Lilley Cornett Woods
Written: Feb 04 '00 (Updated Jan 24 '02)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: LCW is a "one of a kind" destination, a truly unique natural experience
Cons: very isolated location
The Bottom Line: A visit to LCW is like a trip back in time to a Virgin Hardwood forest, just like when Daniel Boone first saw
the Bluegrass State
|
|
|
| Howard_Creech's Full Review: Parks |
One of Kentucky's least known (and least visited) parks, is interestingly enough, the crown jewel of the state park system. The "Woods" is actually a research facility for Eastern Kentucky State University, and not technically a park. Located on a ridge top, above Line Fork Creek, in Letcher County, Lilley Cornett Woods is a small piece of virgin old growth forest that proves that one man can make a difference. Lilley Cornett purchased the land just after WW1 and spent fifty years fighting to protect it from coal mining, timber cutting, and other development.
This was long before the environmental movement, and many people in Eastern Kentucky thought "Old Man Cornett" was eccentric at best. During the last thirty years of the 19th century, coal and timber companies bought the "rights" to cut timber and mine coal, these "rights" are held in perpetuity by the companies. Lilley Cornett fought against the coal and timber industries who wanted to mine coal and cut the virgin timber on his ridgetop. Cornett's heirs sold the land to the state (in 1969) with the provision that the the ridge top would forever remain untouched.
The attractions here include many trees over two hundred years old (and some more than twice that), a Native American rock shelter, leaf litter that is over a foot deep in places, and the feeling of being in a natural cathedral. Ninety tree and shrub species, over five hundred types of flowering plants, and several rarities like red azalea, sweet pinesap, and spotted mandarin grow here.
When I was a child we visited my grandparents (who lived on Line Fork Creek near Gordon, KY.) twice every year. One of my fondest memories is of meeting Mr. Cornett. My father had taken me up to his cabin so that we could ask him if we might "walk the woods", the old gentleman was pretty quiet, although I do remember him asking after my grandfather and grandmother. My father and I spent a fine spring afternoon exploring and appreciating Mr. Cornett's untouched ridgetop. I have been back several times since, and I never fail to be awed (as I was as a child) by the huge ancient trees, the quiet, and the cathedral like atmosphere.
If you ever wondered what Kentucky looked like when Daniel Boone led that first party of settlers through the Cumberland Gap...Lilley Cornett Woods is about as close as you can get. The woods can be visited daily during daylight hours from May 15 through August 15 (you can visit on weekends in April, May, September, and October). Tours are conducted by local guides (many of whom are as interesting as the tour) unescorted trips are not permitted, visitors can choose either a two hour hike, or a more strenuous four hour walk with a two thousand foot climb in elevation from the creek bottom to the top of the ridge. The preserve is off the beaten track, and somewhat difficult to find. Contact the Superintendent, Lilley Cornett Woods, HC 63, box 2710, Skyline, KY 41851 or telephone (606) 633-5828 and the friendly staff will send you a map.
If you enjoyed reading this U. S. Travel Review, please read my other U. S. Travel Reviews:
Kentucky
The Red River Gorge
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-1904-880A6C7-389B12A5-prod1
Sleep in a Teepee
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-71A5-4E3AD8D-389DC1B1-prod2
Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-30D5-4E0CAD4-389DBA4E-prod2
Louisville
Mazzoni’s Café
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-71A5-4E3AD8D-389DC1B1-prod2
Cunningham’s Delicatessen
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-14A4-A285108-38E4DE82-prod5
Kaelin’s Restaurant “Birthplace of the Cheeseburger”
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-3A17-294752E-39318BC7-prod5
A Day in the Highlands
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-1F52-9BD0F0A-39BE9E8F-prod1
Indiana
Madison
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-2EC-53C7B31-391236FF-prod3
Wisconsin
Milwaukee
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-4D17-6E61A48-393C6FDA-prod6
Mississippi
Natchez
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-5E14-BAA53A-39143688-prod2
New Mexico
On the Trail of Billy the Kid
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-14A4-A285108-38E4DE82-prod5
Texas
The Big Thicket National Preserve
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-31AC-60C6433-39144B3A-prod3
Just “cut and paste” the URL into your browser’s address bar/window
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
Howard_Creech
|
 in Electronics |
 in Home and Garden |
 - Top 10 |
|
Member: Howard Creech
Location: Louisville, KY
Reviews written: 333
Trusted by: 1274 members
About Me:
Photographer/Writer fascinated by Movies, Music, Books, American Diner Food, History, "Popular Culture", and Travel.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.