Perry Park, Kentucky facts for kids
Perry Park is a special community in Owen County, Kentucky. It's not officially a city, but it's a place where people live, work, and enjoy a country club and golf resort. You can find it near Owenton and Carrollton.
Perry Park is about an hour southwest of Cincinnati, an hour northwest of Lexington, and 45 minutes east of Louisville. It's also right on the Kentucky River. The ZIP Code for Perry Park is 40363. You can find Perry Park on a map at these coordinates: 38°32′53″N 84°59′59″W / 38.54806°N 84.99972°W.
Contents
A Look Back: Perry Park's History
Early Days and First Settlers
Long ago, the land that is now Perry Park was a hunting ground. Native American tribes like the Iroquois, Shawnee, Cherokee, and Miamis hunted here. You can still find old tools and items from these tribes in the area. They are often found in fields, creek beds, and along the river.
The first European person to explore this land was Jacob Drennon. He was a land surveyor. Jacob heard stories about a special healing spring here. An Indian guide led him to the area. Jacob Drennon claimed this land first. He called it "Lick Skillet." This was because his men were so hungry they licked their skillets clean after eating!
The Perry Family Arrives
Kentucky became a state in 1792. More settlers moved in, including Benjamin Perry. He was a soldier from the American Revolutionary War. Benjamin, his children, and grandchildren moved to Perry Park around 1810. They came from Virginia with the Berryman family.
In 1832, Benjamin Perry's grandson, Washington Perry, and his wife Martha built a house. They called it "Wildwood." They didn't live in that house for long. Sometime between 1830 and 1850, another house was built. This house is called "Glenwood Hall." Today, Glenwood Hall is still used as a bed and breakfast and a dining hall.
Other Plantations and Mysteries
Another large farm in Perry Park was called Inverness. It was a tobacco farm. Thomas A. Berryman built it. He named it after his wife Lucy's hometown, Inverness, Scotland. Sadly, the Inverness House burned down in the 1980s.
The Perry and Berryman families were known for their big parties. Many visitors came to see them because of the nearby springs. In 1849, almost 1,000 guests visited the springs. They likely stopped to see one of these two families.
The Perry family also had some sad times. One of their children, Merton, died at age 10. Two other children and a servant might have died in a fire before the American Civil War. Some people say their spirits still play in the attic. There are many stories of strange things happening there.
Civil War and Later Years
During the American Civil War, Washington Perry owned slaves. He likely supported the Southern states, called the Confederacy. However, it's not known for sure which side he chose. There were small Confederate groups in the area during the war. Records show that Washington Perry became more successful after the war, even though he lost his slaves.
Washington Perry died in 1875, and Martha died in 1893. They are buried in Port Royal Cemetery. Their neighbors, the Berrymans, are buried in a family cemetery inside the park.
Washington's grandson, Perry Minor, lived in Glenwood Hall until 1933. It is believed that former President Grover Cleveland once sat on a chair that is still in the house. This might be a rumor. However, in 1884, Cleveland's election campaign did talk about some issues involving another politician, James G. Blaine, at Perry Park.
Modern Perry Park
In 1933, John H. Perry bought the entire area. He was another of Washington's grandchildren. John H. Perry published many newspapers, including The Palm Beach Post. He built a post office and named the community Perry Park, after himself.
Perry Park grew a lot in the 20th century. Many hotels and restaurants opened. Most of these buildings have since been taken down. In 1966, Lingenfelter Investments bought the property. They developed the land to include a golf course and other fun things. Glenwood Hall became a clubhouse and restaurant for the golf course.
Nature's Beauty: Geography and Wildlife
Rivers, Lakes, and Hills
Perry Park sits right on the Kentucky River. The river wraps around two sides of the area. The land is mostly flat, but it's surrounded by mountains. Its many rolling hills are perfect for golfing.
There are many lakes on the golf course and in the surrounding areas. The biggest lake is Holiday Lake, which is about 82 acres. It was originally 26 acres when it was first created. Other lakes include Inverness Lake, about 5 acres, and Big Bass Lake, about 3 acres. Big Bass Lake flows into Holiday Lake. All these lakes are great for fishing for residents and owners in the park. These are private lakes, so public fishing is not allowed.
Amazing Animals
Wildlife is very common in Perry Park. The deer is the symbol of Perry Park. There are hundreds of deer in the park!
Other animals you might see include Raccoons, Opossums, Skunks, Groundhogs, Red and Gray Foxes, Gray, Black and Fox Squirrels, Chipmunks, Bobcats, and Coyotes. Black Bears and Cougars haven't been seen here for many years. However, people expect them to return as their natural homes grow larger. The surrounding hills and mountains are perfect for them.
Perry Park also has many bats. They help control the flying insects. A bat disease called White-nose syndrome has not been seen in this area.
Birds and Reptiles
Many kinds of birds live here. You can often see Cardinals, Orioles, Bluebirds, Tanagers, Chickadees, Titmouse, Nuthatches, Swallows, Sparrows, Jays, Hawks, Kestrels, and different types of Owls. You can also spot various Woodpeckers, including the large Pileated Woodpecker.
Bald Eagles have also returned to the park. They are often seen around the golf course and river. Wild turkey are also common. You can hear them gobbling in the woods during spring and summer thunderstorms.
Reptiles are also plentiful in the creeks, wet areas, and lakes. Common snakes include Rat snakes, Milk snakes, Common watersnake, Eastern racer, and tiny Ring-Necked Snakes. There might be venomous Eastern copperheads, but none have been reported or seen in a long time. Other reptiles include different kinds of Turtles, Toads, Frogs, Salamanders, and even Hellbenders.
Fun Things to Do: Golfing and Nearby Places
Golfing at Perry Park
Perry Park's main attraction is its 27-hole golf course. It offers 9 different golf packages. The course has a par of 72. It has 5 sets of tees, ranging from 7,355 to 4,000 yards. In 1997, the golf club changed. It used to be mostly private. Now, it sells memberships to the public.
Nearby Attractions
You can also visit historic Carrollton nearby. Another great place to explore is General Butler State Park.
