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TOURISM - May 1999
by John Gaver The Top 25 Kentucky Tourist Attractions
Visitors in 1998: 2,206,245 Tasty regional fare and traditional hospitality welcomes you to Mammoth Cave National Park, home of the world’s longest network of cavern corridors -- over 345 miles in length. Mammoth Cave offers the thrill of adventure in its extensive avenues, where one can see colorful stalactites and stalagmite formations, huge cavern rooms and spectacular pits and domes. 2. TVA’s Land Between the Lakes Visitors in 1998: 2,081,053 Rediscover the simple pleasures of playing in the outdoors at the Tennessee Valley Authorities’ Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area. Located in Western Kentucky and Tennessee, LBL offers 170,000 acres of wildlife, history and outdoor recreation opportunities wrapped by 300 miles of undeveloped shoreline. 3. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
Cumberland Gap contains over 20,000 acres in the states of Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee and includes 50 miles of hiking trails. Daniel Boone was not the first white man to discover Cumberland Gap, but he was the first to mark the trail that became the Wilderness Road through the gap to Kentucky. Hiking, camping and picnicking are favorite pastimes at this national historic park. 4. Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom is a world-class entertainment complex filled with over 110 thrilling rides and attractions including seven roller coasters, spectacular shows, games and restaurants. New attractions for 1999 include the Looney Tunes Movie Town, a newly-themed area just for kids, Batman -- The Ride, an exhilarating suspended looping roller coaster, and the Penguin’s Blizzard River, where riders are put to the test amidst raging rapids. 5. Churchill Downs Racetrack
With its Twin Spires, Churchill Downs is arguably the most famous landmark in the Commonwealth. Churchill, which conducts live racing in the spring and fall, is home to the Kentucky Derby, the first jewel of the Triple Crown, which has been run at the Louisville establishment since 1875. In addition to witnessing world-class Thoroughbred racing, patrons may also tour the Kentucky Derby Museum and peruse the series of floral displays located throughout the grounds.
The Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm and educational theme park dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse. Located on 1,032 acres in the heart of the Bluegrass, the Horse Park features more than 40 different breeds of horses, two museums, twin theatres and an array of horse shows and special events such as the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, the High Hope Steeplechase and the Southern Lights Holiday Festival. 7. Louisville Zoological Garden
The Louisville Zoo is located on 73 acres in South Louisville and is home to 1,300 animals representing 371 species living in open, natural settings. Other attractions include the polar bear pool and the arachnid exhibits of spiders and centipedes- the only one of its kind in the U.S. One-third of the zoo animals are species threatened in the wild. 8. Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park
One of three resort parks in the lakes region, Kentucky Dam Village underwent the most extensive renovation of park lodges during the $100 million parks revitalization program. Nearly $5.8 million was spent to renovate all 72 lodge rooms, the dining room, the lobby, gift shop and utilities. The complex has a totally new appearance, with details that carry a nautical theme. 9. Keeneland Race Course
Keeneland is a combination Thoroughbred race course and sales company dedicated to the preservation of the finest tradition of the sport of horse racing, conducting the world’s most important Thoroughbred sales and participating as a community and state "citizen". Keeneland provides year-round training facilities and annually conducts race meetings in April and October. Thoroughbred sales are held five times annually.
The lodge at Lake Cumberland was expanded as part of a $3.2 million improvement project. Guests are now greeted by a larger, modernized lobby, a new gift shop and an enlarged dining area. Lake Cumberland is one of only two resorts in the Commonwealth with an indoor pool. 11. Lake Barkley State Resort Park
Long one of the park system’s most popular parks, Lake Barkley is known for its extensive recreational facilities. A recently completed project added to its appeal with the renovation of its fitness center, along with an indoor pool addition. The project cost $1.5 million. All 120 lodge rooms were renovated as part of the parks revitalization program.
