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 Commission Slade Welcome Center, 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.

DON'T FORGET! Don't forget about the Live Broadcast from Kentucky Sports Radio out here in the Red River Gorge at the new The Greenhouse at Appalachian Rose Farm - RRG wedding venue on Friday, March 8! The broadcast starts at 9am. The first 50 folks in line get a prize!
NEW HOURS! The Slade Welcome Center is expanding hours to 9am-3pm EVERYDAY for the upcoming spring season. Come on out and see us! 😃🥾🗺
NATURAL BRIDGE IN THE SNOW! Doesn’t she look extra pretty this time of year covered in snow? ❄️🌬️Thanks for sharing your epic 📸 @billy.hikes
HAPPY NEW YEARS! From all of us here at the Powell County Tourism Commission, we want to wish you all a Happy New Years! What better way to kick off 2024 than hiking at the Red River Gorge?! What are you waiting for?! 

The Slade Welcome Center will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday 1/2. Our new winter hours will be 9am-2pm EVERYDAY!
Happy Holidays from all of us here at the Powell County Tourism Commission! As a reminder, the Slade Welcome Center will be closed Friday 12/22 through Monday 12/25. We will reopen on Tuesday 12/26.

It's looking like an absolutely GORGEOUS weekend! 🎅🎄🎁
Mark your calendars for CHRISTMAS IN SLADE on Saturday, December 16! Things kick off at 8am at Natural Bridge State Resort Park with Breakfast with Santa.

We then have a pop-up Red River Gorge Farmers Market from 10am-2pm at the Slade Welcome Center!

There is also Live Music at the RRG General Store with Jacob Fultz from 11am-1pm!

Shops will also be having special sales and offerings as well! So far we have:

-Daniel Boone Coffee Shop - free drip coffee and free hot chocolate, plus a bourbon raffle!
-La Cabana Mexican Restaurant will have photos with GRINCH and ELF! Plus sales in their gift shop!
-RRG Gift Shop will have 10% off storewide and HALF OFF MINI GOLF!

Come on out and stay for the weekend and see the Christmas lights as well!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! From all of us here at the Slade Welcome Center, we wish everyone a safe, happy, and healthy Thanksgiving holiday! We will re-open on Monday 11/27! 🦃

In the meantime, check out all of our awesome local shops that are offering sales this Black Friday and Small Business Saturday! Shop small and support local! We have so many amazing shops, artists, and craftspeople in the area, let's show them some love! ❤🥰
PHOTOS WITH GRINCH! The Powell County Tourism Commission welcomes you to the Slade Welcome Center on Saturday, December 2nd from 10am-NOON for photos with the GRINCH!

Kyle from Rentals in The Red has graciously offered to transform himself into the grinch for some photo ops and a TOY DRIVE! The photos are FREEEEEEEE OF CHARGE, however, we will also be collecting toys to donate to the AMVETS Post 67 "Christmas with a Smile" event happening on the 16th. Don't worry, you can still get your photo without a donation, but if you're able, please bring a present to pass along! 🎁

There will be readings of How the Grinch Stole Christmas throughout the event as well! We will have coloring pages and some other activities for the kiddos as well!

Don't have kids that need photos? Don't worry, PETS are also welcome! So are awkward family photos! Or take a selfie with the Grinch! Everyone is welcome!

Who: YOU!
What: Photos with the Grinch, story time, coloring pages, TOY DRIVE
Where: Slade Welcome Center (30 L&E Railroad Place, Slade, KY 40376)
When: Saturday, December 2, from 10am-NOON
Why: Because it's the Grinch!
🎅🤶❄️⛄️🧸🎁
HOURS CHANGING! The Slade Welcome Center will be CLOSED Thursday-Sunday (11/23-26) this week for the Thanksgiving holiday 🦃! When we open back up on 11/27 we will scale back our hours and be OPEN EVERYDAY 9am-3pm! We will still be here for all of your information and wayfinding needs SEVEN DAYS A WEEK! Have a happy Thanksgiving!