Department of Parks
Spring Photography Weekend April 15-17 At Pennyrile Forest

DAWSON SPRINGS, Ky. -- Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park will host its spring digital Photography Weekend April 15-17.

The contest boundaries are the borders of Pennyrile State Forest. Photographs may be taken anywhere within the state park and state forest. The categories of the contest vary, but they will always have a nature emphasis such as wildlife, landscape and water.

Participants may submit one photo per category and should bring their own camera. Registration is $35. If you register at least one week before the event you will receive a $5 discount. Children 16 and under pay only $10. The park offers a 10 percent discount to participants on available lodging.

Contestants can begin taking photos as soon as they check in on Friday.  Check-in begins at 2 p.m. Participants will be divided into three divisions: master, intermediate, and point and shoot.  Participants in the master division have sold their works before; those in the intermediate division have a SLR camera, but are hobby photographers; and point and shoot participants use cameras that do not have detachable lenses.  Children may compete in any of the three divisions.

Evening programs will be held at 8 p.m. The Friday night program will be an introduction to the competition.  The Saturday evening program will be given by a photography professional on nature photography. The weekend will end at approximately noon on Sunday after the awards ceremony and slide show of the weekend’s photographs.

The resort is 20 miles northwest of Hopkinsville, on KY 109 N. From the Western Kentucky Parkway, exit at Dawson Springs and take KY 109 south.

Named for the tiny Pennyroyal plant found in the woodlands surrounding this resort, Pennyrile Forest is the perfect back-to-nature hideaway. The rustic 24-room wood and stone Pennyrile Lodge sits serenely on a high cliff overlooking Pennyrile Lake. The park is open year-round. The park has 12 cottages located in the wooded lodge area and on the shores of Pennyrile Lake. The restaurant seats 200, including a private dining room for up to 80. Enjoy the beauty of the Pennyrile Forest in the 68-site campground. The campground features utility hookups, a dump station, and one central service building with showers, rest rooms and a laundry facility. Horse camping sites are scheduled to be available after April 16. The park also has an 18-hole golf course with a pro-shop, riding carts, pull carts and rental clubs. The course open year-round, weather permitting. The park also offers hiking trails, fishing and boating, mini-golf, basketball and tennis.

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