About
Welcome to Powell County, Kentucky!
Powell County Tourism Commission
Welcome to Powell County, Kentucky! Clay City, Stanton, Bowen, Slade, and several other unofficial towns make up the county. We are the home of the beautiful Natural Bridge State Resort Park and a portion of the Red River Gorge. Our county also houses the Pilot Knob State Nature Preserve and the wild and scenic Red River.
Powell County has miles and miles of hiking trails, lots of kayaking and canoeing options and boasts thousands of climbing routes. The Red River Gorge is currently the #2 climbing destination in the world – next only to Utah. Kentucky’s only wild and scenic river welcomes you to canoe or kayak for miles along its’ beautiful routes. The outdoor adventures are endless!
If adventure isn’t for you, we have even more to offer! You can listen to world class Bluegrass music at the Meadowgreen Music Park or take a look back in time at the Red River Historical Museum in Clay City. You may even want to spend your weekend clogging at Hoedown Island in Slade. Take a day trip through the Daniel Boone National Forest by driving the Scenic Byway and visiting the Gladie Cultural & Environmental Learning Center for information from the United States Forest Service. You can even learn about our reptile friends in one of the world’s largest collections of venomous snakes at the Kentucky Reptile Zoo in Slade. Exciting motorsports and racing can be found in Clay City with a family owned IHRA sanctioned Drag Strip. Don’t forget to shop at our local shops and eat at our local eateries!
Want to stay awhile? Choose from our wide range of hospitality companies including cabins, tree houses, motels, lodges, and more! Bring your RV and camp at one of the beautiful RV parks. Grab your tent and camp in the Red River Gorge after purchasing a camping pass/permit at one of the local shops in Slade.
With so many attractions, lodging options, and adventure, there is something for everyone in Powell County, KY. With so much to do and see you may not ever want to leave!
The Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade
The Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade is owned and operated by the Powell County Tourism Commission. The commission consists of 7 board members and meetings are held every Fourth Wednesday of each month at 5pm at the visitor center.
For a list of current board members and for any other information regarding the PCTC, please reach out to info@gopoco.org or call 606-663-1161.
Our Mission
Here at the Powell County Tourism Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade, our Mission Statement is to deliver the best hospitality service in the industry to the visitors of this region of Kentucky. We strive to improve the quality of life for our county by promoting visitors to our unique area while marketing and supporting economic growth. We respect the integrity of our beautiful area and seek to promote it in a meaningful and sustainable manner.
refRRGCC ROCKTOBERFEST! IT`S ALMOST HERE! We are a proud sponsor of this year`s Rocktoberfest, held at Land of the Arches Campground, and throughout the RRG region.
We partnered with RRGCC and the UK Geology Department to bring you "Crags and Critters", a guided hike on the new Ashland property on Saturday, October 11! Tickets are required and HURRY because as of now, there are only 11 tickets left! This is open to all, not just climbers! Head to the link below for more info and registration:
https://rrgcc.networkforgood.com/events/90506-rocktoberfest-2025
THIS WEEK! Lots going on as always! Check out the full schedule below! 👇
PIONEER DAYS AND QUILT SHOW AT Red River Museum! This weekend! The weather is looking PERFECT for this Saturday`s events in Clay City!
Quilting, flintknapping, blacksmithing, weaving, agates, iron works, and MORE can be found this weekend at the Red River Museum. Pioneer days runs 9am-4pm and the Quilt Show inside the AMVETS Post runs from 10am-3:30pm.
HOT OFF THE PRESS! CHECK OUT THIS WEEK`S ROUNDUP OF EVENTS!
A few highlights this week include:
+Rawkin` the Gorge live rock n roll showcase at @pithouse_tbc
+Pioneer Days at Red River Museum
+Mini Golf Tournament at @thrillsvilleadventuregolf
+Drag Racing at @kentucky_dragway
+Sip n Shop at Sash & Bow
+Annual Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival
+Yoga with @elementalwellnessky and with @appalachian.asana
+LOTS MORE OF COURSE!
Check out the full rundown below or on our website! Check the comments below for anything we may have missed!
THIS WEEK IN THE RRG! Lots going on as always!
