|
the town since it's founding in January 7th 1889.
The UC campus nestled atop four hills in the center of the community
spans approximately 70 acres including 34 buildings and two sports
field complexes.
Williamsburg is also the home to the Kentucky Splash water park
(located within the Hal Rogers Family Entertainment Center).
The $5 Million facility also houses a go-cart course,aminiature golf
course, and a five station batting cage. The park opened on Memorial
Day Weekend 2001 and is the largest Family Entertainment Center in
Kentucky with a capacity of up to 3,000 guests.
Williamsburg is located 18 miles away Cumberland Falls State Resort
Park within the Daniel Boone National Forest. The park is the home
of Cumberland Falls, sometimes called the Little Niagra, the Niagra
of the South or the Great Falls and is the only venue in the Western
Hemisphere where a moonbow or lunar rainbow is regularly visible on
a clear night with a full moon. On average the falls, which flow
over a resistant sandstone bed, are 68 feet (21 m) high and 125 feet
(38 m) wide, with an average water flow of 3,600 cubic feet per
second (100 m³/s). Trails winding down stream from the park on
either side of the river lead to the smaller Angel Falls and Dog
Slaughter Falls. Angel Falls is located 1.5 miles from the park on
the McCreary County side and Dog Slaughter Falls is located 3.5
miles from the park on the Whitley County side. The Below the Falls
section of the river includes a five mile long class 2-3 run that is
ideal for families and beginner stage white water rafters and
kayakers.
Williamsburg is located 20 minutes away from the Big South Fork of
the Cumberland River, a major tributary of the Cumberland River
system and a class 3-4 whitewater canoeing and kayaking stream. The
Big South Fork is also home to Yahoo Falls which stand 113 feet
(34.8 metres), making it arguably the tallest in Kentucky. A similar
waterfall in the Red River Gorge is said to exceed Yahoo Falls in
height by a few inches. Further along, the trail leads to the Yahoo
Arch.
History
Williamsburg was first known as the
Spring Ford after a nearby ford crossing the Cumberland River. The
city was officially formed when Samuel Cox donated the land for the
courthouse in 1818. The town's initial growth was fueled by three
fresh water springs in the area and later by coal and lumber
industries. At it's peak the city of Williamsburg boasted more
millionaires per capita than any other city in the nation.
|
