Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park

About this park

Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park sits within more than 14,000 acres of surrounding state forest in northwestern Christian County, just south of Dawson Springs, a town that itself thrived as a health spa resort from the late 1800s through the 1930s. The park's unusual name comes from a colloquial local form of "pennyroyal," a small flowering plant native to the area, and construction of the park's lake began in the 1930s when a local river was dammed. A rustic stone-and-wood lodge with 24 rooms overlooks Pennyrile Lake, paired with a 200-seat dining room offering lake views, giving the park a classic Depression-era resort character. The park is particularly well suited to horseback riders: eight pull-through campsites with full electric, water, and sewer hookups serve horse owners directly, and a 1.25-mile connector trail links the campground to more than 40 miles of horse trails across the adjoining Pennyrile State Forest. Beyond horseback riding, the park offers an 18-hole golf course, pedal boat and rowboat rentals, miles of hiking trails, tennis and basketball courts, and miniature golf, along with bird watching and geocaching opportunities across its wooded grounds, making it a versatile destination for both active and relaxed visitors in far western Kentucky.