Tourism & Recreation

Wayne County offers many opportunities for its citizens and tourists.  Along with a wide variety of restaurants and shopping, there are many sites of interest and special events in Wayne County.

Special Events

There are a wide variety of events taking place in Wayne County at any time.  A sampling of those events is listed below:

One project that was a direct result of the Empowerment Zone designation is the ASPIRE Center located in Wayne County. ASPIRE is an acronym for Activities, Sports, Programs, Information, Recreation and Education. It is a unique facility in that it has multiple components including recreational programs including a swimming pool, athletic activities in the gymnasium and a multi-purpose room where community comes together.  The ASPIRE Center is located at 225 Highway 1275 N., Monticello.  For more information call 606.340.9362

The Contented Heart Quilt Guild  was organized in 1989. They recognized the need to teach others their skills and also saw the opportunity to help those in need by using their rare talent.  The Guild manages a Quilt Shop.  There are members at the Shop Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. working away and always ready to share their knowledge with visitors.  Classes are available for adults and children. The Contented Heart Quilt Guild Shop is located at 102 N. Main St., Monticello, KY.  For more information call (606) 340-0015.

 The lake has more than 1,200 miles of shoreline and 63,000 acres of water Lake Cumberland provides many recreational opportunities such as houseboating, fishing, hunting, camping, picnicking, boating, skiing, tubing, canoeing, hiking and just generally enjoying the outdoors.  There are two marinas on Lake Cumberland.  They offer many of the above mentioned activities.

The Corp of Engineers  offers camping, a boat ramp and picnicking at Fall Creek Recreational Area, which is located on KY 2393, Monticello, KY.  For more information call (877) 444-6777.

The county offers many boat ramps , that may be accessed free of charge.

Mill Springs Park

The Monticello Woman’s Club and other organizations reactivated the 1817’s mill with aid from the Kentucky Department of Highways.  The overshot waterwheel is the world’s largest still in operation.  Mill Springs Mill  is on the National Register of Battlefields and is one of 25 included on a special Endangered Battlefield list.  The Monticello Woman’s Club operates the gift shop.  Located in Mill Springs, KY on Hwy 1275, this is a must see destination stop!

Brown-Lanier House

The Brown-Lanier House  was the home of the miller operating the grist mill just below the house at Mill Springs Park.  The house served as a home, headquarters and hospital before and after the Battle of Mill Springs, the first Union victory of the Civil War.  Three Generals occupied the house, General Felix K. Zollicoffer C.S.A., General Manson Malone U.S.A. and General George H. Thomas, U.S.A.  Guided tours are offered Friday & Saturday, 10am to 4pm and on Sunday from 1pm to 4pm.  Located on Highway 1275,  just above Mill Springs Park.  For more information call 606-636-4045.

West-Metcalfe House

Isaac West built the first brick house in Wayne County in 1800. General Felix Kirk Zollicoffer used it as his headquarters before the Battle of Mill Springs on January 19th 1863. After the battle, it was used as a hospital for many of the wounded. . Allen R. West buried over a dozen soldiers in the family cemetery on the West farm. The house is now known as the "West-Metcalfe House." A few days before the battle, Gen. Zollicoffer moved his headquarters to what is now the Brown-Lanier House. The general died in the battle.  This site is on the Historical Register and is being restored.  It is located on the Mill Springs Road which runs between Hwy 90 and Hwy 1275, Monticello, KY

Monticello County Club has a challenging 9-hole golf course with all the beauties expected in the Foothills of Ky. The course has an Olympic size pool with a children’s wading pool, plus a clubhouse ready to rent for your next reception, reunion, or banquet meeting. The Club is located on the Hwy 90 By-Pass, in Monticello, just minutes off the lake! For more information call (606) 348-7321.

The 86-acre Monticello-Wayne County Memorial Park has walking trails, six shelters, a gazebo, two playgrounds, three basketball courts, three lighted tennis courts, volleyball, badminton, horseshoe, croquet, four softball fields, one baseball field, a show arena.  The park houses the Wayne County Fair and Horse Show during the 4th of July week along with numerous other community events.  The park is located on Michigan Ave., Monticello, KY.  For more information call (606) 348-9551.

The Kentucky Leadership Center  is facility for all kinds of different meetings and get-aways.  The Leadership Center is located in Jabez, the northern area of Wayne County.  For more information call (859) 257-5961
 

Wayne County Museum

The Wayne County Museum   is open every Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. or by appointment.  The museum is located on Main St., Monticello, KY.

3 R’s School House

The Wayne County Retired Teachers Association has fully restored the old Oak Grove one room schoolhouse.  The schoolhouse is now located behind the Museum.  Tours of the Three R's Schoolhouse can be arranged.  For more information call (606) 340-2300

“Raccoon” John Smith Cabin

Within close walking to the museum and the schoolhouse, is the “Raccoon” John Smith Cabin .  The cabin was built prior to 1820, originally located in Horse Hollow (Parmleysville), Kentucky.  The cabin is now located adjacent to the First Christian Church, Michigan Avenue.

