Living
Archaeology Weekend Venue and Facilities
Living Archaeology Weekend is held at the
Gladie
Historic Site in the beautiful Red River Gorge of Daniel Boone National
Forest in eastern
Kentucky. The historic site is located on the banks of Gladie
Creek and includes two major structures and surrounding acreage. One
structure is
the Gladie Cabin, which formerly served as a hotel, post office, and
childhood home of famous bluegrass musicians Lily May Ledford and her
family. The
cabin, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in
1989, has been moved from its original location to the Gladie Historic
Site. During the LAW event, the Gladie Cabin is open for self-guided
tours; in 2008 demonstrations of historic corn milling and historic
cooking techniques took place outside the Gladie Cabin. Also at the
historic site is the new Gladie Cultural and
Environmental Learning Center, an active center of public education and
outreach in the Gorge. The Center is open during the LAW event, and
visitors are welcome to tour the exhibits and use
the restroom facilities. Portable toilets also are available during the
LAW event.
The mailing address for the Gladie Historic Site is 3451 Skybridge Road, Highway 715, Stanton, KY 40380. The phone number for the Gladie Cultural and Environmental Learning Center is (606) 663-8100. Don't assume that you will have cell phone service in the Gorge; the signal strength varies according to where you are in the Gorge and which service provider you use.
Most of the Living Archaeology Weekend
demonstrations are situated in the level floodplain of Gladie Creek,
downslope of the Gladie Cultural and
Environmental Learning Center. The venue is handicapped accessible;
visitors in wheelchairs should be aware that the main demonstration
area is not paved, but the area is navigable as long as the ground is
not saturated. Visitors are welcome to bring strollers. Free parking is
available around the Gladie Cultural and
Environmental Learning Center in a paved parking lot and on a grass
lawn. A first-aid tent is set up in the main demonstration area during
the LAW event, and law enforcement is provided by sworn US Forest
Service rangers.
In case of inclement weather, visitors should call the Gladie Center at (606) 663-8100 for information about the event venue. Unless there is lightning or severe flooding, the event will take place at Gladie even if it rains. In the event of extreme flooding at Gladie, however, the back-up venue is the City Park in nearby Stanton, Kentucky. Stanton is located west of the Gorge off the Mountain Parkway (see maps below).
Directions from Lexington
Take Interstate-64 east to the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway at Exit 98. Take the Mountain Parkway to Slade at Exit 33. At the end of the exit ramp turn left and go one-tenths of a mile to the junction of KY 11 and KY 15. Go 1.5 miles west on KY 15 to KY 77, and follow the signs to the Gladie Historic Site.
Local Area Information
For more information about the local area, we suggest that visitors consult the following web sites.
Food and Lodging Options
Please note that there are no concessions or cooking facilities at the Gladie Historic Site. There are, however, picnic areas at Gladie, and visitors are welcome to bring coolers of food and non-alcoholic drinks to the LAW event. Bottled water and soft drinks are available for sale at Living Archaeology Weekend. Several nearby campgrounds also have open picnic facilities, some with outdoor grills (see map above).
It is a short drive (about 20-30 minutes) from the Gladie Historic Site to a small number of restaurants in the Nada-Slade area. Restaurants in the Slade-Natural Bridge State Park area include Miguel's (a well-known pizzeria on KY 11), Natural Bridge State Park Lodge (buffet and menu ordering), Shell gas station (sandwiches and other hot entrees in Slade at Exit 33), and Nada Sandwich Shop.
There are several lodging options. Camping for a fee is available at Koomer Ridge (see map above). This is a first-come, first-serve camping facility with bathroom and shower facilities. Other camping options in the Gorge area are Indian Creek and Charlie Rock; both campgrounds charge camping fees. There are other privately owned campgrounds in the area. Other local lodging options include Lil Abner Motel (606-663-5386) and Natural Bridge State Park lodge, cottages, and campground (1-800-255-7275 then dial 6288 when prompted).
There are additional hotel and restaurant/grocery options in nearby Stanton and Winchester, both of which are west of the Gorge off the Mountain Parkway (see maps above).
