Big Bone Lick State Park is Haunted

 Tri-State Shadow Chasers is a non-profit group of paranormal investigators from the Northern Kentucky area founded by Eddie Parks in 2008.  They use scientific methods to investigate ghost and other paranormal activities, collecting evidence, taking photos, and capturing EVP (electronic voice phenomena), which are strange voices that cannot be heard by the human ear but are picked up with digital recorders.

Tri-State Shadow Chasers has teamed up with the park recreation staff for live Ghost Hunts at Big Bone Lick State Park.  These Ghost Hunts are open to the public.  You will learn about and use the various instruments employed during paranormal investigations.  Authentic equipment will be on hand for anyone to use.  You will explore several areas of the park, including the recently renovated 1888 Big Bone Methodist church, Nature Center, Visitor’s Center, the old office building, and several outdoor locations.  The next Ghost Hunt starts Saturday March 20th at 8:00pm.

Following are the Tri-State Shadow Chasers’ results of previous Ghost Hunts at Big Bone:

Read the rest of this entry »

Paleontologic Investigations at Big Bone Lick State Park

In 1963, the US Geological Survey and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln published a report titled, “Paleontologic Investigations at Big Bone Lick State Park, Kentucky: A Preliminary Report.” 

The Big Bone Lick area in Kentucky is the first widely-known collecting locality for vertebrate fossils in North America.  The study investigated Big Bone Lick for further faunal and geologic evidence.  Mammal bones, ranging in age from Wisconsin to Recent, were recovered in 1962 from four different faunal zones in two terrace fills.  In addition, 15 test holes were drilled with a power auger furnished by the Commonwealth of
Kentucky, and samples were taken for analysis and examination for microfauna and microflora.  Wood was collected for carbon-14 analysis.

The study indicates that are three terrace levels at Big Bone Lick above the present floodplain of the creek, the highest being of Tazewell age, and the two lower terraces of post-Tazewell age.  Distinct bone-bearing alluvial deposits appear to be related to the terrace sequence.  The sequence of terraces appears to be similar to that of the adjacent Ohio Valley, indicating that the history of the site is a part of the regional sequence of events.

Here is a diagrammatic cross-section showing the main bone-bearing zones of Big Bone Lick:

This image is a U.S. government work and is not subject to copyright in the United States

See the entire report (PDF)

Big Bone Lick Winter Wander

KYPetalPusher, aka L.K. Niceley from Union, Kentucky, documented her hike with friends on a sunny winter day at Big Bone Lick State Park:

“We started at the museum/gift shop, took Gobblers Trace up to the campground, then took the Coralberry trail around the lake.  Finally, we dropped down to see the herd of buffalo at the park.”

Check out her trail and photos:


Map your trip with EveryTrail

Catch-and-Release Trout Season in Kentucky

Trout Kentucky’s winter catch-and-release trout season is now open on 13 streams throughout the state.  It’s officially called the “Delayed Harvest Program” because you cannot keep any trout caught in the designated streams from October 1 through March 31.

One of the 13 designated streams is the 2.1-mile-long Big Bone Creek inside Big Bone Lick State Park in Boone County.

Winter is not the best time to catch a lot of fish, but since fewer people fish in winter, the competition is less, which means the fishing action is often quite good.

Story at Courier-Journal

Ghost Hunt at Big Bone Lick State Park

Who ya gonna call?  Ghost Hunters! The park recreation staff is teaming up with Tristate Shadowchasers to take you on a live Ghost Hunt at Big Bone Lick State Park.  During the Ghost Hunt, you will learn about and use the various instruments employed during paranormal investigations.  Authentic equipment will be on hand for anyone to use.

We will explore several areas of the park during our investigation, including the recently renovated 1888 Big Bone Methodist church, Nature Center, Visitor’s Center, the old office building, and several outdoor locations.

The investigation will start Saturday evening March 20th at 8:00pm.  Everyone will meet at the Nature Center.  To get to the Nature Center, take the second right after entering the park.  The Nature and History Museum is the building right after the Visitor’s Center.