The BSFNRRA  offers scenic areas, trails, horseback riding, canoeing, and whitewater rafting in its 105,000 wilderness acres.  For more information call (606) 376-5073

The Daniel Boone National Forest  offers hiking trails, camping, horseback riding and fishing.  For more information call (859) 745-3100

Seasonal Events  

Wayne County Farmers Market

Activity:  Offering a wide selection of fresh, locally grown produce
Location: Downtown Monticello at the Justice Center
Date/Time: Saturdays 7 am – 11 pm
Contact: Wayne County Extension 606.348.8453

March Events

Pittsburg Marine Fishing Tournament

Activity: Fishing Tournament
Location: Conley Bottom Resort
Date/Time: Second weekend in March
Contact: Conley Bottom Resort 606.348.6351

Wayne County Cross Country's St. Patrick's Day 5K

Activity: 5K race
Location:  9-1-1 Dispatch Center
Date/Time:  3rd Saturday in March
                  Registration at 8:00 a.m.
                  Race Begins at 9:00 a.m.
Contact:  Kevin Jones 606.307.1391

Child Abuse Awareness March

Activity:  Kick-Off for April's Child Abuse Awareness Month featuring a Children's March/Parade and Balloon Release.
Location:  Downtown Monticello.  March/Parade begins at the 9-1-1 Center and ends at the Doughboy, downtown.
Date/Time:  Last Saturday in March at 11:00 a.m.
Contact:  Melissa Upchurch melissaupchurch@yahoo.com

April Events

Celebrity Chef Sampler 2008

Activity:  Local Charity Fundraiser
Location:  Monticello National Guard Armory
Date/Time:  Friday, April 25th, 2008 6-8 p.m.
Contact:  First Southern National Bank 606.348.8421

May Events

Heart of Lake Cumberland Spring Fest

Activity: Featuring arts and crafts, food, music, games, and entertainment.
Location: Downtown Monticello 
Date/Time: 2nd weekend in May
Contact: Wayne Co. Chamber of Commerce  606.348.3064

Monticello Women’s Club Cornbread Festival 

Activity: You’ll love the soup-beans, cornbread, and arts and crafts.
Location: Mill Springs Park  
Date/Time: Memorial Day Weekend
Contact: Melinda Jensen 606.348.0499

June Events

Relay for Life 

Activity: American Cancer Society fundraiser
Location: Monticello/Wayne County Park
Date/Time: 1st Friday in June
Contact:

Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs 

Activity: Offers fishing classes for kids age 1-5, 6-10 and 11-15.
Location: Cave Lake Event Park
Date/Time: 1st Saturday in June
Contact: Defensive Action Against Drugs 606.340.8127

Lake Cumberland Classic Softball Tournament

Activity: Area softball teams in tournament action.
Location: Monticello/Wayne County Park
Date/Time: 2nd weekend in June
Contact: 606.348.9551

Lake Cumberland Street Ramblers Car Show

Activity: New and Classic cars on display
Location: Monticello/Wayne County Park
Date/Time: Last Sunday in June
Contact:  606.348.3064

July Events

The Wayne County Fair 

Activity: Carnival, Demo Derby, Truck/Tractor Pulls, and more!
Location: Monticello/Wayne County Park
Date/Time: The week of July 4th.
Contact: Darrell Easter 606.348.4202 dreaster@winstream.net 

August Events

Kiwanis Family Fun Night

Activity: An evening of fun for the entire family
Location: Monticello/Wayne County Park
Date/Time: 1st Saturday in August
Contact: Gary Dick 606.340.8687

Labor Day Weekend and September Events

Contented Heart Guild Quilt Show

Activity: Quilt Show with prizes, demonstrations and more!
Location: The ASPIRE Center 
Date/Time: Labor Day Weekend (Friday and Saturday)
Contact: 606.340.0015 

Lake Cumberland 5 Miler

Activity: 5K, 5 mile run and 1 mile fun run for youth
Location: Monticello/Wayne County Park
Date/Time: Saturday before Labor Day
Contact:  Greg West 606.307.0436 waycoky@yahoo.com 

Lake Cumberland Poker Run

Activity: Ranked as one of the Top 10 Poker Runs in the nation
Location: Starts at State Dock with a stop at Conley Botton Resort
Date/Time: 2nd weekend in September
Contact:  State Dock 888.782.8336

Lake Cumberland Clean Up

Activity: Volunteers compete for prizes while cleaning the shorelines of Lake Cumberland.
Location: Lake Cumberland – Conley Bottom Resort
Date/Time: 3rd Saturday in September
Contact: US Army Corp of Engineers 606.679.6337

October Events

Salvation Army Safe Trick-or-Treat Night

Activity: A safe place to let your children receive treats from approximately 50 businesses and organizations.
Location: The ASPIRE Center
Date/Time: Trick-or-Treat day and hours as established by the Monticello City Council.
Contact: Phillip Catron 606.348.9039

November Events

Veteran's Day Parade

Activity:  Parade to honor all Veterans
Location:  Downtown Monticello - from 9-1-1 Center to the Doughboy
Date/Time:  November 11th, Veteran's Day

Wayne County Homemakers Christmas Village

Activity: Arts and crafts on sale for Christmas.  Includes a Children's Christmas Village for children 5-12 to purchase handame gifts for family members at $2.00 each.
Location: KY National Guard Armory  
Date/Time: Held the third Saturday of November 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Contact: Georgia Burton 606.348.8453

Kiwanis Radio Action

Activity: Items donated by local businesses and individuals are auctioned to raise money for disadvantaged youth Christmas presents.
Location: Radio station 101.7 WKYM-FM.  
Date/Time: Beginning Thanksgiving evening and continues the following day.  
Contact: Shannon Hutchinson 606.348.4241

December Events

Monticello/Wayne County Chamber of Commerce  Christmas Parade

Activity: One of the few remaining night time parades in the state.  
Location: Downtown Monticello
Date/Time: Held the first Friday of December at 6 p.m.
Contact: info@monticellokychamber.com  606.348.3064