JAMESTOWN, Ky. – The community of Jamestown is an official “Trail Town” thanks to its connections to water and land recreation, Tourism, Arts and Heritage Secretary Bob Stewart announced yesterday.
“With Lake Cumberland, the Cumberland River and a beautiful state resort park all nearby, Jamestown is an ideal place for a Trail Town,” Stewart said. “There are plenty of outdoor activities available to visitors here, and Jamestown is already known as a popular tourist destination.”
The Kentucky Trail Town Program is designed to help connect communities to trail systems and develop them as tourist destinations. It will guide travelers to trails, food, lodging, campgrounds, museums, entertainment and other services. The designation will help communities improve their tourism economy, add more jobs and create more tourism opportunities for the entire state.
“I want to thank all of the people who have worked to make Jamestown a Trail Town,” First Lady Jane Beshear said. “This work will pay dividends by drawing more tourists to the community and getting the word out about the great attractions in this beautiful area.”
More than 30 communities have started the application process to become a Trail Town and are working with the Office of Adventure Tourism in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.
Jamestown is the eighth certified Kentucky Trail Town. It joins Dawson Springs, Livingston, Morehead, Olive Hill, London, Stearns and Elkhorn City as official Kentucky Trail Towns.
Among some of the popular locations for visitors around Jamestown are Lake Cumberland State Resort Park, the Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, several marinas on Lake Cumberland and a 16-mile stretch of the Cumberland River in Russell County.
Joining Stewart during the event were Rep. Jeff Hoover, of Jamestown; Office of Adventure Tourism representative Seth Wheat; Mayor Nick Shearer and Russell County Judge-Executive Gary Robertson.
“Jamestown and Russell County have long been a destination for tourists and sportsmen thanks to Lake Cumberland,” said Hoover. “Today’s announcement that Jamestown will become a Kentucky Trail Town can boost our local economy by highlighting attractions around the area, and also raise awareness of the trail system in our area to hiking and biking enthusiasts.”
“This is an exciting announcement, not just for Jamestown but our entire region,” said Sen. Max Wise of Campbellsville. “I look forward to seeing our tourism industry grow as more people come to enjoy the many wonderful outdoor activities near Jamestown.”
The Office of Adventure Tourism will provide guidance to interested communities on issues such as trail development and signage, information and resources from other state agencies and how other communities have been successful by linking trails and services.
Once a community receives the Trail Town certification, the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, the Department of Travel and Tourism and Office of Adventure Tourism will help promote and market these communities and the services being offered. They will be highlighted on maps, websites, visitors’ guides and other state promotional material.
For more information about Trail Towns and adventure tourism in Kentucky, visit www.kentuckytourism.com