A few event highlights this week include:
+@livingarchaeologyweekend is on Saturday! PCTC is a proud sponsor of this event! This is one of our favorites every year!
+@nashvilleinthegorge is on Friday! PCTC is a proud sponsor of this awesome event too!
+Shop with a Cop Poker Run Fundraiser
+Annual City of Clay City Ice Cream Social! Free ice cream, train rides, popcorn, and more!
+Sip n Shop at @sashandbow on Thursday
+@rrgfarmersmarket
+Lots more!!!
Check out the full rundown on our website! Check the comments below if we missed anything!
THIS WEEK IN THE RRG! Lots going on as always!
A few event highlights this week include:
+Living Archaeology Weekend is this Saturday! PCTC is a proud sponsor of this event! It`s one of our favorites every year!
+@nashvilleinthegorge is Friday! We are a proud sponsor of this event also!
+Annual City of Clay City Ice Cream Social! Free ice cream, train rides, popcorn, and more!
+Shop with a Cop Poker Run Fundraiser on Saturday!
+Sip n Shop at @sashandbow
+@rrgfarmersmarket
+LOTS MORE!
Check out a full rundown of events on our website! Check the comments below in case we missed anything! If you have an event, let us know and we will get it added!
POWELL COUNTY FAIR WEEK AND LOTS MORE! The Powell County Lions Club fair kicks off and runs all week, plus a TON of other stuff! PLUS the weather is immaculate!
A few highlights this week include:
+Powell County Lions Club fair at the Lion`s Club Park Fairgrounds in Stanton
+RRG Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting for newly installed solar panels and EV chargers at the Red River Gorge Visitor Center
+Lots of activities at Natural Bridge State Resort Park
+Old Mountain Remedies with Walt Cross at Brookside Cottages in Stanton
+Community Night Gear Swap at Southeast Mountain Guides
+Kid`s Night at La Cabana Mexican Restaurant
+TONS MORE!
Check the comments below in case we missed anything! See you in the Red River Gorge!
NEW DISPLAY AT THE RRG VISITOR CENTER! We have a new display in our case here at the Red River Gorge Visitor Center. It features prehistoric tools and primitives hand created by local Archaeologist and Primitive Technologist Johnny Faulkner. Come on in and see them for yourself! A lot of similar items can be seen in Clay City at the @theredrivermuseum on weekends as well. Come on in and get a glimpse of the past!
The RRGVC is open seven days a week! 9am-5pm everyday except 9am-3pm on Sundays!
LIVING ARCHAEOLOGY WEEKEND! This year`s LAW will be held at Natural Bridge State Resort Park like it was last year. This is one of our favorite events of the year! PCTC is a proud sponsor this year! This event has hands-on learning and a myriad of primitive skills and demonstrations. We promise, it`s a fun time for all ages! 🏹🪡🪢
SKYDIVING IN POWELL COUNTY! Check out this awesome event coming up October 2-5 at Stanton Airport! Spectators welcome and tandem skydives are open for booking! Check out the flier and website for more info! ✈
HAPPY LABOR DAY! WE ARE OPEN! CHECK OUT THIS WEEK!
The Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade is OPEN this Monday, September 1st from 9am-5pm. Come on in and see us!
This weeks lineup is stacked and here are some highlights:
+TODAY - PFIC Advocacy and Resource Network, Inc. Annual Labor Day Party at RedPoint BBQ - live music, silent auction, cornhole tournament, disc golf tournament- FREE to attend! PCTC is a proud sponsor of this event!
+Characters of the Community on Saturday at @thekilnsmusicvenue
+Live music and SINGO at @toadsbarn_grill
+@rrgfarmersmarket
+Lots more!
Check out the comments below for anything we missed! Check out our website for a full rundown!
MAKING HISTORY IN FRANKFORT! Yesterday, PCTC Executive Director Pete Fingerson and Powell County Judge Executive Eddie Barnes, along with Michael Frazier, presented in front of the Tourism, Small Business, and IT Joint Interim Committee in Frankfort for the first time in 60 years! This was the first time that Powell County had been on the agenda since the Stop the Dam protests back in the late 1960`s. It was quite an honor to have the opportunity to give an update on tourism and some infrastructure needs in Powell County and the Red River Gorge region. 🤝
