The Gorge Gazette - March 2024

The Official (only!) Newspaper of The Red River Gorge

La Cabaña Mexican Restaurant, in Slade, KY, has been in business since 2016. Over the years, the business has grown, and its reputation well known. The legendary staff still makes for an amazing experience. The restaurant you know, and love is still the same. It is now under new ownership as part of a growing list of businesses owned by Ian Teal.

Although the menu is large and includes a variety of tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, and even American food, the most sold item on the menu is the Hillbilly Quesadilla.

The “Hillbilly” includes your classic quesadilla contents but huge and smothered in queso. While the size of the dish often surprises people, the flavor is even bigger. Ribeye and huge burgers are offered as well.

In addition to the extensive dining menu, the restaurant holds a four-page bar menu. The bar hosts an impressive bourbon selection including rare bourbons such as George T Stagg, Pappy Van Winkle, Colonel E.H. Taylor, and more recently--the option of purchasing flights. The famous “Becky’s” margaritas includes extra tequila!

Have You Ever… Have Ever…

Welcome to the Red River Gorge; we’re so glad you came and are as certain as can be that you’re also gonna be glad you did. And will want to return. Soon.

Now then, when was the last time you did something for the first time?

Never experienced the adrenalin pumpin’ rush of a real Zipline? Here’s your chance to Zip across gorgeous valleys at over 300 feet in the air about fifty miles per hour!

At RedRiverGorgeZipline(.com) You’ll view vistas only you and eagles can enjoy. Or you can take a more sedate, yet exciting water bourn adventure kayaking over crystal clear water deep in the Gorge Underground(.com).

SoutheastMountainGuides(.com) on KY route 11 near the Cliffview Resort features a tethered climbing system. After a thorough orientation you can ascend high as 120 feet almost a 1/2 mile around a horseshoe shaped canyon. The whole family, ten years old and up, can experience safe but very exciting rock climbing.

There’s horseback riding, hundreds of miles of trails, miniature golf, off road mud slingin at RedRiverGorgeOffRoading.(com)

A wide range of accommodations: tent camping to luxury yurts, inns and cabins. Sceniccabinrentals(.com) are so comfortable and ‘homey” you’ll not want to leave. Entire families can enjoy a day of kayak, or paddle board fun at Mill Creek Lake (606-663-2214). Fishing for bass, crappie and sunfish is great also.

In addition to these, The Gorge offers a wide array of exciting venues. Check ‘em out on the To Do page three.

Gorge Gorge Gorge--ousity? ousity? ousity? ousity?

(We made that word up just for this but feel free to use it.)

We’ve been writing about this beautiful, wondrous and unique Red River Gorge Geographic Area for more than a dozen years. Over the years we have tried to share, in written words, the incredible raw beauty Nature has bestowed on this truly one of a kind spectacular place. It seems we are running out of adjectives to really describe the Gorge; to evoke in you, our readers and guests, some of the joy and appreciation we feel. Why? Because we know the Red River Gorge is uniquely outdoorable! After quite a bit of brainstorming, and tossing out ideas, we finally realized the best adjectives would be among the “Ex” words.

Okay, let us explain.

We feel the best single word to describe the Gorge is Extravagant. One definition of extravagant that suits the Gorge perfectly is fantastic!

Yet another, Exceed, is to surpass, be superior; excel.

Hmm, there’s a pattern developing here that feels like we are in the right area of the old Oxford. The E’s. There’s Excellence, a perfect way to describe the Gorge. We also found a verb that fits the Gorge experience to a tee - Exhilarate - meaning to enliven, invigorate stimulate and make cheerful. That’s exactly the embodiment of what we call The Gorge Effect!

The Red River Gorge is definitely an Extravaganza – a lavish and opulent show. We encourage you to Extravagate – wander beyond bounds; roam at will.

We have gone on long enough and you get the picture, now go out there and get some actual pictures of our beautiful, one of a kind Example of Nature’s finest work.

