The Official (only!)
Newspaper of The Red River Gorge
In the 1760s, John Swift claimed to have discovered rich silver mines hidden deep within the Red River Gorge. According to legend, he smelted silver, left behind carvings and journals, and concealed the mine’s location before it was lost forever and to this day, the mystery remains unsolved.
Stay at John Swift Campground, explore the Gorge, and experience it for yourself with a relaxing, beginner friendly paddle through calm waters and lush forest starting at our riverside campground, or take on the 8 mile float past towering cliffs and rock formations and who knows you might find the answers!
All in all, this is one very seriously Gorgeous place where you and your family can spend an idyllic summer weekend.
Gorgeous Pretty Much Says It All
No one can ever doubt the unique beauty, landscapes and allure of the Red River Gorge because it’s not only so very outdoorable, it’s absolutely Gorgeous! And, just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, look around, it’s now aMAYzing!
Yeah I know what they say about puns but I’ve just about run out of adjectives to describe this most wonderful of places.
Maybe I need to get a much larger thesaurus.
Back to the astonishing May effect.
This is when the wildlife is at it’s wildest. All the boys are looking for girls to impress, homes have been constructed, eggs laid, babies born and the never ending cycle keeps on turning.
The great thing is, unlike the past few months when everything was on pause, activity slowed down maybe even stopped, the pace has shifted into overdrive. It’s a wonderful thing to behold and there’s no better place to witness that than right here, smack dab in the middle of it all. Right here in the Gorge.
Nature has been overly generous here. There are hundreds of streams, thousands of hills, mountains and cliffs and millions of living things. The trees are beginning to turn from that fresh, Spring’s yellowish-green to the deep verdure of summer growth.
The wildflowers - so aptly named - are popping up in huge, riotous swaths of color and sizes. It’s enough to be totally boggled. And being so boggled is a great way to appreciate all the splendor, all that glorious, kaleidoscopic extravaganza those plants put on.
And, just like Dolly said, they don’t care where they grow so you’re going to be able to enjoy them anywhere you wander.
Speaking of wandering, There’s an abundance, a veritable plethora (I’ve been waiting for the right time to use that word!) of places to wander. Here you are within only a few minutes to miles of trails of every description and level. There are so many uniquely interesting places to visit. So many in fact you can return to the Gorge again and again and still find new surprises, new adventures and beautiful landscapes in every direction.
The Gorge, where fun, excitement, adventure and serenity combine to make for the summer vacation like no other.
The official Red River Gorge Newsletter
Publisher
Jenny Ison
Editor
Jerry Ison
Contributors
Sally Cox
Jerry Ison
Nancy Hamann
Graphics
Ingrid Miller
Red River Gorge Earth Shop
We gratefully acknowledge the information and assistance by the State of Kentucky Parks Department and the staff of the Natural Bridge State Park. The Gorge Gazette is published monthly except January and February for entertainment of Red River Gorge Guests, Owners, Visitors, Staff, Tourists and Friends.
All contents including ads are copyrighted by Jerry Ison/Jay Eye Communications Talbott, TN 37877 Distributed free of charge courtesy of our advertisers!
State, County & City Facilities
Natural Bridge State Resort Park General Information 606.663-2214 or 1-800-325-1710 (reservations) 2135 Natural Bridge Rd. Slade, KY 40376 Trail map & descriptions, park laws and regulations, lodging, camping, group meeting facilities, group programs "Natural Bridge State Resort Park is hiking, arches, exploring, scenery, reflection, and making memories." www.parks.ky.gov/findparks/resortparks/nb
Kentucky State Nature Preserve Commission www.naturepreserves.ky.gov
Red River Gorge National Geological Area 606) 663-8100
www.fs.fed.us/r8/boone/districts/cumberland/redriver_gorge.shtml Gladie Cultural-Environmental Learning Center 606.663-8100 www.fs.fed.us/r8/boone/districts/cumberland/gladie.shtml
Red River Gorge Trail Crew (Volunteers) www.RRGTC.com Leave No Trace – Outdoor Ethics www.lnt.org
Kentucky State Parks - Create your own Experience. www.parks.ky.gov Become a KYSP fan at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kentucky-State-Parks/152588316577
Lee County Tourism Commision Dedra Brandenburg Director 606.464.5038 www.visitleecountyky.com
Private Facilities
Cliffview Resort & Cliffview Retreat 606.668.6222
www.cliffviewresort.com 455 Cliff View Road, Campton, KY 41031
The Lodge, The Retreat and Lakeside Lodges are available for groups, weddings and retreats. Also available is the 8,000 sq foot Reception Hall
Red River Gorge Zip Lines 855.ZIP.TOUR 855.947.8687
606.668.6222 www.redrivergorgezipline.com
Scenic Cabin Rentals 606.663.0000 www.sceniccabin.com
Black Bear Lodge Motel 606.663.0061
Red River Gorge Cabin Rentals 844.692.2246 www.redrivergorgecabinrentals.com The Gorge Underground 844.254.6244 Thrillsville.org The Red River Inn On Parkway, Campton
The Gorge Gazette Jenny or Jerry Ison 865.674.6740 Email stories, ideas, suggestions, news to: jerrywrison@gmail.com
Things To Do, Places To Visit, Where To Eat In The Red River Gorge
• Red River Gorge Earth Shop Local Art gallery & Gift Shop 606.668.5228 Nat Bridge Rd. Slade
• Red River Climbing Guides where “Your Adventure Awaits!” Catering to all ages and experience levels. Visit: RedRiverClimbingGuides.com or call 629.207.0697
• HillTop Pizza: Pizza, Salads, Subs, Spaghetti, Lasagna. Delivery to Cliffview available. 606.464.9990 2034 Hwy 11N Beattyville.