The web sites listed above have more information about local dining and lodging options, especially the Powell County Tourism web site.
web page last updated 6 January 2009
Living Archaeology Weekend is held at the
Gladie
Historic Site in the beautiful Red River Gorge of Daniel Boone National
Forest in eastern
Kentucky. The historic site is located on the banks of Gladie
Creek and includes two major structures and surrounding acreage. One
structure is
the Gladie Cabin, which formerly served as a hotel, post office, and
childhood home of famous bluegrass musicians Lily May Ledford and her
family. The
cabin, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in
1989, has been moved from its original location to the Gladie Historic
Site. During the LAW event, the Gladie Cabin is open for self-guided
tours; in 2008 demonstrations of historic corn milling and historic
cooking techniques took place outside the Gladie Cabin. Also at the
historic site is the new Gladie Cultural and
Environmental Learning Center, an active center of public education and
outreach in the Gorge. The Center is open during the LAW event, and
visitors are welcome to tour the exhibits and use
the restroom facilities. Portable toilets also are available during the
LAW event.The mailing address for the Gladie Historic Site is 3451 Skybridge Road, Highway 715, Stanton, KY 40380. The phone number for the Gladie Cultural and Environmental Learning Center is (606) 663-8100. Don't assume that you will have cell phone service in the Gorge; the signal strength varies according to where you are in the Gorge and which service provider you use.
Most of the Living Archaeology Weekend
demonstrations are situated in the level floodplain of Gladie Creek,
downslope of the Gladie Cultural and
Environmental Learning Center. The venue is handicapped accessible;
visitors in wheelchairs should be aware that the main demonstration
area is not paved, but the area is navigable as long as the ground is
not saturated. Visitors are welcome to bring strollers. Free parking is
available around the Gladie Cultural and
Environmental Learning Center in a paved parking lot and on a grass
lawn. A first-aid tent is set up in the main demonstration area during
the LAW event, and law enforcement is provided by sworn US Forest
Service rangers. In case of inclement weather, visitors should call the Gladie Center at (606) 663-8100 for information about the event venue. Unless there is lightning or severe flooding, the event will take place at Gladie even if it rains. In the event of extreme flooding at Gladie, however, the back-up venue is the City Park in nearby Stanton, Kentucky. Stanton is located west of the Gorge off the Mountain Parkway (see maps below).
Directions from Lexington
Take Interstate-64 east to the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway at Exit 98. Take the Mountain Parkway to Slade at Exit 33. At the end of the exit ramp turn left and go one-tenths of a mile to the junction of KY 11 and KY 15. Go 1.5 miles west on KY 15 to KY 77, and follow the signs to the Gladie Historic Site.
Local Area Information
For more information about the local area, we suggest that visitors consult the following web sites.
- Daniel Boone National Forest, Cumberland
District www.fs.fed.us/r8/boone/districts/cumberland/index.shtml
- Menifee County Chamber of Commerce www.frenchburgmenifee.org
- Powell County Tourism www.powellcountytourism.com/attractions/scenic.htm
- Southern and Eastern Kentucky Tourism
Development
Association www.tourseky.com
Food and Lodging Options
Please note that there are no concessions or cooking facilities at the Gladie Historic Site. There are, however, picnic areas at Gladie, and visitors are welcome to bring coolers of food and non-alcoholic drinks to the LAW event. Bottled water and soft drinks are available for sale at Living Archaeology Weekend. Several nearby campgrounds also have open picnic facilities, some with outdoor grills (see map above).
It is a short drive (about 20-30 minutes) from the Gladie Historic Site to a small number of restaurants in the Nada-Slade area. Restaurants in the Slade-Natural Bridge State Park area include Miguel's (a well-known pizzeria on KY 11), Natural Bridge State Park Lodge (buffet and menu ordering), Shell gas station (sandwiches and other hot entrees in Slade at Exit 33), and Nada Sandwich Shop.
There are several lodging options. Camping for a fee is available at Koomer Ridge (see map above). This is a first-come, first-serve camping facility with bathroom and shower facilities. Other camping options in the Gorge area are Indian Creek and Charlie Rock; both campgrounds charge camping fees. There are other privately owned campgrounds in the area. Other local lodging options include Lil Abner Motel (606-663-5386) and Natural Bridge State Park lodge, cottages, and campground (1-800-255-7275 then dial 6288 when prompted).
There are additional hotel and restaurant/grocery options in nearby Stanton and Winchester, both of which are west of the Gorge off the Mountain Parkway (see maps above).
The web sites listed above have more information about local dining and lodging options, especially the Powell County Tourism web site.
web page last updated 6 January 2009