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Department of Parks
Pine Mountain State Resort Park Interpretive Center Renovation
PINEVILLE, Ky. – The renovated interpretive center at Pine Mountain State Resort Park near Pineville will be unveiled on April 23 at 1 p.m.
New interactive exhibits about plants and animals will be featured that will make the center more attractive to visitors, said Park Naturalist Dean Henson.
“Perhaps the most important feature of the center is the interactive kiosk modeled to appear as a mass of sandstone jutting out of one of the murals,” said Henson. “It houses a widescreen computer monitor that features a large volume of interpretive information. This is essentially where the parks’ story is really told.”
The April 23 ceremony is free and open to the public. The center’s normal hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is free.
The $165,000 project included a new floor, new ceiling, two large murals and artificial trees that represent trees that grow in the area. The trees rise to the ceiling and adjoin a four-layer canopy in multiple colors with an artificial blue sky. Theatrical lights create a dappled lighting effect on the floor of the center to recreate natural light as it filters through tree leaves in the outdoors to the forest floor.
A hands-on area will also feature an assortment of natural items that can be picked up and closely examined by visitors. This area will eventually feature items such as deer antlers, turtle shells and other items. Exterior improvements include a new deck with seating and lighting that can be used for Naturalist-led activities and evening programs.
Officials from the Department of Parks as well as representatives from the groups that worked on the project – MurphyCatton Inc., Mertz Design Studio, and Kinetic Vision – will be at the ceremony.
Pine Mountain State Resort Park has a lodge, cottages, restaurant, an award-winning golf course and hiking trails.
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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 53 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov
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