Lake Cumberland State Park Resort, Jamestown Kentucky - October 21-23, 2022

**Also, as of 10/24/2022, COMMENTS ARE OPEN AGAIN (with moderator on ;)  

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Just a quick heads up before beginning this current post - I finally posted the Cumberland Falls pictures from August just before this post.  I decided this was still the easiest way to share all photos with everyone at once - I can never pick just a few pics to send via email or text and don't want to bombard anyone! :)

Also, the first thing you need to know about both places is that despite the similar names, Cumberland Falls and Lake Cumberland are not at all related, other than both being fed by the Cumberland River, which begins in Harlan, fed by three mountain tributaries, then travels across Southern Kentucky from East to West, dips down into Tennessee to Nashville, and then climbs its back up into Kentucky again, before it finally empties into the Ohio River at the Kentucky border. 

In fact, the two areas are actually 76 miles (or an hour-and-a-half drive) apart ;)

Mark and I have decided, this past year, to try to visit them all before he retires and we move out of state.  He says nothing here compares to his beloved Michigan, with the exception of two things - Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill and Kentucky State Park Lodges (which are usually made of wood and stone, ranging from 1930s old-school-style lodges to to mid-century modern) :)

Thus far, we have stayed at Rough River State Park Resort (which I have pics of, but never posted about), Barren River State Park Resort, Jenny Wiley State Park Resort, and Cumberland Falls State Park Resort, though that trip was cut short. (See links to posts for pics).

Now, on with the latest stay on our Kentucky State Park tour, Lake Cumberland State Park Resort :)

Now, be forewarned - there are no frills, here, this isn't luxury - no fridge, no microwave - BUT - what you DO get are very clean rooms that smell of wood, you enter your lodge room from outdoors (a good thing during COVID), they accept pets for only $30 for your entire visit, they have the friendliest, most personable staff -  and most importantly - the lodges are intentionally built to provide the best views you can find within any Kentucky State Park (which is why we choose them! :)

As for the cons, no frills, as mentioned, short-staffed during COVID (but they tell you in advance if things may be a minute because of that, but you don't mind, because they're lovely people to chat with), and the food is hit or miss, especially after COVID and the floods, when they're funding became sparse (and they began doing buffets at some parks, especially breakfast which is so-so)  

IMO, Jenny Riley State Park has the best food thus far ;) 

The only other drawback appears to be very thin walls between rooms.  

I couldn't hear the loud music from the nearby marina unless outside at night, but room-to-room, you could hear everything.  

And for some reason, on Saturday night, some Jethro next door decided to apparently talk on the phone to all of his kin, in one night, until about 3 a.m., in his loud, markedly redneck voice - I could literally hear every word he was saying!

"Well, I'll be g*d-DAMNED if I ever go back up thar.  To hell with them, I say!"

Well, you know what I say, sir?  To hell with you and your hollering on your phone all night!  Sounds to me like whoever you're talking about will be better off.  Spending all your time in this beautiful place, bitching about your family back home, whom you'll be back in just a few days to talk to and bitch about anyway!"

Okay, I didn't actually say that, I said nothing, just put a pillow over my head lol. 

And yet still, it did not deter us from having a wonderful trip! 

We are land-locked, in Lexington, needing to travel to see any lakes, and all but three lakes in Kentucky are man-made as a result of the Army Corps of Engineers in the 20th century.  Lake Cumberland is the largest of these man-made lakes, and in fact, the largest lake in Kentucky (and the most popular of the Kentucky State Parks).   It is also known as the "Houseboat Capital of the World,"  with some  traveling houseboats in the multimillion dollar range.

Thus, it's very difficult to get a room, in summer, but we decided to take an impromptu trip this weekend to see the fall foliage.

Lake Cumberland is in Southern Midwestern Kentucky, about two hours away from us, so we decided to spend the afternoon taking a swing east into the mountains a bit, to see the foliage, but unfortunately, it was only just starting to change there (and many trees had already lost their leaves as it's been very dry, this fall) - but still, a pretty drive :) 

After a 4-hour-detour to Eastern Kentucky, and not coming up with much color, it was nice to see the color come alive the closer we got to the lake ... oh, just wait :) 

So we pulled into the lodge at around 7 p.m. EST, 6 p.m. Central Time (which begins right about Jamestown), checked into our room, taking a quick peek at the scenery from the balcony ...

