We all dream of being home for the holidays and, for many, that means traveling back to the mountains of Harlan County! Whether you’re visiting over the Thanksgiving weekend or you’re a local hosting out of town guests, here’s a few ideas for spending time together during the Thanksgiving weekend!

-Warm Wednesday- With temperatures forecasted near the 60s and mostly sunny skies, the day before Thanksgiving looks like it will be perfect for some outdoor exploration. Hit the trails at Kingdom Come State Park, climb to Knobby Rock in Blanton Forest, explore the historic Pine Mountain Settlement School campus, take a motorcycle ride on the Dragon Slayer Hwy 160, or get muddy at the Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Area.

–Wonderland Mini Golf– Does your Christmas begin as soon as the leftovers are in the fridge? Kingdom Come State Park is bringing back their popular Wonderland Mini Golf and it opens on Thanksgiving Day! The mini-golf course is transformed with lights, festive music, and lovable Christmas characters! Play your way through the course or just walk through to enjoy the Christmas spirit. The fun kicks off on Thanksgiving from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

–Festival of the Mountain Masters– On Friday November 25 and Saturday November 26, the Village Center Mall hosts The Festival of the Mountain Masters. Regional artisans offer items that are homemade, handcrafted, and home baked. Browse one of a kind creations while enjoying performances and shopping the stores that call the Village Center Mall home year round. The festival runs each day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

-2022 Harlan County Celebrates Christmas Light Display- The Harlan County Christian School invites you to brighten your holiday with a visit to the Shriner’s Fairgrounds at Putney for their drive thru Christmas lights display. The display will be open on Thanksgiving weekend both Friday November 25 and Saturday November 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

-Black Friday & Small Business Saturday- Spend time shopping the stores and boutiques of Harlan County, especially the ones in our downtown areas. Your purchases support our dedicated business owners and their families! Curious about what’s available? Check out posts from Hello Harlan and Hello Tri-Cities for a glimpse at downtown shops. Harlan will be running a Downtown Christmas Bingo where you can win cash prizes for visiting and making purchases from downtown shops beginning on Black Friday! 

-There’ll be scary ghost stories- Krampus is coming to town at Kingdom Come State Park’s Krampus Christmas. On Saturday November 26, enjoy a haunted house with a twist as festive freaks bring you Christmas fear instead of Christmas cheer! Hours are 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

-Game on- Are the kids making the house a little too rowdy? Take them to the 606 Gaming Lounge on Main St in Harlan. Once you purchase your hours of play, you have access to all of their tabletop games, video games, and VR games! They’ll be occupied for hours while you enjoy some peace and quiet. The gaming lounge is open Friday & Saturday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Pro-tip: Moonbow Tipple Coffee & Sweets is located just across the street so you can enjoy a quiet moment with a coffee while the kids game their hearts out.

-Raise a glass- Are the adults making the house a little too rowdy? Send them over to the Harlan County Beer Company! With a full menu and bar, they’ll be well fed and entertained as they watch the game or just catch up with one another. You’ll also find a great selection of HCBC merchandise so that you can represent Harlan County’s first legal brew wherever you go! They’ll be open on Friday & Saturday November 25 & 26.

We suggest checking social media pages for these events to confirm dates, times, costs, etc. The best way to keep up with events taking place throughout Harlan County is to follow Visit Harlan County. We hope this Thanksgiving is the most memorable one yet!

The post Home for the holidays appeared first on Harlan County.

Harlan County has a rich history. This history has made the county into what it is today. Because of this, we have compiled a list of 25 historic places to visit in Harlan County!

1. Benham Historic District

This district is composed of ten buildings and a park in Benham. These houses were the center of the coal camp between 1919 and 1928. The Kentucky Coal Mining Museum is located in this historic district.

2. Kentucky Coal Mining Museum

The Kentucky Coal Mining Museum is located in Benham, KY. Here, you can experience the history of coal mining in Eastern Kentucky for yourself. They even have a Loretta Lynn exhibit!

3. Rebel Rock and Little Shepherd Trail

Little Shepherd Trail is a 38-mile road that is now part of the Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail. This trail has numerous overlooks and wildlife sightings throughout. One can’t miss spot is Rebel Rock. Rebel Rock was home to a camp and observation post that was used by the rebel army.

4. Harlan County Extension Depot

The Louisville & Nashville Railroad Depot was the first depot in Harlan County and it sparked growth throughout the county.  When the original Depot was demolished, all was not lost.  The Harlan County Extension Service constructed a multipurpose building in the footprint of the old depot that closely resembles the original depot.  It’s a glimpse into the past with a modern twist.

5. Portal 31

Portal 31 was built in Lynch by the US Coal and Coke Company, a subsidiary of US Steel Corp. The mine used to hold the world record for coal production in a 9 hour shift. Portal 31 is now an underground mine tour where you can ride in a railcar and tour the facilities.

6. Harlan County Coal Monument

The Coal Monument in Harlan, KY. is an obelisk that was constructed in honor of the coal industry in Harlan County.  The monument is built from blocks of coal contributed by each coal mine operating in the county at the time of its construction.  Located in Baxter on Hwy 72, the monument is an iconic piece of Harlan County. 

