Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley in Western Kentucky attracts more than 15 million visitors to its’ water wonderland each year. Drawing fishermen, boaters, and sightseers to vacation here. Kentucky and Barkley lakes boast 2400 miles of shoreline and make the largest manmade lake in the eastern United States at 184 miles long. The lakes stretches across the western tip of Kentucky but also runs the entire width of Tennessee. Construction began on Kentucky Dam in 1938 and was completed in 1944. The cost was about 118 million dollars.

Beyond the importance of tourism and lake travel, Kentucky Dam is vastly important for its’ use in controlling floodwaters from the Ohio and Tennessee River.

The Kentucky Lake area boasts four state parks, two county parks, five municipal parks, two wildlife management areas and three small wildlife areas. Why not schedule your next vacation in this amazing part of Kentucky?

Building a dam across the Tennessee River in Marshall County Kentucky formed Kentucky Lake. On the Cumberland River a dam was made and formed Lake Barkley built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and completed in 1966.

Barkley Dam dams up the Cumberland River in  Western Kentucky. Its construction, along with Kentucky Dam formed the Land Between the Lakes (LBL) by stopping the flow of the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, forming Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake respectively. The dam and new artificial lake were both named for Vice President Alben Barkley.

The fishing around the lakes is some of the best in the world. A list of fishing guides and resorts to stay on the lakes are listed on this site.

Motels off the water and resorts on the lakes are plentiful. There are 41 motels and resorts in the area.

There are numerous attractions and fun things to do in the lakes region besides fishing. For a total listing- go to attractions.

People drive from all over to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere here in Western Kentucky. The Land Between the Lakes information Center boasts approximately 2,000,000 visitors each year. 

Many of those visitors enjoy the scenic view and the many shops, antiques stores, golf courses, museums, attractions like the Kentucky Opry. There are many Historic Sites; over fifty restaurants are listed here, so you’re never very far from good restaurants. For a listing of all the events and goings on in Western Kentucky and particularly Kentucky and Barkley Lakes go to West Kentucky Events

When you visit Paducah, Kentucky, while on your vacation in Western Kentucky, a very enjoyable trip would be down Broadway for a look at the floodwalls.

Paducah was virtually destroyed by a flood many years ago. Massive floodwalls to protect the city have been built. Several years ago local artists began to paint the flood walls to depict impressive and important reminders of days gone by. The scenes are so lifelike it is hard to not spend hours just looking at the intricate details.

There are parks and shops along Broadway to visit and then as you proceed to the floodwalls the beautiful landscape details are breathtaking. Visitors rarely drive; there is too much to see, so most park in the spacious parking areas and stroll the entire area. This beautiful view of the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers, along with the murals, is a part of your southern vacation you will truly remember forever.