Kingdom Come State Park
| Kingdom Come State Park | |
|---|---|
| Type | Kentucky state park |
| Location | Harlan County, Kentucky |
| Coordinates | 36°59′48″N 82°58′44″W / 36.99667°N 82.97889°W |
| Area | 1,027 acres (4.16 km2) |
| Created | June 11, 1961 |
| Operated by | Kentucky Department of Parks |
| Status | Open year-round |
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This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2008) |
Kingdom Come State Park is in Kentucky's state park system. It is located in Harlan County near the city of Cumberland and is situated atop Pine Mountain, and boasts both Raven Rock and Log Rock.
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Attractions [edit]
Natural Formations [edit]
Raven Rock is a naturally bare, large rock face composed mostly of limestone, leaning at a 45 degree angle over 290 feet in the air. Nearby is the Cave Amphitheater. In the back of the Cave Amphitheater are deep crevices that house thousands of bats. Also within the park is a natural sandstone bridge called "Log Rock", which greatly resembles a petrified tree which has fallen over. Unfortunately, the Log Rock has been severely vandalized over the years, and the underside is now covered with people's names that they have spray-painted or scratched onto the stone. There are also numerous overlooks to the valleys below. The most popular of these is the Creech Overlook, which provides a stunning view that is said to encompass several states.
Wildlife [edit]
Black bears inhabit Kingdom Come State Park and adjoining lands in the Cumberland, Kentucky area. Black bears naturally recolonized extreme eastern Kentucky counties (Harlan, Letcher, Bell, and Pike) over the last 3 decades from the neighboring states of Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee.[1] The species was not reintroduced to Kingdom Come State Park or any portion of Kentucky east of Interstate 75. In accordance to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, it is illegal to knowingly or unknowingly feed black bears.
Numerous other wildlife species call Kingdom Come State Park home as well, including the state-threatened common raven, fox, multiple species of hawks, cottontail rabbit, multiple bat species, coyote, multiple species of amphibians, and an array of insect life.
Other Attractions [edit]
A 9-hole miniature golf course, lake with paddle boats, picnic shelters, and primitive campsites are available at the park. Alongside many of the campsites are playgrounds for children and many rock faces that teenagers and climbing enthusiasts enjoy. In addition, Little Shepherd Trail is a primitive road that winds its way across the ridgetop of Pine Mountain to the city of Harlan. The Little Shepherd Trail is named for the novel The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come by John Fox, Jr.
Looking Ahead [edit]
Plans are underway to make it a resort park, with the addition of the Benham Schoolhouse Inn and the Portal 31 mine, both located in Benham.
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Coordinates: 36°59′48″N 82°58′44″W / 36.99667°N 82.97889°W
References [edit]
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