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 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.
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 other information regarding the PCTC, please reach out to info@gopoco.org or call 606-663-1161.
PCTC Current Board Members
Lynne Stidham (Chair)
Dario Ventura (Vice Chair)
Debbie Tipton (Treasurer)
Jacqueline Townsend
Delbert Brown
Eric Griggs
Tony Morton
✨Happy Labor Day! ✨
We will be open until 3pm today, Monday, September 7th. Stop in before then to get any maps, information and recommendations. If you arrive after 3pm, we always have maps outside and you can visit our website.
@pfic_network_rrg @pficnetwork is holding their annual Charity Open and Labor Day party fundraiser at @redpointrrg today. Cornhole, Regional Artists Gallery, Family Fun, Live Music and more. We are proud to sponsor this awesome community event.
Skydiving is back in Powell County! Red River Boogie 2026 is happening October 22-24 at the Stanton Airport! Spectators are welcome and tandem skydives are available to book. Visit @start_skydiving and head over to their website for more information! 🪂
📷 @gollerchris
✨ 4th Annual PFIC Charity Open & Labor Day party ✨
The 4th annual PFIC Charity Open & Labor Day party is happening this Monday, September 7th at @redpointrrg
Compete on one of Eastern Kentucky`s most scenic courses and know that every round played helps support families affected by PFIC, a rare genetic disease.
It is a PDGA sanctioned XC-Tier tournament. Register by using the link in their bio and stay for the party! Live music, regional artists gallery, food, raffles, cornhole and more.
We`re proud to sponsor this fantastic event! Hope to see you all on Monday!
We are deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Wendell Berry. He was a true advocate for the Red River Gorge, Kentucky, and Mother Nature as a whole. His poetry and essays really speak volumes to the importance of connection to your roots and to nature. If you have never read his tribute to the RRG, The Unforeseen Wilderness, we can`t recommend it enough. We also have some new bookmarks here at the Red River Gorge Visitor Center. Take this as a sign to pick up a book, grab a new bookmark, and head out into the woods and read for a while. 📖🌳
💚 Natural Bridge State Resort Park 💚
Gorgeous views, beautiful hikes, and a unique habitat for a variety of wildlife and plants. Come see it for yourself. And, be sure to stop in and see us for maps and area information!
We sure love getting TRASHY! Yesterday a group of 8 volunteers, including our Executive Director cleaned our two mile stretch of road. They were able to collect 28 bags of trash from just two miles from Nada towards Stanton. Thank you to everyone who helped! We appreciate it.
CROWE FEST 26` starts this Thursday and it`s not too late to get tickets. This is an amazing bluegrass music festival honoring the late JD Crowe held at Meadowgreen Appalachian Music Park! Concessions will be available and the festival runs Thursday - Sunday! Head over to Clay City and enjoy live bluegrass. We are proud to sponsor this event. 🪕🎸
All set up for the 2026 Kentucky State Fair!
Pete and Dedra from Beattyville/Lee County Tourism set up a Red River Gorge regional booth in the Pride of the Counties area of the State Fair yesterday for the fair that runs August 20-30. Make sure you swing on by and say hi!
Pete (PCTC Executive Director), Gill (PCTC Assistant Director), Lesa Caudill (PCTC Front Desk Greeter), and Brian McKinney (Powell Co Magistrate and PCSAR) will all be working the booth representing Powell County. There will be other folks from the 5 county region there too throughout the 10-day fair. We truly believe that a rising tide raises all ships and we love representing the region at the fair every year!
We have a winner!
Congrats to Gwen Risner and her winning quilt "Ingrid`s Wildflowers". She won the People`s Choice award at this year`s Natural Bridge Artisan Festival and Quilt Show. She won a beautiful basket full of local goodies!
With over 60 quilts this year, it was our biggest show ever! Congrats again to the winner and a huge THANK YOU to all of those who brought in their quilts for display. See you at next year`s quilt show! 🪡
The Natural Bridge Artisan Festival & Quilt Show is this weekend.
The Quilt Show takes place here at the Visitor Center and the Festival is just behind us at Natural Bridge Campground.
We will have over 60 quilts on display!
Quilt Show Hours
Saturday 9am-5pm
Sunday 9am-3pm
Natural Bridge Artisan Festival Hours
Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday 10am-4pm
Come experience the festival and see all of the gorgeous Appalachian arts, crafts and quilts. We can`t wait to see y`all this weekend.
We had the pleasure of visiting @theemeraldwell this morning and what a treat it was!
We picked our very own flowers from the beautiful rows of wildflowers. They are absolutely stunning and there are so many to choose from.
The flower farm is peaceful, quiet and gorgeous. While walking the rows of flowers, you could hear the birds, the breeze and even the bees buzzing around.
If you are looking for something to do, head over to Clay City and enjoy a little time at the flower farm. Pick a cup full, or a bucket and enjoy with friends and family.
The Emerald Well is located at 3712 Snow Creek Rd. Clay City, KY
It`s almost that time of the year again! The Natural Bridge Artisan Festival & Quilt Show will take place on Saturday, August 15th and Sunday, August 16th.
Natural Bridge Artisan Festival is held at Natural Bridge Campground, located right behind the Visitor Center. The Quilt Show will be held at the Red River Gorge Visitor Center.
Come on out and enjoy a weekend full of gorgeous Appalachian arts & crafts.
If you`d like to bring in a quilt for the Quilt Show, please bring it to the Visitor Center by Thursday, August 13th.
🔸 Natural Bridge Artisan Festival Hours 🔸
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm
🔸Quilt Show Hours 🔸
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am -3pm
