Department of Parks
Lake Barkley State Resort Park Plans Open House May 31

CADIZ, Ky. – Lake Barkley State Resort Park will hold an open house on May 31 to show off its $5.87 million lodge renovation.

The park’s 124 lodge rooms received new granite-top vanities, carpet, wall coverings, furniture, refinished woodwork and mechanical and electrical upgrades. New heating and cooling systems with individual room controls were also installed.

The open house will be at 11 a.m. CT on May 31. There will be brief opening remarks at the lodge by Parks Commissioner J.T. Miller and tours of renovated rooms. The park is hosting the Kentucky Blue Moon Celebration May 31-June 1.

Lake Barkley State Resort Park recently became the third resort park to receive a three-diamond rating from the American Automobile Association. A three-diamond rating from AAA means the establishment appeals “to the traveler with comprehensive needs. Properties are multifaceted with a distinguished style, including marked upgrades in the quality of physical attributes, amenities, and level of comfort provided.”

Besides the lodge, Lake Barkley has cottages, a restaurant, campground, heated indoor pool and fitness center, outdoor pool, 18-hole golf course, marina and boat ramp, and hiking trails. For information about Lake Barkley State Resort Park, call 1-800-325-1708 or visit www.parks.ky.gov

Lake Barkley State Resort Park is near Cadiz, 29 miles west of Hopkinsville. Take US 68W to KY 1489.

The Kentucky Blue Moon Celebration at Lake Barkley State Resort Park honors the occasion of a second full moon during a single month – in this case the month of May. The term blue moon refers to the second full moon in the same month – an event that won’t happen for another 33 months.

On Thursday afternoon and throughout the day on Friday, Lake Barkley guests will have the skies at their fingertips in an inflatable planetarium, provided by the Fisk-Vanderbilt NASA Roadshow. 

By a representation of the night sky projected onto the planetarium dome's interior, visitors can learn about the Sun-Earth-Moon system, the solar-system planets and their motions, the constellations and Greek mythology, the nature of stars and many other celestial phenomena in a fun and informative manner. 

Later Thursday evening, Dr. David James, Roadshow astronomer, and local amateur astronomers will have high-power telescopes available to bring to life the full “blue” moon and many other celestial sights.

On Thursday evening, the Paducah string band “Bawn in the Mash” will provide “blue moon” tunes in a concert at Barkley’s Beach while moonlight boat tours (for ages 13 and above) provide visitors opportunities to view the rising full moon from the waters of Little River. 

Additional lunar leisure activities, astronomical arts and crafts, and planetary pleasures will round out this two-day event.  For more information, email jenny.howard@ky.gov or call 1-800-325-1708.

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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