The investigation will last until 3:00 am.  You are able to leave at any time and do not have to stay until the end.  After the Ghost Hunt, Tristate Shadowchasers will review the evidence collected during the hunt.  If any paranormal evidence was captured, a time will be set up for every one to come view the evidence.

Some helpful items to bring to the Ghost Hunt:

  • Warm clothing
  • Snack, food, and drink
  • Digital camera
  • Small flashlight
  • Any equipment that you have and want to use

2010 Events at Big Bone Lick State Park


Following is a summary of events at Big Bone Lick State Park for the remainder of 2010.  See the official Big Bone Lick website for event details and updates.

Date Event Description
March 20-21, 10pm-4am Big Bone Ghost Hunt Night of investigating ghosts
May 8-9, 10pm-4am Big Bone Ghost Hunt Night of investigating ghosts
May 31, Noon-2:30pm Atlatl Demonstration Learn and experience first-hand the grace and power of the spear and atlatl weapon
June 5-6 Free Fishing Weekend Free fishing, no license required, but all fishing regulations remain in effect
June 9-12 Pirate Week Pirate games, crafts, party, dinners, camping
July 3,
Noon-2:30pm
Creek Stomping Swim with the naturalist in Big Bone Creek to stay cool while learning about nature
July 14-17 Winter Festival Games and crafts, holiday decoration contest, for campers only
July 31,
Noon-2:30pm
Atlatl Demonstration Learn and experience first-hand the grace and power of the spear and atlatl weapon
August 7 Creek Stomping Swim with the naturalist in Big Bone Creek to stay cool while learning about nature
August 29,
Noon-2:30pm
Atlatl Demonstration Learn and experience first-hand the grace and power of the spear and atlatl weapon
September 10-12 Lick the Wild Full weekend of pre-historic based survival training taught from a “no modern tools” perspective: fire starting, water purification, making bone tools
September 18, 8:30am Bad to the Bone Duathlon Fifth annual run/bike duathlon with views of beautiful Kentucky scenery
October 3 Home Haunters Spooktacular Learn how to turn everyday items into spooky Halloween decorations
October
15-17
Salt Festival Festival with food, activities and demonstrations: flint-knapping, salt making, spear throwing, pioneer life, weaving, storytelling, music and more

Sierra Club Late Winter Hike at Big Bone Lick State Park

Copyright © Sierra Club

The Northern Kentucky Sierra Club (NKY) is hosting a Winter Hike that covers all of the trails in Big Bone Lick State Park, including two trails blazed by the NKY Group in the past few years.  The hike is Saturday, February 27 from 9am-12pm EST.

This hike includes up to 5 miles of trails that climb and descend many hills.  Wear warm, weather-tolerant clothing, especially waterproof hiking shoes or boots with good treads.  Bring your own liquids and trail snacks, as desired.  A restroom is encountered midway on the hike.

RSVP to hike leader, John F. Robbins @ 859-363-0376 or johnfrobbins@insightbb.com by noon on Thursday, February 25, and include email and phone contact information.  Cost: $1 for Sierra Club members, $2 for non-members.

Rating: Easy to moderate, suitable for beginners.  Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Boone County Historical Society: Heirloom Seeds and Gardening

Date: 1/21/2010
Start Time: 7:00 PM
End Time: 8:30 PM

Description:

Come listen to Mark Lawhorn of Big Bone Gardens, a 6-acre garden and sales nursery across from Big Bone Lick State Park, speak on heirloom seeds and gardening at the Boone County Historical Society January meeting.

Library: Main Library    Map to Main Library
Location: Meeting Room A
Contact: Pat Yannarella
Contact Number: 859-342-2665 x8113

Family Visits Big Bone Lick

Copyright © BonsaiHiker

BonsaiHiker and his family took a day trip in August “to a nearby state park known for its concentration of large extinct mammals.  It also has a few that aren’t extinct yet.”

See their photo album

Big Bone Lick: Fall Foliage Report Oct 5-9

The fall foliage report for Big Bone Lick State Park for October 5-9, 2009:

Minor change in leaf color as of yet—still mostly green.  Park staff is expecting the fall colors to emerge over the next couple of weeks.

From Kentucky ColorFall 2009