The historic lodge at Cumberland Falls was renovated in 1997. One of the most noticeable improvements is a modernized lobby, which now includes dramatic views of the Cumberland River. Behind the scenes, the lodges’ utilities were upgraded. Also on tap is construction of an interpretive center adjacent to the falls. 13. Fort Boonesborough State Recreational Park
At Fort Boonesborough, the state is spending $1 million to be leveraged with federal funds to turn a pair of old lock houses into a Kentucky River Museum. One house will be restored with period furnishings, while the other will contain interpretive exhibits. 14. Churchill Downs Sports Spectrum
Churchill Downs Sports Spectrum is a state-of-the-art simulcast wagering facility that is open approximately 200 days a year when Churchill Downs is not racing. The Sports Spectrum gives patrons the opportunity to wager on televised Thoroughbred races from Kentucky tracks and those around the nation. Patrons can enjoy live racing action on more than 300 monitors and 60 big screens located throughout the facility.
Because of its ideal location between Louisville and Cincinnati, General Butler is poised to become a popular corporate retreat and small conference venue. The state is spending $2.7 million to build a new 500-seat conference center to accommodate such groups. 16. Louisville RiverBats Baseball (formerly Louisville Redbirds)
The Louisville RiverBats (formerly Redbirds) are the Class AAA minor league affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball club. The RiverBats will move into their new home, Louisville Slugger Field, on the banks of the Ohio River in April 2000. The new baseball park will feature 13,000 seats plus 30 luxury boxes and a state-of-the-art natural grass playing field. 17. Kentucky Center for the Arts
Virtually every night of the year, the three stages at the Kentucky Center for the Arts comes alive with entertainment. From Broadway to Bach, Bluegrass to bagpipes, the Kentucky Center for the Arts covers all musical genres. In addition to entertainment, the Center features a distinguished collection of 20th-century sculpture on permanent display, a glass-arched lobby with a panoramic view of the Ohio River. 18. Natural Bridge State Resort Park
It has taken millions of years to form the natural sandstone arch from which this park takes its name. Located deep in the Daniel Boone National Forest, the bridge spans 78 feet long and 65 feet high. One can hike or enjoy the scenic wonders from the park’s Sky lift. 19. Ellis Park Race Course
Ellis Park Race Course has conducted Thoroughbred racing continuously since 1925 and in recent years has been Kentucky’s track for Thoroughbred racing. The track conducts a summer meet that traditionally runs from late June or early July through Labor Day and draws on the three-state market of Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois.
The Patton Museum, one of the largest in the Army museum system, is dedicated to one of America’s greatest military heroes, General George S. Patton, Jr., and to the evolution of the cavalry and armor forces. The museum features displays of early Camp Knox and illustrates the development of cavalry, armor weapons and machinery. 21. Louisville Science Center
22. Barren River State Resort Park
Early pioneers named the treeless area in the southern mid-section of Kentucky "The Barrens". At Barren River State Resort Park, lodges and cottages curve around the 10,000-acre lake, providing spectacular views. In addition to boating and fishing, visitors can take advantage of the 18-hole golf course. 23. Kenlake State Resort Park
24. Jenny Wiley State Resort Park
This mountain resort in Prestonsburg is named for the brave pioneer woman Jenny Wiley, who endured the slaying of her brother and children and escaped Indian captors after 11 months in 1789. Visitors can hike the the trails that surround Dewey Lake, or hit the links on the park’s 9-hole golf course. During the summer, the Jenny Wiley Theatre plays host to a variety of Broadway musicals. 25. Turfway Park Racetrack Visitors in 1998: 290,093 Turfway Park was transformed by former owner Jerry L. Carroll from a run-down Latonia racetrack to what is currently an innovative, nationally acclaimed facility. Turfway is home to the $1.15 million Kentucky Cup Day of Champions as well as the Gallery Furniture.com stakes, one of the final major prep races for the Kentucky Derby.
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Mammoth Cave National Park
