Sanders KentuckyATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Sanders, Kentucky.
1. Sanders Cafe & Museum
BIRTHPLACE OF KFC
Sanders Cafe & Museum is Colonel Sanders' original restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky, recognized as the birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken and listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Visitors can tour the facility as it appeared in the 1940s, including the Colonel's office and the kitchen where he developed the KFC secret formula. The experience includes dining in the Colonel's dining room and viewing exhibits featuring artifacts and memorabilia from the early days of KFC.
2. Sanders Park
CHARMING SMALL TOWN ATTRACTION
Sanders Park is a nice small-town attraction located in Corbin, Kentucky that provides visitors with a pleasant outdoor experience. The park has been undergoing improvements with new information being added to enhance the visitor experience. Visitors can also check out the new train attraction located behind the park for an extended experience.
3. Neeley Family Distillery
AUTHENTIC KENTUCKY BOURBON EXPERIENCE
Neeley Family Distillery is a highly-rated attraction in Sanders, Kentucky, boasting an impressive 4.8/5 rating from visitors. The distillery offers tourists an authentic Kentucky bourbon experience with tours showcasing the traditional distilling process. Visitors can learn about the family's moonshining history while sampling quality spirits in a charming setting.
4. Kentucky Speedway
HIGH-SPEED RACING EXCITEMENT
Kentucky Speedway is a popular motorsports facility near Sanders that has earned a 4.4/5 rating from over 130 visitors. The speedway offers thrilling racing events throughout the year, giving racing enthusiasts a chance to experience high-speed action. Visitors can enjoy the roar of engines and the excitement of competitive racing in a well-designed venue with good amenities.
5. Rusty Wallace Racing Experience
DRIVE LIKE A PRO
The Rusty Wallace Racing Experience offers visitors near Sanders the chance to drive real NASCAR race cars at Kentucky Speedway. With a stellar 4.6/5 rating from 75 reviewers, this attraction provides an adrenaline-pumping experience for racing enthusiasts. Participants receive professional instruction before taking to the track for an unforgettable driving experience.
6. Richard Petty Driving Experience
NASCAR LEGEND'S RACING ADVENTURE
The Richard Petty Driving Experience provides visitors with an opportunity to drive or ride in genuine NASCAR vehicles at Kentucky Speedway near Sanders. Named after racing legend Richard Petty, this 4.5/5-rated attraction offers various packages from ride-alongs to full driving experiences. Participants receive safety training and equipment before hitting the track for a high-speed adventure.
7. Cumberland Falls State Park
HOME OF MOONBOW PHENOMENON
Cumberland Falls State Park features the magnificent 68-foot Cumberland Falls, known as the 'Niagara of the South' and famous for displaying a moonbow, a rare lunar rainbow that appears on clear nights during a full moon. The park offers numerous hiking trails through lush forests, alongside scenic overlooks of the Cumberland River and falls. Visitors can enjoy activities including fishing, rafting, horseback riding, and staying at the rustic DuPont Lodge or in cozy cabins within the park.
8. General Burnside Island State Park
LAKESIDE RECREATION PARADISE
General Burnside Island State Park is a unique island park situated on a peninsula in Lake Cumberland, offering an 18-hole golf course with picturesque water views. The park provides excellent opportunities for boating, fishing, and camping with modern facilities and boat ramps for easy lake access. Visitors can enjoy picnicking, hiking, bird watching, and relaxing on this scenic island that was named after Civil War General Ambrose Burnside.
9. Daniel Boone National Forest
VAST WILDERNESS PLAYGROUND
Daniel Boone National Forest encompasses over 708,000 acres of diverse terrain including rugged ravines, rock formations, and lush forests across eastern Kentucky. The forest features more than 600 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, along with numerous waterfalls, natural arches, and scenic overlooks. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy camping, rock climbing, hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing while exploring this vast wilderness named after the famous American frontiersman.
10. Red River Gorge
ROCK CLIMBING MECCA
Red River Gorge is a canyon system known worldwide for its spectacular rock formations, natural stone arches, and world-class rock climbing opportunities. The area boasts over 1,600 established climbing routes that attract climbers from across the globe, alongside miles of hiking trails through breathtaking scenery. Visitors can explore numerous natural wonders including Whitaker Point (Hawksbill Crag), Natural Bridge, and Sky Bridge while enjoying camping, kayaking, and photography in this geological wonderland.
11. Laurel River Lake
CLEAR WATER RECREATION AREA
Laurel River Lake is a pristine 5,600-acre reservoir known for its remarkably clear waters, steep rocky shorelines, and numerous secluded coves. The lake offers exceptional opportunities for boating, water skiing, and fishing, particularly for trout, bass, and walleye in its deep, cool waters. Visitors can enjoy swimming, scuba diving, camping, and hiking along the 192-mile shoreline surrounded by the beautiful Daniel Boone National Forest.
12. Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE HAVEN
Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area spans 125,000 acres across the Cumberland Plateau, featuring dramatic gorges, sandstone bluffs, and the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River. The area offers over 180 miles of hiking trails, 35 miles of mountain biking trails, and more than 200 miles of equestrian trails through diverse terrain and habitats. Visitors can enjoy whitewater rafting, kayaking, camping, rock climbing, hunting, fishing, and exploring historical sites including abandoned coal mining communities.
13. Kentucky Railway Museum
HISTORIC TRAIN EXPERIENCE
The Kentucky Railway Museum preserves the rich railroad heritage of Kentucky through its impressive collection of restored locomotives, passenger cars, and railroad artifacts. Visitors can enjoy scenic train excursions aboard vintage rail cars that travel through the beautiful Rolling Fork River Valley. The museum features educational exhibits on railroad history, a working turntable, and special events throughout the year including dinner trains, murder mysteries, and holiday-themed rides.
14. Natural Bridge State Resort Park
ICONIC SANDSTONE ARCH
Natural Bridge State Resort Park is home to an impressive 78-foot-long natural sandstone arch that stands 65 feet high, formed through millions of years of weathering. The park offers 22 miles of hiking trails including the popular Original Trail that leads visitors to the top of the arch for spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding Red River Gorge. Guests can enjoy the Skylift chairlift, lodging at Hemlock Lodge, dining with scenic views, fishing, and seasonal activities in this 2,300-acre nature preserve.
15. Mammoth Cave National Park
WORLD'S LONGEST CAVE SYSTEM
Mammoth Cave National Park protects the world's longest known cave system with more than 400 miles of surveyed passageways that showcase impressive formations, vast chambers, and underground rivers. The park offers a variety of guided cave tours ranging from accessible routes to challenging adventures that explore different sections and features of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Above ground, visitors can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, fishing, and wildlife viewing across 52,830 acres of beautiful Kentucky forest and riverways.