7. Pine Mountain Settlement School

Pine Mountain Settlement School is a National Historic Landmark, and was opened in 1913 in Bledsoe, KY. It was originally opened as a boarding school for mountain children. Now it serves as a cultural and educational center that welcomes visitors from around the world to experience Appalachian culture, learn more about our natural environment, and celebrate together at festivals and events.

8. Blanton Forest State Nature Preserve

Blanton Forest is the largest old growth forest in the state of Kentucky. The land was purchased in 1928 and was passed on with the understanding that the land would never be logged. The preserve is located near Loyall, KY and is home to many hiking trails as well as the oldest boy scout camp in the state of Kentucky.

9. Harlan County Coal Miners Memorial Monument

This memorial is located in downtown Harlan near the courthouse. The monument honors those who have lost their lives in the mines in Harlan County.

10. Harlan Doughboy

The Harlan Doughboy is located in front of the courthouse in downtown Harlan. The Harlan Doughboy was unveiled in 1930 to honor those who gave their lives in service to their country in WWI.

11. Harlan Courthouse

Downtown Harlan has been home to the county seat of Harlan County since its establishment.  During the county’s history, five courthouses have been constructed including the rebuilding of the courthouse after it had been burned during the Civil War.  The current Harlan County Courthouse was built from 1918-1922 and is made of Indiana limestone.  The Courthouse occupies the center block of downtown Harlan and is part of a complex including the newer Justice Center and a variety of monuments and historical markers.

12. Confederate Cemetery

This Confederate Cemetery is located in Cawood, KY right off of US 421. This area was an important passageway for Union and Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Many soldiers camped in this area while traveling.

13. Hidden Cemetery

Did you know that there is a hidden cemetery in downtown Harlan?  It is the final resting place for members of some of Harlan County’s founding families.  It’s located on Clover St. in Downtown Harlan. 

14. Coal Miner’s Memorial Theater

This theater is located in Benham, KY and was opened in 1923. It has found new life as a theater that shows already released movies for a discounted price. The theater is said by some to be haunted!

15. Wagon Road Tunnel

On top of Stone Mountain in the Cranks Creek and Stone Mountain Wildlife Management Area is an old wagon tunnel. This tunnel is said to have been hand-hewn and was a gateway into Harlan County, the state of Kentucky, and the western frontier beyond the Appalachians!

16. Wallins Baptist Church

This church is home to the oldest congregation in Harlan County. Join this welcoming group for your next church service!

17. Benham Schoolhouse Inn

This school was built in 1926 and served as a school until 1992. The school was transformed into an inn in 1994. The Inn was set to close in June of 2016, but was saved by the Appalachian Hospitality Group in July of 2016. The president of this group now runs the Inn. In addition to the well appointed lodging, the Inn is also home to the Dinner Bucket Restaurant as well as banquet facilities.  The Inn hosts multiple parties and events throughout the year.

18. Hensley Settlement

On Brush Mountain on a wagon road lies Hensley Settlement. This settlement was established in 1904 and was occupied until 1951. Approximately 25 of the original buildings have been restored and are surrounded by mountain pastures.  Access from Harlan County is primitive and can be reached by 4 wheel drive vehicle, foot, or horseback.

19. Wallins Creek

In 1911, Wallins Creek Colliers Company opened the first mines in Harlan County for shipping. On August 25th, they shipped the first car of coal from Harlan County. This mine was located in Terry’s Fork in Wallins Creek.

20. Lamp House No. 2

Lamp House No. 2 is now the location for Lamp House Coffee in Lynch, KY. In the past, this lamp house was used by miners that worked in Portal 31. These miners would come here to get their lamps for their shift.  Now you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and coffee drinks in view of the mine entrance.

21. Putney Ranger Station

The Putney Ranger Station was built in 1937 and was home to those who protected the county from wildfires. A ranger would live there with their family and alert the crews when there was a fire somewhere in the county.  In recent years, it has been the focus of local efforts to restore it to its original condition.

22. Kentenia State Forest

Kentenia is the oldest state-owned forest that was acquired by the KY Division of Forestry in 1919. The forest is comprised of over 4,000 acres on the south face of Pine Mountain and includes features like Little Shepherd Trail and Goss Park.

23. Headwaters of the Cumberland River

Harlan County is home to the headwaters of the Cumberland River. Martins Fork starts near Hensley Settlement, Clover Fork starts in Holmes Mill, and Poor Fork begins on Pine Mountain. All of these waterways converge to form the Cumberland River in Baxter, KY.

24. Godbey Appalachian Cultural and Fine Arts Center

This center is located at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. Here, there is an extensive collection of Appalachian artifacts including archives of photographs, oral histories, art collections, pottery, music, and dulcimer making.  It is also home to the nationally acclaimed Higher Ground community performance series.

25. Whitfield Public Library

Whitfield Public Library is located in downtown Harlan. This library has issues of the Harlan Daily Enterprise going back as far as the 20s! The library also has genealogy resources that can be used while in the library.

No matter if you’re from Harlan County or if you’re visiting the county as a tourist, these historic stops are all interesting places to visit. This is just part of Harlan’s historic roots.  Discover these locations and so much more.

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