Run by the McCreary County Heritage Foundation, the train departs the historic Stearns Depot atop the river gorge and travels down to Mine 18. Today, engines #10 and #12 (formerly Southern Railway 4501), (both 2-8-2 Mikakdos), are currently residing at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee with #12 restored to operational condition with its original Southern Railway colors and number 4501 whilst #10 is awaiting restoration. Join us as the season is here to see one of Kentuckys most beautiful tourism destinations in full Autumn colors! See more of my videos at www.billsvideos.weebly.com Photo by: Thomas Hart. We explored most of it before our return trip. If you have more questions please contact us! Come see what make the Big South Fork one of the most breath taking parks in Tennessee. Their story is the story of Blue Heron. Purchased New. What other favorite attractions in Kentucky are you looking forward to visiting? Join a park ranger for fun, informative, and free guided programs and events. Very relaxing to have taken the little train to the little park to such a historic setting. Groome & Co Realtors. Big South Fork preserves and protects a huge variety of natural and cultural resources, there is something to interest almost anybody. 4564 Leatherwood Road Oneida Oneida, TN Claim this business. Enjoy wide open vistas, roaring rivers, and the history and charm of Appalachia, as we transport you back in time to our halfway point- the Barthell Coal Camp, the sight . 100% (30 Reviews) . On the return trip to Stearns, Santa will visit each coach and hand out the first gift of Christmas to each passenger. The Tennessee Central Railroad had a spur that ran into Monterey, Tennessee, where K&T hoped to meet them. You'll choose from four train cars and there are plenty of seats available as of now. And if you really love trains, youll want to check out these 8 charming train towns in Kentucky. If the file has been modified from its original state, some details such as the timestamp may . Now operating at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. What a great way to remember your magical journey to the North Pole! Similar steep road conditions also exist when driving into Blue Heron on Hwy 741. Stearns, KY 42647. www.bsfsry.com. During April through October, you can choose the K & T Special ride, which takes you through the gorgeous surrounding areas in Daniel Boone National Forest and the Big South Fork National River and . The Big South Fork Scenic Railway is an exciting trip for all ages. Big South Fork Scenic Railway No Tickets Available This website uses cookies and other tracking technologies to better personalize your browsing experience, to analyze website traffic, and to present you with targeted content from the partner venues and organizations you visit on etix.com. The K&T Special, our signature excursion, is a gorgeous three-hour scenic train ride from Stearns, Kentucky to the . It's time to relax and degust tasty causa. This would-be Utopia survives today as both a living community and a fascinating historic site with twenty original buildings. (606) 376-5330. 2602 Santa Fe Pl Galveston, TX 77550 Now at the. (The veteran or active duty member must be present to redeem the military family discount. There are, however, several areas near Big South Fork where a person may ride ATV's. The scenic Suffolk walk that follows the remains of a disused railway line The Big South Fork Scenic Railway was easy to get to from Williamsburg, KY. My husband and I made reservations on-line for the train ride with lunch - museum admission included. Purchased New. Website. About Big South Fork Scenic Railway Stearns Coal & Lumber Company, which controlled more than 200 square miles of land in Kentucky and Tennessee, built the K&T Railway to navigate and export its vast mountain resources. The Eastern/Central Time Line runs through the middle of the park. For the recreational ATV rider, there are no authorized ATV trails within Big South Fork at this time. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Big South Fork Scenic Railway; Usage on www.wikidata.org Q4906395; Metadata. Stay tuned! Tennessee. This day trip through the horse farms of Kentucky is one of the exciting train excursions in the bluegrass state. Sold to the K&T in October 1948 and renumbered 12. Alvin C. York, the backwoods marksman from the mountains of Tennessee who became one of the most decorated soldiers of World War I. A train ride, beautiful nature, an education - and lunch too. Big South Fork Scenic Railway Timing: 09:00 am - 05:00 pm. This park located in Pall Mall, Tennessee, pays tribute to Sgt. It is in use today, hauling passengers to Mine 18. Be prepared to share the trail. There is a depot there serving the Big South Fork Scenic Railway. More. One is the Visitor Center which offers a small museum with Cordell Hull artifacts, a short movie and small gift shop. Blue Heron Mining Community, Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area. The fight ended with more than twenty Germans dead. Visit the Website. - shops, restaurants, historic buildings. Over the eons, this ceaseless moving water has carved the sandstones of the plateau into the . While there are several points of interest and overlooks along the highways, much of Big South Fork can only be reached by parking your car and walking, riding, biking or floating into the park. A good choice. 100 Henderson St Stearns KY 42647. 100 Henderson Street. But don't take our word for it. Camping near Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is easy with Hipcamp, where private landowners offer one-of-a-kind camping experiences. The Big South Fork Scenic Railway takes a 14 mile trip down to Blue Heron, the largest interpretive collection of historic coal mining in America. Little K&T touched the Kentucky/Tennessee state line just south of Bell Farm. Big South Fork Scenic Railway Address: 66 Henderson St, Stearns, KY 42647, USA, 42647, United States. This heritage railroad is located in Versailles, Kentucky, United States. There was so much beautiful forest scenery, little rivers and rapids, and water falls along the way as the train rattled and wound its way towards our stop.The stop at the mine area was great with the Park Rangers interpretation and all of the displays at the mine area explaining the history of the place. From April through October, the Big South Fork Scenic Railway offers a 3-hour, 14-mile round-trip into the Daniel Boone National Forest and Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area. The