• Daniel Boone Coffee Shoppe & Deli: Gourmet Coffees, Deli Foods, Camping Supplies 606-663-2549 Natural Bridge Road (KY Rt. 11) near Slade Exit 33
• Gorge Underground: A Unique Waterborne Family Adventure On The Water, Underground! Kayak and Pontoon Boat Tours 844-254-6244 Thegorgeunderground.com
• Natural Bridge State Park, Lodge & Sky Lift: Camping, Hiking, Rooms, Fine Dining parks.ky.gov/resortparks/nb/index.htm
• Mill Creek Lake: Kayak & SUP Rentals 859.300.1330
• Red River General Store: Hand Dipped Ice Cream, Hoodies, Gifts, Camping Supplies, T-Shirts Fudge, Local Artisan Crafts 1321 Natural Bridge Road (KY Rt. 11) Slade, KY 606.663.885
• Daniel Boone Liquor: 606-663-2549; Natural Bridge Rd (KY Rt 11)
• Red River Gorge Hiking, Rock Climbing: fs.fed.us/r8/boone/
• Red River Adventure: Kayaking and Canoeing redriveradventure.net 606-663-1012
• Via Ferrata Rock Climbing Park: Great for beginners 606-668-6441 torrentfalls.com
• Mr. Ed’s Hot Dogs Great Hot Dogs smothered with Famous Chili Sauce 209 N. Main Stanton, KY 606.569.8170 Check us on Facebook
• The Well Beattyville’s only liquor store selling Liquor, Beer & Wine Come down and sip a glass sitting on the patio watching the Kentucky River flow. On rte 52 Beattyville 606.208.8017 tony@theboneyardwell.com
• Beech Fork Golf Club: In Clay City - 606-663-9479
• Sag Hollow Golf Course: In Booneville 606-593-4653
• Beattyville Public Golf Course: Off Rt. 52 in Beattyville, KY 606.356.4199
If a Holiday Party, any Party, Family Reunion, Corporate Meeting, Church Retreat or Wedding is on your to-do list, go ahead and check it off. We have the perfect solution to party planning from catering to lodging to activities. The Lodge at Cliffview will sleep 64. The 7000 square foot Reception/Activity Center seats up to 250 and has a fully equipped commercial grade kitchen. Our newest Lodges, the Retreat and Lakeside will each sleep up to 50. Both have double appliances kitchens and technically compatible theater style media rooms Call: 606.668.6222 for details.
A New Kind of Retreat Takes Shape
Near Red River Gorge
By Nina Noe
In the hills of Lee County, where gravel roads wind through dense forest and the air carries the quiet hum of nature, a new vision for outdoor living is beginning to take shape.
Just minutes from Slade and the Red River Gorge, a stretch of land near Lake Zachariah is being thoughtfully transformed into what will become Lazenby Preserve - a community designed not to replace the landscape, but to live alongside it.
The Red River Gorge has long drawn climbers, hikers, and weekend adventurers from across the country. In recent years, that steady stream of visitors has grown into something more - a surge of interest in staying longer, returning often, and even putting down roots. But with that growth has come a challenge: how to create space for people without losing the wild character that brought them here in the first place.
Lazenby Preserve is one effort to answer that questionoffering a setting built around outdoor recreation while keeping the surrounding environment at the center of the experience.
Rather than carving the land into dense development, the plan centers on preservation. Roughly 1,800 acres will remain protected for shared use - trails, wildlife, and open space - ensuring that the surrounding terrain remains as much a part of daily life as the homes themselves.
The homes envisioned here are modest by design. Cabins, some no larger than 500 square feet, are intended to reflect the simplicity of a weekend retreat rather than the scale of a traditional subdivision.
At the same time, the broader vision includes a range of options - spaces that welcome more accessible, smallscale getaways alongside future areas designed for larger builds and more elevated views.
There is also a recognition of how people use the Gorge today. Some will come for a few days at a time. Others will invest in cabins that double as short-term rentals, offering visitors a way to experience the area more deeply than a day trip allows.
