Department of Parks
Campgrounds Recognized for Recreational Opportunities

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky State Parks campgrounds offer some of the best outdoor recreational opportunities in the country, including everything from canoeing to biking and from fishing to bird watching, according to ReserveAmerica, the nation’s leader in campground reservations.

Each year, ReserveAmerica names America’s “Top 100 Family Campgrounds.” Accompanying this report is a list of the best recreational opportunities. A number of Kentucky parks made the grade.

They are as follows:

·        Green River State Resort Park near Campbellsville, one of the state’s top camping destinations, was honored under the “park beaches” and “biking trails” categories.

·        Columbus-Belmont State Park, overlooking the Mississippi River in Columbus, was recognized for its scenic views.

·        Kingdom Come State Park, located at Cumberland in the eastern Kentucky mountains, also was honored for scenic views.

·        Cumberland Falls State Resort Park near Corbin and home to the “Niagara of the South” was named honored for its scenic views as well as its picnic areas, canoeing and hiking trails.

·        Kenlake State Resort Park, at Hardin on Kentucky Lake, was singled out in the events category for its “Hot August Blues Festival,” as well as for being a great spot for romance and fishing.

·        Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, also on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, was honored in the event and fishing spot categories.

·        Carter Caves State Resort Park in Olive Hill, with more than 20 caverns, was honored for being a “kid-friendly park” as well as being an “amazing spot.”

·        Pine Mountain State Resort Park, located at Pineville, in the eastern Kentucky mountains, was honored for its picnic area, its hiking trails, and its unique, rustic cabins, which were built by President Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps.

·        Lake Barkley State Resort Park near Cadiz also was recognized in the “unique cabins” category.

·        Blue Licks State Resort Park in Mt. Olivet, one of Kentucky’s most historic areas, was honored for its canoeing trips of the Licking River, and also for its educational and historical programs.

·        John James Audubon State Park in Henderson, named after the famed 19^th century artist and ornithologist, is quite naturally named one of the best places to watch birds.

·        General Butler State Resort Park in Carrollton receives notice for its bike trails.

·        Greenbo Lake State Resort Park near Greenup, featuring a 225-acre lake known for its bass, bluegill, catfish and trout, was named a top fishing spot.

“This is a very impressive list,” said John Kington, deputy commissioner of Kentucky’s Department of Parks. “It really demonstrates the tremendous variety of activities we have to offer guests.”

The best recreational activities will be featured in a special issue of Camping Life magazine and on ReserveAmerica’s Web site.

Reservations for these locations can be made by calling 1-888-4KYPARK or by visiting www.park.ky.gov or www.reserveamerica.com.

The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 52 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