Grand Gap Loop Trail has been designated for hiking use with mountain bike use any day of the week. Popular trail spots include Roaring Fork Motor Trail - you can spot historic log cabins . As many of these destinations begin to open back up, some are ready to make those plans once again. The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, commonly known as Big South Fork, preserves the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries in northeastern Tennessee and southeastern Kentucky.. Website: Big South Fork Scenic Railway. SoI'd say this experience is 100% for "around" school-age children. They used to have Halloween pumpkins out, but they don't do that no more on the Halloween part. We made sure to get to the station . This State Park is basically three buildings. Have a lake within a few blocks of the downtown that offers a walking trail, park, amphitheater and playground. Within the Big South Fork, numerous pristine streams flow into the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River. Both McCreary County Museum and Big South Fork Scenic Railway are recommended for visiting. You can save a lot of money by getting FROM $13 at stearnsthepolarexpressride.com. November 18, 19 20, 25, 26,27 December 2,3,4,9,10,11, 14, 15,16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 Big South Fork Recreation Area Hwy 297 Oneida, TN (423) 286-7275. We are the only hotel in Perth to command sweeping views of the Swan River . Laurel Fork Rustic Retreat, 1364 Obey Blevins Rd, Jamestown, TN, 38556, United States, 11 Fun Ideas for Your Next Family Get-Together. During that time, hundreds of people lived and worked in this isolated community on the banks of the Big South Fork River. Welcome to the online home of Big South Fork Scenic Railway, in beautiful Stearns, Kentucky! Ex-Southern Railway #4501. Retired in 1963. Free use is available with an Interagency or Golden Pass, which must be displayed on the vehicle dash to receive the free . Check out the local events going down in the Big South Fork and Fentress County area! Visitors can rent houseboats, lakeside cabins and enjoy the many beaches. Rain or shine, there are many fun ways to get out and enjoy the Big South Fork during the spring season. Big South Fork Scenic Railway Contact Number: +1-8004625664. This page was last edited on 4 December 2022, at 01:27. Thomas the Tank Engine the famous steam locomotive from the Island of Sodor will pull your 45-minute . The town has been reconstructed by the Koger Family as it looked around 1910. Our half way stop was at an old coal mining camp. Stearns, KY Over 708,000 acres of forests, ravines and epic sandstone geological formations traced upon by rivers and streams await. Just a boring train ride for 75 bucks. Along the way you slow down and stop and hear some history about the Stearns family and the coal mining town. 4 days a week in the summer and 5 in October. On the Arkansas River, the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park is a stunning attraction just outside of Caon City, Colorado. Big South Fork is bisected by only three highways. Some visitors like great hot chocolate at Big South Fork Scenic Railway. The Big South Fork Scenic Railway was easy to get to from Williamsburg, KY. My husband and I made reservations on-line for the train ride with lunch - museum admission included. Scrapped 1920. Sold to the K&T in 1963. Recreation Permits and Passes; You may pay at the site or purchase a pass at the Stearns District office. You get on the train and it's about a 45 minute trip to Blue Heron (and a little quicker on the way back). In 1904, the K&T changed their corporate charter name to the Kentucky & Tennessee Railway Company, in order to finance the extension of the line to Worley, White Oak Junction, Cooperative, and Bell Farm. The Blue Heron mines operated from 1937 until December 1962, when operations were no longer profitable. The train had two regular cars, and two open cars, traveling through forest, mountains and streams.. Rangers traveled to and from the destination and were very informative and more than willing to answer questions. Most park offices and concessionaires operate on Eastern Time. If youve had a train ride in Kentucky on your bucket list for a while, youll be happy to know that the Big South Fork Scenic Railway is opening for rides beginning June 3rd and you can buy tickets now to experience one of the most favorite attractions in Kentucky. As an adult (of a certain age) I'm confident to say I won't be going back next year-or any successive year following. A few of the goals of Fish & Wildlife are to provide rainbow, brown, and lake trout for mitigation stocking in Tennessee and Georgia and to provide rainbow trout to Alabama in return for Gulf Coast striped bass eggs and fry. . This 3-hour excursion makes for a great summer day trip in Kentucky. The train descends 600 feet into the Big South Fork Gorge. Ex-Atlantic Equipment & Construction Company #1. South Elgin, IL 60177 . The Polar Express Ride was magical. This is a restored Victorian village founded in 1880 by British author and social reformer, Thomas Hughes. While other train rides in Kentucky are scenic and exciting, the views in this particular area are quite remarkable and unlike what many expect to see in Kentucky. The Big South Fork Scenic Railway operates out of Stearns in southeastern Kentucky, where coal, lumber, and trains were once booming industries. Some visitors like great hot chocolate at Big South Fork Scenic Railway. Breathtaking cliffs, arches, rock shelters, chimneys and other geological features are carved into the sandstone. Location. Numerous parks and forests near Lookout Mountain offer a wide range of camping options . Located in the heart of Historic Stearns, the McCreary County Museum is housed in the old Stearns Coal and Lumber Company Corporate headquarters, built in 1907. Ex-Denver & Rio Grande Western #119. On October 8, 1918 in the Argonne Forest in France, York found himself alone opposing a German machine gun unit. And one of the best ways to experience it is aboard the Big South Fork Scenic Railway. Call us at (606) 376-5330 For Sale: 139000 - Residential, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,008 sqft at 103 Doc Jones Road in Whitley City. The Summer Run ride will be offered Wednesday through Sunday beginning June 3rd and will operate at 50 percent capacity (for now), with enhanced cleaning protocols and open-air seating. $5/day; $7/3 day; $50 annual. 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