Boone Station (Former) State Historic Site

Back in July of 2018 we visited Boone Station State Historic Site.  In retrospect I'm very glad that we took the time to visit as the site is now no longer a state park.  In early 2019 the Kentucky government gave it to a local church, citing the will of the person who donated the land originally that it be given to the church if it wasn't developed as a park in fifteen years.

In a 1992 deed, Robert Channing Strader willed the property to the state. He specified that if the site was not “developed as a historic state park” within 15 years, ownership should revert to his church. In the second deed, executed Dec. 17, 2018, state officials argued they hadn’t met that condition “due to a lack of financial resources,” so the property was going to the church. Strader’s will didn’t define what level of development was required. Boone Station has been open as a state historic park for more than 20 years.
--from Kentucky.com blog

While I'll be the first to admit that there wasn't much there, it did seem to have the potential for more and it is sad to think that the property may not be developed to educate future generations about its history.

This map showed the size of the property and indicated the available walking trails, though the largest loops weren't much of a trail, just a mowed patch that you followed around the field.

I'm not sure of the purpose of this structure, but it wasn't open to the public.  Not knowing there wasn't any infrastructure at the site when we got there I kept expecting there to be an open building around the corner.

There had been a bad storm recently and some of the damage was still quite apparent.

We started out across the field.

Then we followed the first trail up the middle of the field until we got to the trees at the edge.

I spotted a number of Osage oranges on the ground.

We had to deviate from the path slightly due to another downed tree.

Here you can look back at the barns and such where we parked.

As we kept walking we came across a stone monument.

I walked across the field to get a good view of the stone.

The station originally consisted of a number of cabins and at first a stockade surrounding them.  You can see what it looked like to stand in front of the sign via this 360° view.

As we left I stopped and grabbed pictures of the nearby historical markers.

Thankfully I'm sure that even with the site once again in private hands the roadside makers should remain.

So at least people passing by can learn something about the history of the area even if they can no longer tour the grounds.

Like I wrote above there wasn't much there, but I would have enjoyed reading up on the history of the area and showing the kids what had been there if we'd had the opportunity to visit again.  You can see a few more pictures in this album.

~Matt