Boone's Ridge, the 12,000-acre family-friendly wildlife tourism destination in Bell County, Kentucky, is projected to open in the fall of 2027 after more than a decade of planning and conservation work.
$23 Million Trailblazer's Hall & Attractions
Appalachian Wildlife Foundation President David Ledford and General Manager Chris Osborne hosted U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and his wife Kelley for a tour inside Trailblazer's Hall, the $23 million visitor center at the heart of Boone's Ridge.
- Trailblazer's Hall: Features a wildlife conservation and coal history museum, a Cornell University Lab of Ornithology bird exhibit, a 120-seat theater, a gift shop, and a restaurant seating 220 indoors and 110 outdoors.
- Wildlife & Family Features: Home to 400–500 free-ranging elk, thriving whitetail deer and wild turkey populations, over 260 documented bird species, a bison enclosure, a butterfly house, a petting zoo, a people-mover tram, hiking trails, and one of the largest playgrounds in Kentucky.
Regional Tourism Impact
Modeled after Pennsylvania's Elk Country Visitor Center, Boone's Ridge is projected to draw up to 900,000 visitors annually by its third year of operation and provide daily educational access for K–12 students across Bell County and southeastern Kentucky.
