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.
FIREWORKS 2025! Posting this again in case you missed it! Things kick off tonight at @redpointrrg!
Also please note that the Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade will be open everyday, but with limited hours tomorrow on the 4th.
Thursday 7/3 - 9am-5pm
Friday 7/4 - 9am-3pm
Saturday 7/5 - 9am-5pm
Sunday 7/6 - 9am-3pm
FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS LINEUP 2025!
Check out the full lineup below! Fireworks shows start on Thursday at @redpointrrg and run all weekend! Hit that like and share button to help spread the word! 🎇🎇
The Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade will be open 9am-3pm on Friday July 4th as well! Swing on in on your way into town and grab some maps and area info.
HOLIDAY WEEK! 🎇
Holy cow there`s a lot of things happening this week in the Red River Gorge this holiday week! We will be posting a Fourth of July specific graphic soon where you can find all of the fireworks shows in the area also! Check out the rundown for the week below 👇🎇🎆😎
HAPPY SUMMER SOLSTICE 🌞😎
Today is the longest day of the year, so get out there and explore! That being said, it`s also going to be a scorcher of a weekend! Be sure to pack EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA water when you`re out exploring 💧🛶🗺🥾
REGGAE AT THE GORGE!
We`re a proud sponsor of the inaugural @reggaeatthegorge event being held at @hops_at_rrg! This is coming up on Saturday, July 26th. The best part is that tickets are FREE (Pay what you can)! Make sure to snag your tickets at the link posted below, tickets are required! Come on out and support this awesome new event and listen to some soulful Reggae music!
WELCOME SIGN!
We got our new Welcome Sign here at the Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade! This was part of the multi-county wayfinding project that finally got installed. This was the last sign for Phase 1 of this project. We`re currently seeking additional funding for more signs throughout Powell, Lee, Wolfe, Estill, and Menifee Counties. Another shoutout to @qk4social for their help on this project! Come on out and see for yourself!
CONFERENCE TIME!
Powell County Tourism Commission is honored to be hosting the Summer Quarterly Meeting for the Kentucky Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus (KACVB) today through Friday! The conference is being held here at the Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade, Natural Bridge State Resort Park, and all over Powell County. This organization consists of all of the Tourism Directors from throughout the state of Kentucky!
ROAD CLOSURES for @driftappalachia event this coming Friday and Saturday from 8am-5pm!
This Friday, head on over to @callieslakeandcampground from 6-9pm to see some souped up Drift cars with @driftappalachia. They will be drifting along Slade Hill on Friday and Saturday and unfortunately that is not open to the public. But head on over to Callie`s to see the cars and meet the drivers Friday evening🏎
Daytime closures set for Slade Hill on KY 15 in Powell County June 13-14:
JACKSON, Ky. – Drivers who use KY 15 (Campton Road/Slade Hill) in Powell County should plan to use an alternate route during daytime hours on Friday and Saturday, June 13-14.
The road will be closed between milepoints 0.5 (the intersection with Baker Ridge Road near the Wolfe County line) and 3.3 (the intersection with KY 11 at Slade) for an event sponsored by Backroads of Appalachia, which has secured a permit for the activity.
The road will be closed to all traffic between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. both days.
No signed detour will be posted, but drivers can use the Mountain Parkway between Exit 33 (Slade/Beattyville) and Exit 40 (Pine Ridge/Beattyville) as an alternate route while KY 15 is closed. Portable electronic message boards will be placed to notify drivers of the closure.
Approximately 525 vehicles use this section of KY 15 each day.
JAM PACKED WEEK! It almost didn`t fit on the page there`s so much good stuff going on this week! A few highlights include:
+tons of activities and programming at Natural Bridge State Resort Park every day
+RRG Discovery Zone pop up at the @rrgfarmersmarket
+Friends of Powell County Pets Annual Yard Sale at @sticksstonesandstitches
+Ice Cream Social at @rrg.generalstore
+Live team trivia at @skybridgestation and @145_roadhouse
+@driftappalachia Cruise In at @callies_campground and after party at @pithouse_tbc
Check out our website for a FULL rundown of all of these awesome events!
(Also a quick reminder that HWY 15 from the Park N Save gas station up Slade Hill to Koomer Ridge Campground will be closed Friday and Saturday June 13-14 from 8am-5pm for the Drift Appalachia event.)
The Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade got a little makeover 💅😍😎
Mike Sparks and crew were here the last week pressure washing and staining the building and it turned out wonderful! They did an incredible job and we couldn`t be happier! We`re tidying things up for hosting the Kentucky Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus (KACVB) next week! This organization is for all of the Tourism Directors from throughout the state of Kentucky. We are honored to be hosting the Summer meeting next week at Natural Bridge State Resort Park and throughout Powell County!
Thanks again to Mike for helping the RRGVC look its best! Call or email for any painting or staining needs! 606-481-0609 or sparksm65@yahoo.com 👨🎨
BE LIKE THESE FOLKS! They took us up on our offer to pick up trash here in the Red River Gorge and they got a FREE @ale8one! If you want to be cool like them, just swing on in here at the Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade (across from the rest area) and grab a trash bag, then swing back in after you pick up some trash for your free ice cold beverage! It`s a win-win! Thank you to Ale 8 for partnering with us for this promotion!🚮
Just hangin` around the Red River Gorge.
It`s a bonus when your Assistant Director also happens to be one of the best climbing guides in the region and co-owner of @bluegrassclimbingschool Thanks for showing me the ropes, Travis! 🧗♂️
