Fort Boonesborough State Park — Attraction in Kentucky

Note: Although we also visited Fort Boonesborough (the historical reproduction), this review is strictly limited to the accompanying campground.

Would not recommend, would not stay here again given any other options. Here's why:

Upon check-in, we did not receive any of the "typical" information one would expect. E.g., an area map, a brochure on the fort, activities, etc. They told us they "ran out" when we asked.

Site was advertised as "level, with water hook-ups". Site was not really level (due to crumbling pavement) and "water hook-ups" were approximately100' from the site. Indeed, we didn't even see them until the second day as they were so far away and covered by weeds.

Although the campground was advertised as having a pool, there was an additional charge of $4/person (unadvertised). We decided to try the pool anyways, and after a single 20 minute rain shower followed by sunny skies we decided to hike to the pool only to discover it was closed for the day because, in the words of an employee, "It rained." You have got to be kidding me.

However, what really made our visit nearly unbearable was the lack of cleanliness. We arrived early Friday evening to discover the bathrooms/showers trashed. The situation only deteriorated from there, as the campground was full (150+) and the showers/bathrooms were not cleaned all day/all night on Saturday. Fellow campers showed little regard to their environment, with plenty of trash scattered around the common areas and abandoned sites. "Gross" doesn't begin to capture the stench and nastiness that presented itself Sunday morning.

Unfortunately, if you want to camp near Lexington there aren't many other options. But for $30 a night, this campground can and should do much,...

We travel full time in our Airstream and stayed at this campground for 6 days (left on 8/5/22). We started in site 58 which was in the back corner. The site had shade and quite a bit of mud, as there had been a lot of rain. In fact, the central Appalachian flooding was taking place when we got there. Unfortunately 5 families in the campground lost their homes. We woke up one morning and almost the entire campground had vacated.

There is a concrete plant behind the campground as well as a busy road, so we heard semis J braking and pounding from the plant all day and night. The water service is a bit tricky. Two campsites share one water outlet. Could be tricky in some sites so be sure to bring an ample length hose.

The campground staff were very nice and allowed us to move to site 42, which was much more comfortable and quite. Every time we wanted to use the bathhouse, it was closed for cleaning. Annoying but the good news is the facilities are well cleaned. Nice size showers. Clean laundry room. The pool was closed because parts are on back order and much of the property/park roped off (due to flooding in 2021 FEMA has not allowed the state to return to fully operating and updating their park). Boat ramp was closed due to the high water level and flooding of all of the primitive sites. We did not partake in put put golf. The course was covered with leaves and debris. We were grateful to have good Verizon and AT&T service while here. We were able to get some rest from our travels and get some remote business done. We visited Lexington, Red River Gorge, Richmond...

As a Kentucky native I’m ashamed to say this was my first trip to Fort Boonesboro. I grew up in south eastern Kentucky and pride myself in knowing Daniel Boone’s history. But this park really helped tie all the loose ends together for me. It was fun to see bits and pieces of information I’d learned at other parks like Cumberland Gap National Historic Park and Blue Licks State Park come together here at Boonesboro.

The staff at the park really made my experience a great one. The authenticity of their clothing and their knowledge about the trades they were performing made me feel like I was truly experiencing life in the 18th century. They even interacted with us and gave us a hands on experience of how everything in the fort was made. From linens, to yarn, to soaps, iron, and wood-working, touching and holding these items really made me appreciate the perseverance of early pioneers in Kentucky.

We also visited the original site where he fort was and couldn’t have been more impressed. Beautiful land, a view of the river, and a playground for kids (accompanied by big and beautiful shade trees, which we found were great for outdoor napping), made for a family environment great for a picnic or just a fun day out in the sunshine.

We loved this state park. We’ve already marked dates in our calendar to come back for all the events that occur throughout the seasons. 5 stars...