Looking ahead, later phases of the development are expected to introduce gated sections with larger lots and more private settings. These areas will be geared toward those seeking a quieter, more secluded retreat, with homes that take advantage of the region’s natural elevation and views - offering a different experience while remaining part of the same landscape.
Even within the development, there is an effort to maintain a sense of separation and purpose. Areas for camping - RV and tent sites - are planned to remain distinct from cabin neighborhoods, helping preserve the quieter character of residential areas while still accommodating the broader outdoor community. Details around access and use are still being considered as the project evolves. What’s unfolding at Lazenby Preserve reflects a broader shift happening across the Gorge. As interest in outdoor living continues to rise, so does the need to balance access with stewardship. Projects like this suggest that growth doesn’t have to come at the expense of the landscape— but it does require intention.
For now, the land remains what it has always been: wooded, quiet, and full of possibility. But in the months ahead, as the first lots become available and the first cabins begin to take shape, Lazenby Preserve will start to tell its own story - one that blends new beginnings with the enduring pull of the Red River Gorge.
info@thelazenbypreserve.com
Jen & Jay’s View From The Mountains
Greetings and welcome to our newest addition to The Gorge Gazette.
Now you’re probably asking yourself, “Why in the world, in this digital everything age would anyone publish a print newspaper?
Okay, good question and we have a very good answer. There are lots of folks who still appreciate getting a hard copy with everything right there on the one page telling where, when, how and why you will want to visit say, the Red River Gorge Zipline. Or the Daniel Boone Deli. Maybe just sittin’ on the patio enjoying a libation watching the river flow down at the Well in Beattyville. Besides, you can’t line a parakeet’s cage with a web page!
So here it is and you can be assured that it will be the best we can do and will be enjoyable by everyone from all ages and backgrounds. Oh yeah and to make it even more appealing it’s free! Yep, no cost, zilch, gratis and etc. Share it with a neighbor and friends. Then let us know what you all think about it. Then think about sending us something you think should be mentioned in here. We welcome feedback about content, what features, stories and items you like and those you may not care for. (Hard to believe but like they say, anything’s possible) We love contributions, suggestions, pictures and story ideas.
If you know of an interesting character, locations, things to do, festivals, family adventures, anything going on here in our great Appalachian Mountains, we’d love to hear about that.
If you had an extra special one of a kind adventure here in the gorge, that would definitely be a story we’d love to hear. Tell you what, we’ll pick the best item we get and if you send your USPS address, we’ll send you a Mountain Musings T-shirt. Any who contribute a negative item gets a signed picture of Jerry!! That’ll learn ya!
Thank you,
Jenny & Jerry “Jaybird” Ison
(See p 2 for email)
P.S. For you folks who may be from away from here, the correct pronunciation of here is App-uh-lach-uh. Get it wrong and we just might throw an... Apple-at-cha!
All Things Appalachian
Ready For A Family Summer Adventure?
As the song goes, “Pack up the babies and grab the old ladies and everybody goes!”
It’s finally here - Summer Vacation Time! Make this summer vacation a summer adventure. Try out a fun family time outdoors doing something you haven’t done before.
You’re in the Appalachians, The Red River Gorge Area to be exact so that means you’re right smack dab in the middle of the most beautiful and resource filled area in the good ole USA! There is an adventure tailored to every member of the family. From Just hanging out in a hammock watching the wind blowing through the trees on a cliffside, to a mud slinggin’ off road adrenaline pumpin’ journey through some of the most exciting areas anywhere.
There’s easy to strenuous hiking, rock climbing, zipline tours and kayaking, canoeing, camping, horseback riding. Dozens of summer events and festivals where you can enjoy the food, people and culture of these mountains.
You can spend a day, a weekend or two weeks and find something different to do every day. So, get out there in amongst ’em and enjoy the best summer vacation you’ll ever experience.
Mi Finca- 318 Main St, Campton, ~ Kel's Patriot Pizza- 133 KY-15, Campton
Dixie Freeze II-194 Main St, Campton ~ Shebrews Coffee Shop-569 KY-15, Campton 145 Roadhouse- 148 Main St, Campton ~ Sky Bridge Station- 8 KY-715, Pine Ridge Hop's- 2613 KY-11, Campton ~ The Wicked Wolfe- 301 Mtn Pkway Spur, Campton Subway- 30 KY-15, Campton ~ Sweet Art by Stephanie- 110 Main St, Campton Dairy Queen- 690 KY-15, Campton ~ Red River Rockhouse- 4000 KY-11, Campton Bites & Bargains- 658 KY-205N, Campton ~ Spanks Franks- 1008 KY-191, Campton The Brick- 5412 KY-15 N, Pine Ridge ~ RedPoint Barbeque- 356 Smith Rd, Campton
