Big Bone Lick

“The Story of Big Bone Lick” is a book written by Kentucky author Nancy Jordan Blackmore.  It’s an educational story told by a talking horse named Tokey that travels back in time to make friends with the ice age animals at the world famous site in Boone County, Kentucky, where many mega-beasts were first discovered in the 1700’s.

Readers journey with Tokey and her friends Willie the Woolly Mammoth, Helen the Ice Age Horse, and Bison Bob to learn all the latest information about the last great Ice Age.

In all, readers are exposed to 13 extinct Ice Age Giants to include the Short face Bear, Giant Beaver, Stag Moose, Flat headed Peccary, Columbian Mammoth, Mastodon, Ground Sloth, and the Saber Tooth Cat.

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Big Bone Lick State Park has been named as one of the Top 50 Educational & Historical Facilities in the United States by ReserveAmerica.  The list was announced along with the nation’s seventh annual "Top 100 Family Campgrounds," a guide to help campers and their families plan camping trips at locations across America’s great outdoors.  The list also includes ReserveAmerica’s top biking trails, beaches, scenic views, water recreation parks and more.

To determine the top campgrounds and locations, ReserveAmerica reviewed and evaluated over 4,000 parks on criteria including educational programs, overall beauty and scenery, family beaches, visitor centers and camping amenities such as hot showers and laundry facilities.  The featured locations were also selected based on testimonials, campground ratings and feedback provided by park rangers, regional park management and campers throughout the year.

ReserveAmerica provides information and reviews about more than 300,000 campsites, cabins, day use facilities, and picnic areas.

Story and Complete Lists at Yubanet

Take the ride of your life at the 2009 Tour de Cure!  The 2009 Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Tour de Cure begins at the historic Big Bone Lick State Park in Union, Kentucky on May 30, 2009.  Cyclists will enjoy a beautiful, scenic tour through Boone, Gallatin, Grant and Owen counties in Northern Kentucky on routes of 35, 62, 100 miles, including a Family Fun Ride (8+ miles).  We offer a variety of well-mapped and well-marked rides for biking enthusiasts of all ages and abilities.  Cyclists have options for rolling to very hilly terrain.

Begin your day with a light breakfast at Big Bone Lick State Park.  First Aid volunteers, bike shop mechanics and volunteers are positioned at along the ride.  All rest stops will have restroom facilities, fruit, energy bars, water, sports drinks and other snacks.  SAG support vehicles will be on hand just in case you need them.  Invite your friends and family to join you at the finish line to enjoy lunch and family entertainment and activities.

Register Today!  You can register as an individual or create/join a team.  Once you have registered, create your own personal Tour Web page to send emails to your friends, family & co-workers.  Fund raising online is fast, quick and easy!  Do you know someone with diabetes?  Raising money on behalf of more than 23 million Americans with diabetes will make the ride more memorable.

Contact your local Tour de Cure Director:
Sarah Jefferson
sjefferson@diabetes.org
513-759-9330, ext 6661

For Registration or More Information

The spear and atlatl have been primary weapons for thousands of years and are still being used even in modern times.

Join the park naturalist at the atlatl field to learn and experience first hand the grace and power of these two weapons that have shaped human culture. 

This is a free event and no registration is required.  859-384-3522.

Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2009

Every year Kentucky State Parks offers free fishing on first weekend in June.  No license is required for residents or non-residents to fish in any Kentucky waters, but all fishing regulations remain in effect. 

The free fishing weekend is a great time to round up your fishing buddies and head over to Big Bone Lick State Park.

The park has a 7.5 acre lake that contains largemouth bass, bluegill, and catfish for bank fishing.  There is also a stream stocked with trout, and the Ohio River is only 2 miles away from the park. 

Bait and year round hunting and fishing permits are available at the park campground store.  The free fishing weekend starts at 8 a.m. on June 6 and lasts until sundown on June 7.  Call 859-384-3522 for more details.

The National Park Service honored Big Bone Lick State Park for its designation as a National Natural Landmark in a ceremony today at the park in Boone County, Kentucky.

The National Natural Landmarks (NNL) Program began in 1962 to recognize and preserve important natural history sites.  It is the only national program that recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in both public and private lands.  Big Bone Lick State Park joins an elite group of only 586 sites across the United States that have received NNL status.

According to the National Park Service: “Big Bone Lick in Boone County, Kentucky is unique for its combination of salt springs and associated Late Pleistocene bone beds.  The site has been referred to as the birthplace of vertebrate paleontology in North America.  The Big Bone fossils played a very important role in the development of scientific thought regarding the idea of extinction and the relationship of geology and paleontology.”

There was a good turnout for the NNL Dedication Ceremony, which was hosted by the Friends of Big Bone, a non-profit organization committed to research and education related to Big Bone Lick.

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