004
Web Site: www.kystateparks.com
General Manager: Danny Brown
Many visitors list
the majesty of Cumberland Falls as a favorite
memory of their trip to Kentucky. The mist of the
waterfall creates the magic of the moonbow, which
can only be seen on a clear night during a full
moon and appears nowhere else in the Western
Hemisphere. Guests will find new cottages
nestling into the ridge forest above the falls.
Both the dining room and the renovated lobby
upstairs boast a wonderful view of the Cumberland
River. The lodge’s historic stonework and
the beauty of the resort’s trails combine to
provide a feeling of serenity with nature that is
rarely attained elsewhere.
|
| 16.
Fort Boonesborough State Recreational Park Address:
4375 Boonesborough Road, Richmond, KY 40475-9316
Phone: (859) 527-3131
Fax: (859) 527-3328
Web Site: www.kystateparks.com
General Manager: Phil Gray
|
 |
“Daniel Boone’s
Fort” is what a lot of youngsters ask to see and
Fort Boonesborough is where their parents take them.
Visitors from across the nation get to see what
settlement life was like in 18th-century Kentucky.
Boonesborough is a thrilling reconstruction of the
settlement that was the starting point of America’s
Western expansion. Campers and swimmers visiting the park
love its modern pool with slide. Next on the agenda for
the park is construction of a Kentucky River Museum. This
state-of-the-art facility will illustrate the Kentucky
River’s importance in the settlement of this state.
 |
17. General Butler State
Resort Park
Address:
P.O. Box 325, 1608 Hwy. 227, Carrollton, KY
41008-0325
Phone: (502) 732-4384
Fax: (502) 732-4270
Web Site: www.kystateparks.com
General Manager: Harold
Tomlinson
|
Poised on a hilltop above
the joining of the Kentucky and Ohio Rivers on
Kentucky’s northern border, General Butler State
Resort Park is beautifully situated. The park’s
natural appearance is preserved and imparts a
“getaway” feeling to visitors, even though
Louisville and Cincinnati are frequent destinations for
travelers on Interstate 71, just two miles from the park
entrance. A modern convention center opened last winter,
taking advantage of the park’s spacious view, serene
atmosphere and resort amenities.
| 18. Churchill Downs Sports
Spectrum Address: 4520
Poplar Level Road, Louisville, KY 40213
Phone (502) 962-2200
Web Site: www.kyderby.com
Park Manager: Greg Bush
A state-of-the-art
intertrack wagering and sports viewing facility
allows patrons to enjoy live racing action on
more than 300 monitors and 60 big screens. Open
approximately 200 days a year, when Churchill
Downs is not racing, the Sports Spectrum gives
patrons the opportunity to wager on televised
horse races from around the country.
|
 |
 |
19.
Patton Museum of Cavalry & Armor Address:
P.O. Box 208, Fort Knox, Kentucky 40121
Phone: (502) 624-3812
Web Site Address: www.generalpatton.org
General Manager: John Purdy
One of the largest
museums in the U.S. Army system, the Patton
Museum is dedicated to General George Patton and
displays many of his personal effects. The museum
also showcases the evolution of the cavalry and
armor forces. Armor Memorial Park, adjacent to
the museum, commemorates distinguished armored
and cavalry units of the U.S. military.
|
|
|
20. Kentucky Center for the ArtsAddress: 501 W. Main
Street, Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: (502) 562-0100
Ticket Faxline: (502) 562-0749
Website: www.kca.org
President:
Micahel Hardy
At the Kentucky
Center, the arts aren’t just abstract ideas:
they’re living, breathing testimonials to
the power of beauty and passion. Dancers, actors
and music makers of all kinds use Kentucky Center
stages almost every night of the year to inspire,
entertain and touch the lives of people from all
over the state. In addition, the Center features
a distinguished collection of 20th-century
sculpture on permanent display.
|
 |
|
|
| 21.
Natural Bridge State Resort Park Address:
2135 Natural Bridge Road, Slade, Kentucky 40376
Phone: (606) 663-2214
Fax: (606) 663-5037
Web Site: www.kystateparks.com
Park Manager: Rick Powell
Centerpiece of a
burgeoning new resort area, Natural Bridge State
Resort Park sets the tone for the appeal of the
unique geological region of eastern Kentucky's
gorge country. The massive natural sandstone arch
from which the park takes its name is one of many
geological wonders that dot the park and region.
A new "river-currents" pool complex
juts into the lake beneath Hemlock Lodge.
|
 |
|
|
 |
22.
Jenny Wiley State Resort Park Address:
75 Theatre Court, Prestonsburg, Kentucky
41653-9799
Phone: (606) 886-2711
Fax: (606) 889-0462
Web Site: www.kystateparks.com
General Manager: Mark McLemore
|
The story of the brave
pioneer woman for whom this park is named is reenacted in
a mountain cove amphitheater every summer along with a
revolving repertoire of popular Broadway musicals. May
Lodge and its cottages sit alongside Dewey Lake and the
entire area can be seen from the skylift on Sugarcamp
Mountain. The park has a golf course, marina, nature
trails and the park system's largest convention center.
| 23.
Barren River State Resort Park Address:
1149 State Park Road, Lucas, Kentucky 42156-9709
Phone: (270) 646-2151
Fax: (270) 646-3645
Web Site: www.kystateparks.com
Park Manager: Bobby Lee Hurt
|
 |
Recent renovations have
enhanced Barren River State Resort Park’s excellent
recreation facilities, which include a championship
golf course and one of the finest sand beaches in the
state. The Nunn Lodge, dining room, pool and meeting
facility were also given bright new looks, suitable for
the resort’s sweeping peninsula setting. It’s
impossible to resist venturing forth on the sparkling
lake waters, renowned for fishing.
 |
24.
Beech Bend Raceway Park Address:
798 Beech Bend Rd., Bowling Green, KY 42101
Phone: (270) 781-7634
Web Site: www.beechbend.com
|
Beech Bend Raceway Park,
at I-65 Exit 28, features high-speed excitement with
stock car racing Friday, street car shoot-out on
Saturday, and NHRA drag racing Sunday. Located on 368
beech-shaded acres, the park is named for the trees and
the bend of the Barren River that borders it. The park
also has a pool, go-carts, amusement rides, mini-golf and
campground.
| 25.
Carter Caves State Resort Park Address: 344
Caveland Drive, Olive Hill, KY 41164-9032
Phone: (606) 286-4411
Web Site: www.kystateparks.com
Director of Communications: Bob Haney
|
 |
Turfway Park offers
exciting Thoroughbred racing five months of the year and
year-round intertrack wagering. Patrons can watch the
action from Turfway's enclosed climate-controlled
clubhouse. Turfway is home to the $600,000 Turfway Spiral
Stakes (Grade II), a major stepping stone to the Derby
and the Triple Crown, and the $1.15 million Kentucky Cup
Day of Champions.
Back to May Issue
Back to Tourism Index
Back to Reports Index
|
