Big bear birthday! birthday!

LBig Bear Resort on Kentucky Lake, a pioneer in defining lake life in western Kentucky, turns 75 this year. We take a look back at the history of the resort and why it is as popular today as it was in 1948.

by J.T. Crawford

IFE ALONG THE SHORES OF KENTUCKY LAKE HASN’T CHANGED TOO MUCH SINCE its creation in 1944. Sure, the boats going up and down have gotten bigger. And the latest camping trailers are like small houses, decked out with amenities that early visitors couldn’t have imagined. However, the spirit of what it means to get away to the lake remains the same.

Year after year, the familiar laughter of children swirls about in the summer sun as they learn lessons that will serve them for a lifetime. They ride bicycles, explore nature, skip stones across the water, and go fishing and swimming—enjoying the simplest of moments that have engaged kids for generations.

Families enjoy meals together and gather around glowing campfires after dusk, toasting marshmallows, chatting and laughing into the night. In these moments, they form unbreakable bonds of unity.

Big Bear Resort on Kentucky Lake has provided a canvas upon which thousands of visitors paint many of life’s beautiful memories. This year, Big Bear marks its 75th birthday, and they are celebrating their role as a pioneer in transforming western Kentucky into a lake recreation area. All it takes is a few conversations with anyone staying at Big Bear to realize that stories abound. Many have been coming for decades, and they pass down their love for the lakes to new generations.

Ruth Starr, 95, has visited Kentucky Lake from central Illinois since 1966. She is a perfect example of what getting away to Big Bear means. For a week each July, Ruth and her crew of nearly 70 people from all over the country carve out a piece of paradise along the lake, staying in tents, RVs, or some of Big Bear’s condos. “It just started with three couples and kids,” says Norma. “We’d come home and talk about it so much that others would say, ‘When are you going to go next year? We want to go with you.’ Big Bear has been a wonderful place to slow down and get away.”

The annual gathering has produced plenty of traditions. Dinner every night is cooked by a different person for the entire group, creating anticipation over favorite meals that only come once a year. The kids look forward