Yesssss ... ahhh :)

We then headed to the lodge for dinner, which we had planned to take back to our room and eat on the balcony, but considering it wasn't crowded, and the tables were socially distanced, we decided to stay for the view - plus we loved our waiter, who took the below pic of us.

At first, I was going to put my sunglasses back on for the pic to hide, saying, "Oh, Lordy - I'm gonna put these on because you KNOW I will scare small children and animals, right now, with the way I look  after traveling."

He was all, "Girl, no  - take those sunglasses off for this picture right this minute, stop it lol!  Otherwise, you'll look like you're high and trying to hide it lol.  You look good, girl, smile!"  

Gay men and I always hit it off right away, always a fun mix.  They're always good for a confidence boost when you feel you look  like crap (or to help you do a quick fix if you really do look as bad as you think) lol.  

I get them and they get me, for some reason, and there are no holds barred, anything is liable to come out of both our mouths and I love it :)

(Speaking of, forgive the lack of makeup and flattened, crazy hair, it was a long  drive and day, and I knew it would be, so I didn't bother lol - PLUS I had intended to let it grow back, but had yet another "oops" while self-trimming and now it's even shorter!  Argh!  I have to find which salon my former stylist went to - soon! lol ) 

I was so happy to see my husband so happy, near a big lake, reminding him of his beloved Michigan, which has literally hundreds of (natural) lakes, which he has missed  :)

After wolfing down our dinner, we high-tailed it back to our room because the dining room was becoming more crowded by the minute, and sat out on the balcony, just enjoying the view for a awhile ...

Which Brookie decided was her new favorite spot (the old one is in between the pumpkins in front of the fireplace at home) :)

But just at dusk, we heard a bit of rustling from the cliff.  Mark was convinced it was a bear (lol), but I knew better. Though there are bears in this area, not many, because it's very flat and tree-less until you get near the lake, then woods, but with very steep cliffs near the water.  Bears wouldn't scale these steep cliffs, this close to this many people.  I was pretty sure I knew what it was - can you guess?

Still not sure?  How about now ... 

Closer ... 

A very old, very fat, very slow, very sweet raccoon!

Though it could've climbed up and over my balcony at any time, instead, it just sat itself down in front of my balcony with its paw up, patiently waiting for something to be thrown down, awwww? 

Obviously used to people, just looking up at me like, "Please, mum, can I have some more?"  

Okay, I know they can be a nuisance, and also rabid, but something about how slow and gentle it was, never trying to climb up (when it easily could have) let me know this one was well-behaved and wouldn't be a problem.

It just sat down quietly, literally with it's paw up - and  how can you resist this face? 

No, seriously - LOOK AT THIS SWEET FACE! 

And so sweet!  I threw down part of the rest of my sandwich and some Smart Food popcorn, which it gobbled up, then slowly and politely left, no trouble at all, and it did not return. 

It was very gray, instead of brown, compared to most racoons I've seen, which is what makes me think it was very old, plus slow - and it tail was so short! 

How precious was that?  And then it quietly waddled away and didn't return the rest of the weekend, what a sweet raccoon! 

After a peaceful night's sleep to the sound of cacophony of crickets, over our morning coffee on the balcony, we heard yet another rustling of leaves, this time from our left, but it wasn't a raccoon - it was this new friend ...

A young doe :)

There is no hunting in the State Parks (unless overpopulation becomes a problem, then they let veterans in one week of an overpopulation year to hunt), so deer are very accustomed to people (and dogs) :)

Miss Brookie was SO good, she just silently watched her in shepherdess position, even as she moved closer to us (end of video), and despite the fact the there was also a squirrel (the usual star of my videos from my balcony at home lol) ... 

