~Momma B~
Chained Rock Kentucky
Chained Rock a link to Kentucky's lore
Visitors love Chained Rock at Pine Mountain, Kentucky's first state park, established in 1924. The way the story goes, area residents told children and visitors that the rock, clearly visible from the town, could not fall because it was chained in place. That, however, was not true.
Then, in 1933, the rock was chained to the nearby cliff in a publicity stunt that attracted widespread media attention. The move created a first-rate tourist attraction.
The steel chain is 101 feet long, spans 75 feet and weighs 1 1/2 tons. Each 4- by 6-inch link weighs 4 1/2 pounds. They are made of steel and are 1 3/8 inches thick.
The chain, acquired from a quarry in Virginia, was moved up the mountain by mules, Kiwanis Club members, local Boy Scouts and the Civilian Conservation Corps.
The half-mile walk from Overlook Point to Chained Rock is a deceptively easy downhill hike. The return climb is steadily uphill, with 300 feet of elevation gain, and may be tough for some.
The overlook offers an eagle's-eye view of Pineville and U.S. 25E, which runs along the old Wilderness Road used by Daniel Boone and other early settlers.
The park, in Bell County, is 16 miles north of Cumberland Gap National Historic Park.
Chained Rock Kentucky
Chained Rock a link to Kentucky's lore
Visitors love Chained Rock at Pine Mountain, Kentucky's first state park, established in 1924. The way the story goes, area residents told children and visitors that the rock, clearly visible from the town, could not fall because it was chained in place. That, however, was not true.
Then, in 1933, the rock was chained to the nearby cliff in a publicity stunt that attracted widespread media attention. The move created a first-rate tourist attraction.
The steel chain is 101 feet long, spans 75 feet and weighs 1 1/2 tons. Each 4- by 6-inch link weighs 4 1/2 pounds. They are made of steel and are 1 3/8 inches thick.
The chain, acquired from a quarry in Virginia, was moved up the mountain by mules, Kiwanis Club members, local Boy Scouts and the Civilian Conservation Corps.
The half-mile walk from Overlook Point to Chained Rock is a deceptively easy downhill hike. The return climb is steadily uphill, with 300 feet of elevation gain, and may be tough for some.
The overlook offers an eagle's-eye view of Pineville and U.S. 25E, which runs along the old Wilderness Road used by Daniel Boone and other early settlers.
The park, in Bell County, is 16 miles north of Cumberland Gap National Historic Park.