You are gonna love it here!

Vol. 4 No. 1 Adventure ~ Relaxation ~ Accommodations ~ Awe Inspiring Natural Beauty ~ Friendly People March 2024

Jenny Ison Editor

Jerry Ison

Miranda Fallen

Nancy Hamann

Sally Cox 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.

Gorge Gazette is published monthly except January and February

River

HELPFUL WEBSITES & PHONE NUMBERS

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

G GGHENGISK KKHAN HAN N NN NEVER EVERH HH HAD ADI II IT T T TS SS SO O O OG GG GOOD! OOD! LUXURY UXURY UXURY UXURYY YYURTS! URTS! Reserve one and you too can... L LLIVE IVELI LILIKE KEAN ANE EE EMPEROR MPEROR MPEROR MPEROR! ! ! ! (AtLeastforacoupleofdays!) redrivergorgecabinrentals.com Lunch & Adult Beverages Nutritious Smoothies Homemade Bakery Goods Just off Slade Exit 33 South 769 Natural Bridge Rd. KY Hwy 11 606-663-2549 Let Us Build the Log Home of Your Dreams! We Have Cabins & Lots For Sale. We Offer Project Management From the Ground Up Call: Jim 606.362.2615 Brendan 513.628.1295 redrivergorgevacations.com Publisher

The official Red River Gorge Newsletter

Contributors

The

for entertainment

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!

of Red

Gorge Guests, Owners, Visitors, Staff, Tourists

T TT Things To Do, Places To Visit, hings To Do, Places To Visit, hings Do, Places hings Do, Places

Where To Eat In The Red River Gorge Where The 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.

N NN Notes From the Gorge Area otes From the Area

Hola! La, La - La Cabana!

Gorge developer and all around good guy (Hey five bucks is five bucks!) Ian Teal recently purchased the La Cabana Mexican Restaurant.

Since the Food was already great, the Service was already great, the Location and Prices were already great, he left those as they were.

Why try to improve on greatness!

One change he did make was to convince former Powell County Director of Tourism, Miranda Fallon, to manage the restaurant.

We know that if you’ve visited the Gorge Area in the past and enjoyed a meal at La Cabana, you’ll not need any coaxing to enjoy another. Maybe another and... However, if you haven’t had the pleasure or opportunity, you owe it to yourself and family to make a point of eating there at least once while visiting our Gorge Area. Do that and we’re betting you’ll opt for another La Cabana meal or at least another (whole) enchilada!

March Events at Natural Bridge State Park

March 22- Revolutionary War reenactor presentation at 4:00 in the Hemlock Lodge Lobby. Jim Jackson will be portraying LT. Daniel Morgan Wilcoxson. This event is free to all guests!

March 23- Breakfast with the Easter Bunny! Breakfast 8-10 am, crafts in the trillium room until 10:30am. Adults $12.95, Children $7.95, 5 and under free, all crafts and activities are free! Enjoy a buffet breakfast where after you can visit the Easter Bunny who is hopping by on a special trip to Natural Bridge!

Happy 100th!!

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Kentucky State Parks!

A Wee Bit O’ Erin Food A Wee Bit O’ Erin Food-- Irish Stew Irish Stew

This is the best known Irish dish. Originally, the meat was from male kid goats; mutton and eventually lamb has since replaced those. The delicate flavor of the lamb must be preserved throughout the preparation or it’s just another stew. This time every year, food writers all over the world renew the argument as to what are the ingredients in true Irish Stew A purist would have to use kid rather than lamb. There are recipes which call for barley and carrots but the barley will overpower the lamb. Fresh sweet carrots can enhance the natural sweetness of the lamb so if inclined, add carrots. This recipe is one obtained by many people, housewives and professional chefs after decades of researching, creating, tasting and eating gallons of dishes wistfully labeled Irish Stew, prepared by hundreds of "experts".