I felt so bad, not an apple or a single thing that's good for deer in sight.  Thank goodness they're safe, here, or I wouldn't have even wanted to feed her because I wouldn't want her to become unafraid of people, but as long as she stays in the park, she's perfectly safe :)

Then we went to the lodge buffet and took it back to the room to breakfast on the balcony and finish watching the sun come up and the fishing boats go out :)

Next, we decided to try to take Brookie on the shorter hike, the 3.1-mile (total) trail, but after about 200 feet, she laid down, then tried to turn back - her congenital hip-joint problem is just too much for her to try, especially now that she's older :(

Plus it ended up being 75 degrees, that day, and but she has a big furry coat on already!

But she tried, right? 

But look how beautiful she is, sitting amongst the leaves, in her natural fall colors ... 

So this next one is an example of Brookie in her semi-shepherdess position. When in full shepherdess mode, the ears are up, mouth is closed, upper body completely upright and frozen like stone, completely fixated on something that not even food could not deter her away from ;)

For full shepherdess position, watch the end of the video above (about timestamp 2:05), of her watching the little doe as she walks closer.  

Not even so much as an ear flicker when I talk to her (except briefly later to sniff her scent), totally focused on the doe, trying to determine if she's a threat or just something else she now needs to herd and protect,  like us lol ;)

So we brought her back to the lodge, turned on the AC for her, and then returned, taking pics of the foliage along the way back to the trail  ... 

We had planned on doing the 8-mile, but now too late, we settled for the shorter hike, which brought us back just in time for dinner.

Now - are you ready for some REAL color?

Because the forest was ALIVE with color! 

At the end of the trail ...

Back at the lodge, being that the dining room was too full for us, with COVID rising again, we decided to have our dinner on the balcony, watching the sun set ...

The next morning, checkout day, we woke up before the sun, and watched it rise over the hills - magnificent!

Both mornings, this same older couple could be found in the same spot, watching the sun come up - you can also see them from the first video above from the prior morning (the one with the young doe), and you also hear me talk to them just a second as they walked over to snap pictures of the doe :)

Here's a little panoramic video I made of the sunrise ... :)

Just some shots going into the lodge for the breakfast buffet, eating outside on the lodge patio ...

A few shots of us, on a bright sunny day, sprinkled in.  (Yes, I know, I hate my hair!!!  These were good of Mark, though lol)

Around the lodge ... 

And like I said, we're not talking luxury accommodations, here, but not bad, right? 

And with that, alas, it was now time to go ... :(

Just a few shots of the front of the lodge and the new indoor swimming pool on the way out.  I'm not super fond of the new color or the over-modernization, but whatever keeps the tourists coming I guess?

I mean .... zzzz  sort of a boring entryway, compared to the other lodges (and the back view), IMO ... 

And here's that overly modernized new indoor pool (the outdoor is now about a quarter of a mile from the lodge) ...

Ah, well - we don't sweat the small stuff - all in all, a great trip!  

And now, something I want to show you.

These are the trees along the state roads in the country, right?

Now - these are the trees the closer you get to the I-95, the US interstate, approaching Lexington ....

Just in case you thought climate change and environmental damage wasn't real.

Trash in, trash out, people.  This is the first I've seen the visible damage.  

Now, we have had a dry fall in Lexington, but these pictures are taken from Mt. Vernon up on I-75.

Many trees are dead, as you can see - and look how "dirty" the live trees look - these maple trees are supposed to be dark orange/red leaves (compare to above photos)  :(

Ewwwww!?!

I swear to you, it wasn't like this along I-75 when I was a child - even 20 years ago.

Okay, this isn't "political belief" people - this is science. 

You kill trees, you can't purify the air of harmful gases.  

You can't purify the air of harmful gases, you change the atmosphere.  

You change the atmosphere, you change the  weather and the climate.

Helloooo?  

And it's not rocket science, people - it's common sense. 

Anyone that says otherwise drinks too much corporate-backed Republican toxic Kool-Aid  ;P

But ahem ... I digress :)

Otherwise, one of the most scenic trips we have taken thus far. 

Stay tuned for our next Kentucky State Park adventure, likely coming this Spring :)

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PS - Comments are now open again, folks (with moderator on).  

You may comment anonymously if you like, just leave me a moniker hint so I know who you are ;)

(Now watch, no one will comment at all lol.  Well, it's okay if no one does, just wanted to give the option ;)