Owsley County Guide: Outdoor Spots, Services, and Community Resources

Getting to Know Owsley County

Owsley County sits in the Eastern Coalfield region of Kentucky, with Booneville serving as its county seat and a population of just 4,051 as of the 2020 census, making it the second-least populous county in the state. Small in size but rich in landscape, the county is threaded by mountain hollows, creek-fed valleys, and stretches of hardwood forest that draw visitors and sustain the communities that have called this place home for generations. The county was organized on January 23, 1843, from Clay, Estill, and Breathitt counties and named for William Owsley, the judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals and Governor of Kentucky from 1844 to 1848.

Outdoor Recreation: On the Water

The South Fork of the Kentucky River is the county's defining natural feature. It begins at the confluence of Red Bird River, Goose Creek, and Bullskin Creek in Clay County, then flows north through Owsley County, passing through the communities of Oneida, Booneville, and on toward Beattyville. The river is relatively broad with shallow to medium depths, characterized by mud banks, rock bars, and occasional riffles, and it gives anglers the chance to fish for smallmouth bass, spotted bass, rock bass, channel catfish, and muskellunge.

Getting on the water is straightforward, with several public access points along the river:

• Fish Creek Boat Ramp, GPS coordinates 37.490984, -83.690029, off Fish Creek Road in Booneville
• Wolf Creek Boat Ramp, GPS coordinates 37.396437, -83.690029, off Upper Wolf Creek Road in Booneville
• Bishop Bend, GPS coordinates 37.33830, -83.68807, off Hwy 11 South in Booneville

Outdoor Recreation: Trails, Waterfalls, and Beyond

Beyond the river, outdoor attractions include Pioneer Village, Faith Hill, waterfalls, hiking, and ATV riding. Wild Willow Farms offers another dimension entirely: a retreat and botanical sanctuary spread across more than 67 acres in Booneville, focused on wellness and nature-based education. The farm has expanded to include a Horse Hotel and camping.

For those looking to venture slightly beyond county lines, two well-known state parks are within reach. Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park, at 4441 KY-1833 in Buckhorn, is about 30.7 miles from Booneville's center, while Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Slade is approximately 26 miles away.

The Owsley County Recreation Center

The Owsley County Recreational Center is located at 99 County Barn Road in Booneville and can be reached at (606) 593-6940. The center has something for the whole family, with a full basketball court, exercise equipment, weekend events, live music every Saturday featuring local musicians, and Bingo on the first and third Friday of each month. Owsley County Park sits on the same County Barn Road corridor, giving the immediate area a concentration of recreational options within easy reach of downtown Booneville.

Health and Medical Services

The Owsley County Health Care Center is located at 20 County Barn Road in Booneville and can be reached at (606) 593-6302. The facility offers private rooms for rehabilitation patients, VA services, hospice services, and respite services, all in a home-like setting.

The Kentucky River District Health Department operates the Owsley County Health Center, providing a broad range of public health services to county residents. The center provides health screening and immunization services for infants and toddlers to ensure their physical well-being and healthy development. It also provides nutrition education and food vouchers for pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children younger than age 5 who cannot afford an adequate diet or who have a condition showing a need for better nutrition. The Owsley County Community Health Center WIC Office is located on Kentucky 28 in Booneville and can be reached at (606) 593-5181.

For mental health and crisis support, Kentucky River Community Care serves the area, with a crisis line available toll-free at 800-262-7491 and a rape crisis line at 800-375-7273. The Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky provides legal help and can be reached at (606) 593-8193. Dental care is also available locally: Dr. Jason Gay, DMD, practices in Booneville and can be reached at (606) 593-5100.

Food Assistance and Essential Support

The Food Place, located in the old county jail building, provides emergency food and clothing assistance and can be reached at (606) 593-5380. The Middle Kentucky Community Action Partnership at (606) 593-5103 and the Emma Quire Mission Center at (606) 593-7476 are additional resources for residents seeking food and basic support.

Education and Extension Services

The UK Cooperative Extension Service office for Owsley County is located at 92 Lone Oak Industrial Park Road in Booneville and can be reached at (606) 593-5109 or owsley.ext@uky.edu. The Extension office connects residents to University of Kentucky resources on agriculture, nutrition, and community development. Education support is also available through the Owsley County Action Team at (606) 593-7296, the Owsley County Adult Education Program at (606) 593-5194, and the Owsley County Family Resource Youth Service Center at (606) 593-6379.

The Public Library and Connectivity

The Owsley County Public Library is located at 478 KY-11 and offers free outdoor Wi-Fi around the clock, reachable at (606) 593-5700. In a county where broadband access can be limited, the library's always-on outdoor Wi-Fi makes it a practical lifeline for residents who need internet access for job applications, telehealth appointments, or schoolwork.

Senior Services

The Owsley County Senior Citizens Center serves older residents and can be reached at (606) 593-5594. The Booneville Cruise-In, held every first and third weekend, starts at the Senior Citizens Center at 275 Hwy 28 South, making the center a hub of community activity well beyond its core services.

Community Events

Several recurring events give Owsley County its social rhythm through the year. The Owsley County Fair typically takes place during the last week of August or the first week of September, while the Light Up Booneville Christmas Celebration is held on December 1 and the first Friday of December. Daniel Boone Days is a popular multi-day summer festival, and the Cruise-In's every-other-weekend schedule keeps the calendar active in Booneville from spring through fall.

OCARE: A Community-Building Force

The Owsley County Alliance for Recreation and Entertainment (OCARE) works to reduce poverty in Owsley and neighboring counties, believing that improving the economy through workforce development, childcare, tourism, and cultural options can enhance the lives of residents. OCARE became an established nonprofit in 2014 with the original goal of restoring and reopening the Seale Theater to provide economic and recreational opportunities for at-risk youth and the broader community. The organization runs on an all-volunteer staff that is exclusively woman-led. OCARE can be reached at (606) 593-7777 and serves as the primary connector between visitors and the "Only in Owsley" experience the county has to offer.

Points of Historical Interest

One of the county's most notable attractions is the Abraham Lincoln Relief Sculpture, hand-carved in the 1930s and listed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's inventory of folk art. The Earl B. Combs Birthplace Marker in Pebworth, maintained by the Historical Society on KY-11 in Booneville, honors one of the county's most famous native sons. Nobles Pioneer Village on KY 30 East in Lerose is another heritage site worth a call ahead to arrange a visit: (606) 593-6755.

Owsley County does not ask much of the visitor or resident who wants to engage with it. The river is public, the library Wi-Fi runs all night, and the people who built OCARE from a 10th-grade classroom project into a nonprofit infrastructure make clear that community here is something actively constructed, not just inherited.