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!
Our Mission
Here at the Powell County Tourism Commission Slade Welcome Center, 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.
TGIF! It’s Friday! Woo! The Slade Welcome Center is open all weekend! 9-5 today and Saturday, 9-3 on Sunday. Lots going on in the area, so swing on in if you’re out and about! Make sure to check out our online events calendar on our website for a full rundown of activities and events. Come on out to the Red River Gorge and enjoy the ☀️
SKYBRIDGE! Have you visited Skybridge Arch? This .7 mile trail is amazing and it gives you access to both on top of the arch and underneath the arch. Be prepared for some stairs at the end, but it is fairly easy other than those. Fun fact: this arch is featured in the 1955 film The Kentuckian starring Burt Lancaster, and was the first major motion picture filmed in KY. 📸 by the talented @billy.hikes
LITTLE LIBRARY MAKEOVER! We couldn’t be happier with the finished makeover of our little library! @restorationacreskentucky absolutely knocked it out of the park! Swing on by the Slade Welcome Center and see it for yourself! It’s got all things RRG: an arch, the red river, red eft, pine trees, mountain laurel, tea berries, a copperhead, and lots more! If you have any books collecting dust, bring ‘em by and help us fill it back up! Thanks for the beautiful work, Aubrey! 😍📚📙📘📗📕
RED RIVER GORGE EVENTS CALENDAR! Have you started seeing these around town yet?! Make sure to scan the code and see what’s going on around the area!
Are you a business owner or cabin owner? These are perfect to have in your cabin so that guests know what’s going on during their stay. We have laminated copies available at the Welcome Center! Swing on by and pick up as many copies as you want! Or shoot us a message and we will bring some to you!
Do you know of an event that isn’t on the calendar yet? Anyone can submit an event to be added to the calendar!
RECORD STORE! Did you know that there was a record shop here in the Red River Gorge? Well now you do! @fatcavestudioswastaken is located right next door to @thatcherbarbecuecompany and @pithouse_tbc in the heart of Slade. Not only do they have a great selection of new and used vinyl, but they have a top notch recording studio! Go check it out and Sam will take good care of ya and help find some fresh wax to spin!🎤🎧🤘
POOL! Looking for a pool to soak up some rays while you’re visiting? Head on over to @naturalbridge! They are open 11-7 everyday, and the cost is $5 for adults, $4 for kids 4-12, and FREE for kids under 4! Call over to Natural Bridge for further information: 606-663-2214. 😎☀️👙🩳🏄♂️
BOOKS! LITTLE LIBRARY! Have you been to the Welcome Center and noticed our Free Little Library? Not only does it provide maps after-hours, but it has free books! Forget your book at home and need one for the campsite or cabin? Come snag one! 📕📚🏕️🏡
That being said, our little library is running low on books! If you have any collecting dust, bring ‘em on over! 📖🏃♂️
PODCAST! Pete and Rita had the opportunity to sit down and chat with @tread_the_red about all things Red River Gorge! We talk tourism, history, the Welcome Center, funny stories from the Center, favorite trails, and our first experiences with this beautiful region!
You can stream this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at the link in the bio! Thanks for having us on the podcast, Rachel and Darren!
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#redrivergorge #naturalbridge #naturalbridgestatepark #kentucky #visitkentucky #kytourism #gopoco #powellcounty #rrg #redrivergorgeous #arches #kentuckyproud #tourism #travelkentucky #onekentucky #lextoday #hikersofinstagram #alltrails #leavenotrace #danielboonenationalforest #danielboone #bigfoot #sasquatch #optoutside
SURVEY GIVEAWAY! Powell County Tourism is asking everyone to fill out this survey! Residents, Tourists, and Business Owners are all encouraged to fill it out. You will be entered into a drawing to win a RED RIVER GORGE WEEKEND GETAWAY AWESOME SUPER DELUXE PACKAGE!
A special HUGE thank you to all of our wonderful area businesses that donated these items to the giveaway:
@rosehollowcabins - 2 night stay @kyreptilezoo - Family pass (good for 2 adults, 3 children)
@rrgexperiences - Private guided hike/tour for up to 5 people
@danielboonecoffeeshop - $25 gift card
@miguelsclimbshop - $25 gift card and 2 t-shirts
@thatcherbarbecuecompany - $25 gift card
@restorationacreskentucky - 2 RRG t-shirts
If you fill out the survey, you will be entered to win THIS WHOLE PACKAGE! Please like, comment, and SHARE this to spread the word! Again, thank you to our amazing businesses that have donated to help make this all possible!
We will be setting up tables at events and businesses (Red River Gorge Farmers Market for example) in the area over the coming weeks as well, so keep an eye out for us. Let us know if you have any questions!
You can scan this QR code for a direct link to the survey, or click the link in our bio! Make sure you fill in your email or phone number at the end of the survey so we can contact you if you win!
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#redrivergorge #naturalbridge #naturalbridgestatepark #kentucky #visitkentucky #kytourism #gopoco #powellcounty #rrg #redrivergorgeous #arches #kentuckyproud #tourism #travelkentucky #onekentucky #lextoday #hikersofinstagram #alltrails #leavenotrace #danielboonenationalforest #danielboone #bigfoot #sasquatch #optoutside
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND! It’s looking to shape up to be a nice weekend here in the Red River Gorge ☀️. Make sure you stop in the Slade Welcome Center when you get into town for some maps, friendly faces, area info, and peep this fully decked out Memorial Day tree! 👀🇺🇸
We love chatting with folks when they get into town to help get acquainted with the area and give some recommendations for hikes and things to check out!
We are open 9-5 everyday, and 9-3 on Sundays. Come say hi! 👋🗺️📍🥾
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#redrivergorge #naturalbridge #naturalbridgestatepark #kentucky #visitkentucky #kytourism #gopoco #powellcounty #rrg #redrivergorgeous #arches #kentuckyproud #tourism #travelkentucky #onekentucky #lextoday #hikersofinstagram #alltrails #leavenotrace #danielboonenationalforest #danielboone #bigfoot #sasquatch #optoutside
FLOWERS! The Welcome Center got a facelift this morning 🌸🌼💐😍
Big thank you to Rita (our Executive Director) and her husband, Jack, for planting some gorgeous flowers for everyone to enjoy! Stop on by! We are open everyday 9-5 (9-3 on Sundays)! 🥾🌼🗺️
EXPANDED HOURS! The Slade Welcome Center is now open 9-5 everyday, 9-3 on Sundays. It’s a beautiful weekend here in the Red River Gorge! Stop on in when you get into town. We have maps, smiles, trail recommendations, and more! Do you know what arch this is? 🥾🗺️📍
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#redrivergorge #naturalbridge #naturalbridgestatepark #kentucky #visitkentucky #kytourism #gopoco #powellcounty #rrg #redrivergorgeous #arches #kentuckyproud #tourism #travelkentucky #onekentucky #lextoday #hikersofinstagram #alltrails #leavenotrace #danielboonenationalforest #danielboone #bigfoot #sasquatch #optoutside
