Wilderness Road Heritage Highway
ein Tag / 96 Meilen / 3 Stunden 12 Minuten
The Wilderness Road Heritage Highway is an important historic route and was crucial in the West's settlement and during the Civil War. Today places like Cumberland Gap National Historic Park preserve that history. The route also leads to Renfro Valley, the famous country music venue, as well as Berea, Kentucky's crafts capitol.
Tag 1
9:00 - 13.4 Meilen / 26 Minuten - 9:26
Pineville is just outside of Pine Mountain State Resort Park where visitors can enjoy the refreshing Kentucky outdoors through a variety of recreational activities. There are a number of places to enjoy the outdoors outside of the park as well, and you can go hunting or fishing in the Pineville area. The Pine Mountain State Forest surrounds Pine Mountain State Resort Park. Although the 11,000 acres of the state forest have limited access, there are many overlook areas.
10:26 - 0.4 Meilen / - 10:27
Pine Mountain State Resort Park
Pine Mountain State Resort Park is beautifully set among the mountain scenery of southern Kentucky. The Pine Mountain State Resort Park was created in 1924, making it the first Kentucky State Park. An array of opportunities are available to visitors within the park, including hiking, swimming, picnicking, golfing, camping, and simply enjoying nature. The park is also the site of Laurel Cove, which is a natural forest cove transformed into an amphitheater. Laurel Cove hosts the Mountain Laurel Festival, featuring concerts, dances, and fireworks, is held the last weekend in May. In addition to these many attractions, 180 prints by wildlife artist Ray Harm are featured in the Evans lodge.
12:27 - 14.6 Meilen / 29 Minuten - 12:56
Dr. Thomas Walker State Historical Site
Dr. Walker, a physician and surveyor from Virginia, was the first to lead an expedition through the Cumberland Gap. Most people recall Daniel Boone when thinking about explorers, however, in 1750 Walker passed through the gap and went on to explore Kentucky. Dr. Thomas Walker State Historical Site celebrates this pioneer and explorer and a replica of the cabin he built stands on the 12-acre site. The house and the surrounding area may be toured year round, and there are a variety of facilities to enjoy while there.
13:11 - 21.3 Meilen / 42 Minuten - 13:54
Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park
Over 800-acres comprising the Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park commemorate the life of Levi Jackson, the first judge in Laurel County. The park includes the Wilderness Road and Boone's Trace, which were both heavily used trails for pioneers entering Kentucky through the Cumberland Gap. Today, the site is home to the Defeated Camp Pioneer Burial Ground, McHargue's Mill, and the Mountain Life Museum. The museum is a pioneer settlement that consists of buildings which represent the pioneer time period of Kentucky history. These buildings were either moved to the site or are replicas of building that are consistent with that time period, and they house pioneer artifacts such as tools, products of agriculture, and household implements. Visitors to the Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park can also follow in the footsteps of the pioneers by accessing the 8 1/2 miles of hiking trails, some portions of which follow the original Wilderness Road and Boone's Trace trails. There are a variety of additional recreational opportunities such as camping, swimming, picnicking, basketball, volleyball, or miniature golf. There is also an amphitheater which seats 1,500 and is home to many community events.
15:54 - 14.7 Meilen / 29 Minuten - 16:23
Camp Wildcat was the first area in Kentucky to see action during the American Civil War. On October 21, 1861 Union troops faced Confederate troops that had moved in to Kentucky through the Cumberland Gap. Brigadier General Albin Scheopf of the Union army brought reinforcements to Colonel Garrard who was preparing Camp Wildcat as the Confederate troops under General Zollicoffer moved north from London toward Camp Wildcat. Although the battle was not costly in terms of battle casualties, diseases such as measles and fever which followed the battle took more lives. Today, the site is remote and various groups are trying to maintain it. There is a walking trail with monuments at the head of the trail which will lead you to the outlines of the trenches that remain from the Battle of Wildcat Mountain in 1861.
17:23 - 17.8 Meilen / 35 Minuten - 17:59
Renfro Valley Entertainment Center
The Renfro Valley is dedicated to the preservation of country and mountain music. Located within the city limits of Mt. Vernon, the Renfro Valley Entertainment Center was established in 1939 by John Lair. The center is comprised of two show barns, the original barn (the Old Barn), and a new theater. Country music, gospel music, and comedy shows play throughout the year. The slogan for Renfro Valley is "The Valley where time stands still." So, come, kick back and enjoy some classic, wholesome family entertainment.
19:59 - 13.9 Meilen / 27 Minuten - 9:27