Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area facts for kids
Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area is a huge park in Meade County, Kentucky. It covers about 2,600 acres (that's like 2,600 football fields!). The park is located near the towns of Muldraugh and Fort Knox. Even though it's outside Louisville, the city of Louisville used to run the park for a long time. Now, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources takes care of it. The park closed for a short time in 2009 but happily reopened in 2011 for everyone to enjoy.
Exploring Otter Creek Park
The park is named after Otter Creek, a stream that flows along its eastern side. You can also see a beautiful part of the Ohio River from the northern areas of the park. The Ohio River is a big river that separates Kentucky from Indiana.
This park is a super popular spot for mountain biking. Local groups help keep the trails in great shape for riders.
Otter Creek Park is in a part of Kentucky called the Pennyroyal Plateau. This area is famous for its limestone rocks, which often form caves. One special cave in the park is Morgan's Cave. This cave has a stream flowing through it. People used to say it was a secret hideout for a group called Morgan's Raiders during the Civil War. Today, the cave is kept locked to protect the bats that live inside it. You can also see tall limestone cliffs along Otter Creek and the Ohio River.
How Otter Creek Park Started
The land for Otter Creek Park was given to the city of Louisville by the U.S. Government in 1947. This was a way to say thank you for the city's help during World War II. In 2001, a plan was made to update the park and add new things for visitors.
In December 2008, the city of Louisville announced that the park would close. This was because the park was losing money each year. The closing date was first set for December 14, 2008, but then changed to January 1, 2009.
Luckily, the state's Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources offered to take over the park. They wanted to run it as a wildlife area. This would mean that hunting and fishing would be allowed in some parts of the park.
On June 16, 2010, the Governor of Kentucky, Steve Beshear, and Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson announced good news. Otter Creek Park would reopen in 2011! It would be managed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The park officially opened again on May 11, 2011. Some buildings, like the Nature Center, needed repairs and stayed closed for a while. New cabins have since been built, so visitors can now stay overnight.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area has many exciting activities for visitors:
- 3D Archery Range: Practice your archery skills.
- Cabins and Campgrounds: Stay overnight in cozy cabins or camp under the stars.
- Disc golf Course: Play a round of disc golf.
- Fishing: Try to catch fish in Otter Creek or the Ohio River.
- Hunting: In certain areas, you can hunt for deer, squirrel, and dove.
- Otter Creek Observatory: Look at the stars and planets through telescopes. This is run with Jefferson Community and Technical College.
- Shooting Range: Practice shooting with rifles or shotguns.
- Trails: Explore many trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
