Insider Guide 2021

Welcome to the Cumberland Gap!

The Cumberland Gap Region Tourism Association welcomes you to our Cumberland Gap Region which stretches into three states and contains the ten counties surrounding the Historic Cumberland Gap. Within the Cumberland Gap Region lies a cornucopia of history, natural beauty, art, music, adventure, and our Appalachian culture and heritage.

The diversity of this region is evident from rally sports car racing at Kingdom Come State Park in Harlan, County, to the moonbow at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in Corbin, to the Chained Rock in Pineville, to those delicious world-famous Granger County tomatoes, to the mysterious Melungeon population of Hancock, County, and to our Appalachian culture and heritage represented by the White Lightning Trail. The Cumberland Gap Region has it all.

The history of our past is preserved for future generations in museums throughout the region. These include the Kentucky Coal Miner’s Museum in Benham, Kentucky, the Colonel Harland Sanders Museum in Corbin, Kentucky, the Martin Station Frontier Fort at the Wilderness Road State Park in Ewing, Virginia, Grainger County’s history kiosk at the veterans overlook atop Clinch Mountain, and the Abraham Lincoln Museum on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee.

Within our counties, our many entertainment venues help tell the story of this region’s rich music heritage. From the newly renovated Historic Lee Theater in Pennington Gap, VA and the Historic Bell Theater in Pineville, KY, to the Laurel Cove Amphitheater, also in Pineville. They share the spotlight with the Levitt Concert Series Stage in Middlesboro, the Union County Opry in Maynardville, Postmark LaFollette in Campbell, County, and the Corbin Arena. Music is in the air of the Cumberland Gap Region. It’s part of our heritage.

We are so delighted that you are here with us to share the history, natural beauty, art, music, adventure, and the Appalachian experience of which we are so proud. Take a day or a week to visit our outstanding lakes, rivers, mountains, breathtaking vistas, and drive the length of Powell’s Valley that was once the ancestral home of the Cherokee. Get back to nature.

Stay in one of our numerous campgrounds, RV parks, cabins, houseboats, or airbnbs. By you visiting and spreading the news, you are helping us make the Cumberland Gap region a “vacation destination.”

To learn more about the Cumberland Gap region, visit our website at: cumberlandgapregion.com
Better yet, email us at

CGRTA@yahoo.com with a message that simply says, “Add me to your weekly email newsletter including the calendar of events.” Once you have done that, you will stay informed of all the happenings in the Cumberland Gap region.

Carl Nichols, Director
Cumberland Gap Region Tourism Association

SportsPlus

News

Local WWII hero highlighted during Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary

News

Applications for Kentucky Farm Bureau’s post-secondary scholarship program open now until Feb. 28

News

Former magistrate Harold Gibbons remembered at Fiscal Court meeting

News

City of Pineville takes first step to close street for preschool project

Columns

Flattery of Imitation

News

Abraham Lincoln Library & Museum unveils new exhibit for Lincoln’s 216th birthda

News

Mark Woods appointed to Middlesboro Board of Education

News

Plans for new preschool discussed at Pineville Board meeting

News

Mountain Lions present All ‘A’ trophy to Pineville School Board

News

Pineville School Board members sworn in

News

House fire claims life of Page woman

News

Madon appointed to CSG South’s Energy and Environment Committee

News

Middlesboro native named Mayor Pro Tempore for Greensboro, NC

News

Retiring superintendent Allen honored by Middlesboro School Board

News

Joseph F. Smiddy, M.D., Presented with the Health Wagon’s ‘Appalachian Hero Award’

Columns

Life of Failure

News

Southeast employee named chair of KRCC board of directors

News

Carter introduced as new PHS football coach

News

Plans being made for 2025 Magic City Ragtime and Jazz Festival

News

Barbara Venable to finish late husband’s term as jailer

News

Jones’ new book shares stories from his battle with TTP

News

Middlesboro man charged with attempted murder after beating cousin with baseball bat

News

Catching Up With 2023 Mr. Kentucky Football Daniel Thomas

News

LMU’s Freeman earns national and conference Player of the Week honors