Natural Bridge State Resort Park near Slade in the Red River Gorge area will celebrate its 85th anniversary as a Kentucky state park on Saturday, November 5, 2011.
Historic pictures and memorabilia will be on display at Hemlock Lodge from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. In an effort to build the park’s historic collections, guests to the park are invited to bring their own historic photos or memorabilia related to Natural Bridge. The park will have staff on site to scan images and return originals.
Between 4:00 p.m. and 5:40 p.m., the Brushfire Bluegrass Band will perform in the Hemlock Lodge lobby.
Following the music, guests are invited to partake in a special buffet in the Sandstone Arches Restaurant. Buffet items will include Hot Brown casserole, chicken and dumplings, grilled pork chops, fried catfish, carved beef roast, assorted ‘Southern’ vegetables such as stewed tomatoes, a fresh salad bar, and a dessert bar. The buffet will be served from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
One of the items on the dessert bar will be an Ale-8-One cake. Since this is also Ale-8-One soft drink’s 85th anniversary year, free Ale-8-One bottled soft drinks will be served to diners by an actor portraying G.L. Wainscott, founder and inventor of Ale-8-One.
At 7:30 p.m. special guest Wilson Frances will take visitors back in time with a presentation of the early history of Natural Bridge State Resort Park and the surrounding area. For 25 years Frances served as the park naturalist and park manager at Natural Bridge.
For more information call (800) 325-1710.
Natural Bridge is nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the Red River Gorge area of the Daniel Boone National Forest. Facilities at the park include the Hemlock Lodge with 35 rooms all with private balconies, cottages, the Sandstone Arches Restaurant, gift shop, ski lift, and over 18 miles of hiking trails. The sandstone arch that is called Natural Bridge has stood for millenniums. The arch is 78 feet in length, 65 feet high, 12 feet thick, and 20 feet wide. Some geologists believe the arch is at least a million years old.
Just a little over 100 miles from Metro Louisville, Natural Bridge is located east central Kentucky near Slade. From Louisville take I-64 east past Lexington picking up the Mountain Parkway near Winchester and then east to KY-11. For more detailed driving directions, go to www.maps.google.com.
Natural Bridge State Resort Park
2135 Natural Bridge Road
Slade, KY 40376-9701
Telephone: (606) 663-2214 or (800) 325-1710
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