Experience pioneer life at the reconstructed working fort, which is the site of Kentucky’s second settlement. The fort features cabins, blockhouses, and furnishings, and you can witness resident artisans performing craft demonstrations.
Winter Operations:
- Park Grounds: Open seven days a week, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Fort: Closed for the season
Top Five Things to Do:
- Stroll the original fort site of Daniel Boone and settlers.
- Visit with our living historians in the replica working Fort.
- Shop for handmade pioneer items in the Gift Shop.
- Enjoy our wildly popular RV and tent campground.
- Launch your boat from the ramp to view the Palisades.
Fort: Fort Boonesborough has been reconstructed as a working fort complete with cabins, blockhouses, and furnishings. Resident artisans perform craft demonstrations, providing modern-day visitors a true sense of pioneer life in Kentucky. The fort reopens for the season on April 3, 2024.
Rates:
- Fort: Adults: $8.00
- Fort: Children, 6-12: $5.00
- Fort: Children under 6: $0.00
Birding: The park is home to Wild Turkeys, nesting pairs of Pileated Woodpeckers, Red-tailed Hawks, Sandhill Cranes during migration, Vulture roosts in winter, and various other bird species. Notable sightings include Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Dark-eyed Juncos, and more.
Boating: Launching ramps are available for easy access to the Kentucky River, providing a fun-filled day on the water.
Campground: Enjoy camping year-round on the banks of the Kentucky River. The campground offers 166 sites with electricity and water hookups, 18 full hookups, 10 equestrian sites, 2 playgrounds, and 2 central service buildings with laundry. Reservations are encouraged but not necessary, and a primitive area opens on April 15, 2023.
Fishing: The Kentucky River offers abundant bluegill, bass, and catfish, making fishing a favorite pastime. A Kentucky Fishing License is required.
Gift Shop: Explore handmade pioneer items, including lye soap, candles, pottery, furniture, candies, jams, scarves, and more. The gift shop also offers books on Daniel Boone, cookbooks, coonskin caps, and toys.
Hiking: Over half a mile of walking trails provides a peaceful escape. Trails include the Fort Trail, Halley Home Site Trail, and Pioneer Forage Trail, offering glimpses of history and nature.
Miniature Golf: Enjoy a round of miniature golf. Adults $4.50, Children 3-12 $3.50, and children under 3 are free. Open daily from April 1 to October 31.
Museum: The Kentucky River Museum provides insight into the lives of families along the river in the 1900s, focusing on commerce and the locks and dams. Open Memorial Day to Labor Day, Saturdays only.
Picnicking: Three picnic shelters, tables, grills, and playgrounds are scattered throughout the park for a perfect picnic outing.
Swimming: Closed for the season.
Tours: Fort Tours are available Wednesday-Sunday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. until October 29, 2023. Explore the reconstructed fort and experience pioneer life through craft demonstrations. For inquiries, email Jack.Winburn@ky.gov.
Fort Information
In April 1, 1775, upon reaching the Kentucky River, Daniel Boone and his men swiftly established Kentucky’s second settlement, now known as Fort Boonesborough. The fort has been meticulously reconstructed as a working fort, complete with cabins, blockhouses, and period furnishings. Life skills and craft demonstrations from the 18th century bring history to life, suitable for all ages. Recent archaeological findings have enriched our understanding, detailed on the new interpretive signage at the original fort.
The Fort will resume operations for the season on April 3, 2024.
Rates:
- Fort: Adults: $8.00
- Fort: Children, 6-12: $5.00
- Fort: Children under 6: $0.00
Fort Boonesborough Foundation
The Fort Boonesborough Foundation is dedicated to sustaining, fostering, and promoting quality programming at Fort Boonesborough State Park. The foundation plays a crucial role in supporting a majority of historical, craft, and educational programs at Fort Boonesborough, contributing essential funding. For more information and to explore their website, click here.