I feel that after all these years, we have found the one most authentic recipe for this oh so Gaelic dish. So, without further ado, here it is.

2 Pounds best end of lamb neck

8 Medium Irish potatoes

3 Large Spanish onions

2 Table spoon s chopped fresh parsley

1 Tbale spoons chopped fresh thyme (1tspn dried thyme works too, but, well it's just not the same.) salt and pepper

2 or more cups water.

(Limestone spring water adds a refreshing hint of country. I would never use city water for any cooking beyond prepping pasta!)

Preparation:

Trim all fat from the meat. Leave bone in. Using a cleaver or heavy knife, cut the meat into 2 inch chunks.

Clean and slice potatoes, leaving skins on. Using a large stew pot, begin by placing a layer of potato slices, followed by a layer of onion slices, then meat. Mix parsley, thyme and salt and pepper (to taste) and sprinkle mixture between layers. Continue until all is layered into the pot ending with a layer of potatoes on top.

Add enough water to cover top layer. Cover and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for at least two hours or until meat is very tender. Check frequently and add water, stirring as needed. Remember not get this stew too thin by adding too much water.

Irish stew is thick and rich. Too much broth, like too many chefs, can spoil the stew.

KENTUCKY STATE PARKS “the nation’s finest” “the nation’s finest” “the nation’s “the nation’s

一万歩歩歩歩 ( Ichi man-po)

10,000 Steps 10,000 Steps 10,000 10,000

As a new resident of the Red River Gorge, I was excited to explore all its beauty and surroundings. Although, my 62 yr. old body did have its limitations. I discovered the steep inclines and breathtaking (literally!) rocky cliffs provided quite a cardiovascular and muscular workout.

My husband and I made fast friends with our warm and welcoming Kentucky neighbors. A local sports enthusiast led me on a hike in the luscious Daniel Boone National Forest and I quickly realized that I was out of my league in terms of stamina and endurance. My fitness chaperone frequently scanned his Fitbit or some new fangled NASA rated gizmo to check how many steps he had taken. I would catch my breath during those precious stops!

My agenda was clearly different than his. He was focused on the exercise benefits and I was trying to observe the wonders of nature. While he was intent on achieving the highly touted daily 10,000 steps, I was listening to the different bird sounds and examining animal tracks.

So, what's with this 10,000 steps fitness craze? Is it based on real science or did it become a fad because of a few sinewy workout influencers on social media? Well, this is what I found out doing some online probing. I encourage you to do your own research too. In 1964, a Japanese company, Yamasa Clock, invented a pedometer called "Manpo-Kei" which means ‘10,000 steps meter’. It was not sound science that the 10,000 number was decided upon. It was chosen simply because the Japanese character for 10,000 looks similar to a person walking or running - 万 .

So, voila! This default step goal became a marketing strategy for all types of fitness trackers.

In 2020, a Harvard epidemiologist conducted a work place study and discovered that older women who achieved just 4,400 steps a day still showed measured health benefits. In fact, the study revealed that the benefits peaked out at 7,500. Yet, the Journal of the American Medical Association research findings in 2022 reported that every 2000 steps taken lowers one's risk for premature death by 8-11%.

Scientist Tim Olds from the University of South Australia stated that for most people, the more exercise the better. But surprisingly, the first 5000 steps are more beneficial than the latter 5000 steps.

Amanda Paluch from University of Massachusetts led a longitudinal study of a large diverse sample and found that the more steps you do, the greater the benefit especially in terms of cardiovascular health. One principle all scientists agreed upon was the intensity and speed of any physical activity also affects the amount and quality of health benefits. From my own experience and amateur opinion, 4000 mountain steps equals 10,000 urban steps!

Nike's slogan harped, "Just Do It!"

I prefer "You Do You!"

Sally Hiking the trail at Broke Leg Falls “Thebestviewcomesafterthehardestclimb”