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.
THIS WEEKEND IN THE RED RIVER GORGE! The Fall colors are peaking and it`s looking like a beautiful week! Still lots going on!
A few highlights include:
+Annual Relay For Life of Powell County, KY
+Live bluegrass music at Meadowgreen Appalachian Music Park
+Holiday Open House at Sash & Bow
+Fig Adventure Race 361 Adventures
+Bigfoot Boone Forest Campout
+Lots more!
Check the comments below in case we missed anything!
HALLOWEEN WEEK! Lots going on here in the Red River Gorge! Check out the full rundown below or on our website at gopoco.org/events-calendar. Check the comments below in case we missed anything!
BUSY WEEKEND! Here`s a reminder about all of the awesome happenings going on this weekend!
Red River Gorge Farmers Market
Callies Campground in Red River Gorge
Stanton Tourism and Convention Commission
Kentucky Dragway
Meadowgreen Appalachian Music Park
Mushroom Grove Shopping Village at the Red River Gorge
Plus Bill Taylor and the Appalachian Heatherns at @pithouse_tbc
Plus plus Woolly Worm Festival Beattyville/Lee County Tourism
For a full rundown of events, head to our website at Gopoco.org/events-calendar!
Meadowgreen Appalachian Music Park! The 2025/2026 season kicks off THIS WEEKEND! They`re hosting an open jam session and potluck to kick things off. Come on out, bring an instrument and bring an appetite! Their full season schedule is found on the other flier also. Make plans to check out one of the coolest music venues in the entire state! 🎶🎻🎤
PICKLEBALL! Exciting news for Powell County! Stanton City Park just unveiled their new pickleball courts! When you come visit the area, make sure to bring your paddles and check out the beautiful park in Stanton! 🥒🎾
📸: Stanton City Park
FALL COLORS ARE STARTING TO POP! AND FALL WEATHER IS HERE! This weeks lineup is INSANE with all of the awesome stuff happening in the area!
A few highlights include:
+Pumpkinpalooza at @rrgfarmersmarket - live music, pumpkin painting, costume contest
+The Haunted Barn kicks off this week
+@trailofterrorrrg
+Haunted Trail at Mushroom Grove Shopping Village at the Red River Gorge
+Season opening potluck and bluegrass jam at Meadowgreen Appalachian Music Park
+Annual Callies Campground in Red River Gorge Halloween bash! Rita from Powell Co Tourism will be set up handing out candy!
+Stanton Fright Ride at Stanton City Park put on by Stanton Tourism and Convention Commission - PCTC is a proud sponsor of this event!
+Live music with @bill_taylor_music at @pithouse_tbc
+Annual Woolly Worm Festival in Downtown Beattyville put on by Beattyville/Lee County Tourism Beattyville Main Street
+@fireflyhills After Dark - Paranormal tours
+EVEN MORE GOODNESS!
Check out the full lineup below! Check the comments in case we missed anything! This was a jam packed week!
MORE HALLOWEEN GOODNESS COMING YOUR WAY! Check out this other awesome event hosted by @explorestanton on October 25th. They have partnered with the Man O War Harley Davidson to bring you an epic day of motorcycle stunts, magic show, spooky storytelling, food trucks, a freight ride, and trunk or treating! See flier for more details and make plans for an epic halloween weekend here in the Red River Gorge!
CALLIE`S ANNUAL HALLOWEEN TRICK OR TREAT! Head on over to Callies Campground in Red River Gorge on Saturday, October 25th for a night of trick or treating, haunted trail, costume contest, hayrides, face painting, and more! See flier for details and times 👻🍂🎃
Pumpkin Palooza October 25th at the @rrgfarmersmarket!
Join us for a *free* Halloween event at our last market of the regular season.
Who? Adults/ Kids/ Families
What? Pumpkin Painting & Costume Contest
Where? Pavilion next to the Red River Gorge Farmers Market (attached to bathrooms/ by mini golf)
When? October 25th from 10-1:30PM
Why? Because we want to get into the Halloween spirit, while we celebrate the wrap up of our 5th season as a market!
Details:
Pumpkin painting-
>Starts at 10AM when the market opens
>Under pavilion (attached to bathrooms)
>1 pumpkin per kiddo
>paint and decoration materials provided by Natural Bridge
>while supplies last!
>Pumpkins donated by Elk Hollow Farms
Costume contest-
>Enter from 10-1:30PM by signing up on sign in sheet by pumpkin painting
>Must be willing to have your picture taken
>Kid categories: 1.)Scariest 2.) Cutest 3.) Most Creative
>Adult categories: 1.)Scariest 2.) Cutest 3.) Most Creative
>Winners receive prizes provided by Powell County Tourism Commission
>Winners called at 1:30PM & prizes distributed *You do not need to be present to win, but pick up prize at the front desk of Hemlock Lodge within a week of winning.
We encourage you to shop at the market and listen to Brian Glover play Halloween themed songs before/after/during the Halloween festivities!
FB Event link: https://www.facebook.com/share/19X6E3mVnw/
Event sponsored by Natural Bridge State Resort Park , Powell County Tourism - Red River Gorge , Elk Hollow Farms & Red River Gorge Farmers Market !
Please share this post and/or the event page! We would love to get the word out into the community!
BRING ON THE FALL COLORS! Fall colors are juuuuuust starting to show here in the Red River Gorge and the weather is perfect for some hiking! This week`s lineup has a LOT to offer too!
A few highlights this week include:
+@trailofterrorrrg
+Haunted Trail at 4 Guys RV Park at the Gorge/Mushroom Grove Shopping Village at the Red River Gorge/@toadsbarn_grill
+Overland the Red with Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway
+Sip n Shop at Sash & Bow (new time is 6pm-8pm!)
+Live music all over the place
+@rrgfarmersmarket
+Lots more!!!
Check the comments below in case we missed anything! Head to our website Gopoco.org/events-calendar anytime to see a full calendar and to submit your own event!
EVERY BODY CLIMBING! FREE COFFEE AND PASTRIES! Join us TOMORROW, Friday, October 10th from 9am-11am as we host a welcome reception for the new photo/audio exhibit inside the Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade. There will be free coffee and cinnamon rolls and muffins, what more do you need?
This photo and audio exhibit tells stories from the Adaptive Climber`s Festival that is held annually here in the beautiful Red River Gorge. The festival celebrates climbers with disabilities and the challenges they have to overcome to get on the wall. This exhibit is ultra-accessible with audio/visual parity, audio excerpts from climber interviews and braille guides. All elements are hung at an accessible height for wheelchair users and high contrast print for those with low vision.
This project was made possible through funding from Berea College and the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center and will be displayed at the RRG Visitor Center at Slade through December 10th.
Come on out and see this powerful exhibit in person! The RRGVC is open 7 days a week from 9am-5pm (9am-3pm on Sundays)!
EV CHARGERS! The Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade is proud to offer FREE LEVEL 2 EV CHARGING available 24/7! The best part is...it`s powered completely by the sun! We are accepting donations for this service for the Powell County Search & Rescue Team that is an all volunteer organization. Even if you don`t have an EV, you can still make a donation anytime at pocosar.org/donate to help this amazing organization. 🌞
Pictured here is the wonderful Jane Hayes with the RRG Discovery Zone who wanted to be the FIRST person to use our new chargers when they were first installed.
