Pine Mountain State Resort Park
Encyclopedia
Pine Mountain State Resort Park is a park located in Bell County
, Kentucky
, United States
. The park opened in 1924 as Kentucky
's first state park. Each spring, the park hosts the annual Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival, as it has since the festival's inception in 1931.
. During the park's early years, there was little development. Then in 1933 the Civilian Conservation Corps
began constructing the main office building, cabins, roads, bridges, shelters, and hiking trails. In 1960's, the Kentucky State Park System began updating their parks. For Pine Mountain State Park, they constructed a new wing to the lodge that contained 30 more guest rooms, 10 additional cottages, swimming pool, and golf course. Today, the park serves as one of southeastern Kentucky's premier state parks.
Bell County, Kentucky
Bell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed August 1, 1867, from parts of Knox and Harlan Counties and augmented from Knox County in 1872. As of 2010 the population was 69,060. Its county seat is Pineville...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The park opened in 1924 as Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
's first state park. Each spring, the park hosts the annual Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival, as it has since the festival's inception in 1931.
History
When Pine Mountain State Resort Park was established in 1926, it was named Cumberland State Park. But the name was changed in 1938 in order to avoid confusion with the newly formed Cumberland Falls State Resort ParkCumberland Falls State Resort Park
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park is a park located just southwest of Corbin, Kentucky and is contained entirely within the Daniel Boone National Forest. The park encompasses and is named for its major feature, tall Cumberland Falls...
. During the park's early years, there was little development. Then in 1933 the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
began constructing the main office building, cabins, roads, bridges, shelters, and hiking trails. In 1960's, the Kentucky State Park System began updating their parks. For Pine Mountain State Park, they constructed a new wing to the lodge that contained 30 more guest rooms, 10 additional cottages, swimming pool, and golf course. Today, the park serves as one of southeastern Kentucky's premier state parks.
Amenities and Recreation
- Herndon J. Evans Lodge - The lodge has 30 guest rooms with private balconies. The AAAAmerican Automobile AssociationAAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
has awarded the lodge with a three diamond rating. - Mountain View Restaurant - The restaurant gives a stunning view of the mountain scenery. It seats 125 people and has a private dining area that seats 25 people.
- Wasioto Winds Golf Course - This 18 hole golf course was ranked fourth in the nation by "Golf Digest" Magazine as the Best New Affordable Public Golf Courses in January 2003.
- Cottages - The park has nine one room cabins that were developed by the CCCCivilian Conservation CorpsThe Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
in the 1920s. It also has eleven modern two-bedroom cabins. - Chained Rock - During the 1930s, the people of Pineville, KentuckyPineville, KentuckyPineville is a city in Bell County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,093 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Bell County. It is located on a small strip of land between the Cumberland River and Pine Mountain.-History:...
decided to create a new tourist attraction. So in 1933, a group of people hauled a 101-foot-long chain to the top of Pine Mountain and attached it to a massive boulder that loomed above the city. Supposedly the rock was chained to the mountain in order to keep it from rolling down the mountain and destroying the city. - Other attractions - Miniature golf, swimming, hiking, Ray HarmRay HarmRay Harm is an American artist, best known for his paintings of wildlife, primariliy birds. He is also well known for art marketing, generally credited as the co-creator of the limited edition art print market, which supplanted the traditional method where artists sold original works on an...
artworks (displayed throughout the lodge, restaurant, and convention center), interpretive center, playgrounds, picnicking, game room, and gift shop.
Events
- Elk Viewing Tours - (January, September–December)
- Kentucky Writers Workshop - (March)
- Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival - (May)
- Great American Dulcimer Convention - (September)
Gallery
External links
- Pine Mountain State Resort Park at Kentucky Department of Parks
- Pine Mountain State Resort Park at American Byways
- Chained Rock
- Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival