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This Ride Through An Old Coal Mine In Kentucky Will Take You Back In Time

Jenn Shockley

I am somewhat a cliche'. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky. I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side.

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Coal mining has been a way of life in the rural sections of our state for decades. There are many families that flourished, simply survived, and died by the mine. The rest of us usually don’t get to experience what life is like in an old coal mine in Kentucky. Portal 31 and the Coal Mine Museum have taken great lengths to change that and give us an in-depth look at what life was like for miners, and the trials and tribulations their families endured.

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Coal mining was hard work. Many workers died in accidents or from Black Lung.

This amazing portal to the past will take you back in time. You will see things as they were, under much safer conditions than they had back then.

Ride the coal cars while hearing the history of the mine. Enlightened engineers will take you on a ride into the darkness, explaining the way things were and the precautions that have been taken to preserve the area and keep things safe for tourists. This is a great way to get in touch with your ancestors and coal community of Kentucky.

You can also journey back into the past with these Kentucky coal camp photos from the 1930s.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Harlan County

Where the adventure begins

Kentucky Coal Mine Museum

The kentucky coal mine museum brings back to life one of the most unique and interesting aspects of early coal mining & the company store.

Housed in the building that once served as the commissary built by International Harvester in the 1920s, the museum features four stories of exhibits on the history of mining and the life of the coal miner.

Visitors can enjoy a step back in time to the coal miner’s workplace, his home and his community. Artifacts, antiques, photographs, and machinery make up the more than 30 exhibits. Spanning 4 floors of exhibit space, the Museum houses a diverse collection of artifacts exploring the early years of industrial coal mining in Kentucky.Continuous featured exhibits include the Loretta Lynn Exhibit as well as a Mock Mine Exhibit.

While visiting the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum, you can see the floor plan of a typical underground coal mine. The display shows all aspects of a coal mine including the tipple and other mining activities. Visitors can have their picture made outside the building next to the two-ton block of coal that was specially cut for the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum. Kids will also enjoy climbing on the 1940’s model electric locomotive used to haul miners inside the mine. In addition, you can see other heavy machinery used in mining the “black diamond.” The Kentucky Coal Mining Museum offers a complete picture of the lives that revolve around the coal industry. Visitors to the museum can also view the process detailing the formation of coal by looking at several visuals and fossil displays. Next a narrated video describes the early coal mining days in Benham and Lynch. Other displays include items from the company hospital, early mining tools, items from the commissary and the miner’s home, as well as a working scale model of a coal tipple. A photography collection documenting the history of Benham – mining accidents, new buildings, people, etc. -can also be seen.

The Loretta Lynn Exhibit : The third floor of the museum is dedicated to the life of country music singer and Coal Miner’s Daughter Loretta Lynn. The Lynn Exhibit includes portraits capturing the singer at various stages of her life in addition to many items from Mrs. Lynn’s personal collection.

Mock Underground Mine : Both children and adults alike enjoy a tour through the Museum’s Mock Mine. The short walking tour winds along coal corridors and includes vivid sound and video from modern mines.

Admission Museum Entry: Adults: $6 Seniors (62 and up): $5 High School/College: $4 Students (3-12): $3 Portal Entry: Adults: $10 Seniors (62 and up): $9 High School/College: $7 Students (3-12): $5 Combo Pass: Adults: $15 Seniors (62 and up): $13 High School/College: $10 Students (3-12): $7 Children under 3 with parents – Free

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Lynch, Kentucky : Portal 31: Dark Ride Mine Tour

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A train ride through a real coal mine, with sound and light effects, animatronic miners, and a robot mule. Tourists ride rail cars, often in pitch blackness.

Visitor Tips and News About Portal 31: Dark Ride Mine Tour

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters . Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip .

Stopped by during a trip to Kentucky. The tour guide was very informative and it was great to see the different time periods of mining through the displays in the Portal 31 exhibition mine.

The Portal No. 31 Underground Mine Tour is a new offering; supposedly it opened in late 2006. Lynch was once the world's largest coal camp, and this is touted as "Kentucky's First Exhibition Coal Mine." Groups are transported through the Portal #31 coal mine by rail car, wearing plastic safety helmets "as they enjoy animated exhibits along the tour."

According to the attraction's web site: "Outside Portal #31 stands a black granite monument in tribute to long time president of the United Mine Workers John L. Lewis and a memorial to U.S. Steel District #1 miners who died in mining accidents. The site also features a 1920s lamphouse, bathhouse, L&N train depot and loadout system."

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Kentucky Coal Mining Museum

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Kentucky Coal Mining Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Tue - Sat 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• (0.12 mi) Dinner Bucket
• (2.02 mi) Lamp House Coffee
• (1.51 mi) Dairy Hut Two
• (1.66 mi) Subway
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Sierra County Historical Society

Kentucky Mine Historic Park and Museum

We are closed for the winter.

We will reopen Memorial Weekend 2024!.

The Gold Rush lives on at the Kentucky Mine and Museum in Sierra City!

Today, the stamp mills are silent excepting two times each day when the Kentucky Mine stamp mill is once again brought to life to give folks on the twice daily tours of the mine and stamp mill a close up encounter with an operating stamp mill. Tour members are cautioned to cover their ears if sudden loud noises bother them because when the stamp drops, nearly everyone jumps! This is a chance to see and hear the sounds of a working gold mine is just the dramatic ending of the hour-plus tour that takes visitors through the incredible day-to-day experience of hard rock mining in the Sierra City mining region during the later part of the 19th century.

A visit to the Kentucky Mine and Museum located on Highway 49 near the town of Sierra City, CA, is a unique opportunity for you and your family to step into the world of the gold-seeking miners who worked the mines and built the towns that made California the golden state.

The Kentucky Mine and Museum is open 10 am to 4 pm , 7 days a week , from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Family-friendly pricing is in place with $5.00 per adult and  $2.00 per child museum admission. Guided gold mine and stamp mill tours start at 11 am and 2 pm daily with $10.00 admission for adults, $5.00 for children ages 7-17, and free admission for children 6 and under.  Bring the whole family for a day-in-the-life of a gold rush miner experience that will be a family trip gold-star day!

Hint: Sierra County Historical Society members receive free admission to the museum and tours. Learn more »

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Kentucky Mine Historic Park & Museum: Tour a Gold Rush Era Stamp Mill

In the small town of Sierra City, with only a grocery store and two restaurants, there is one of my favorite spots in all of Northern California, the Kentucky Mine. This old gold mine and mill is one of the best preserved mills from the gold rush era and is an excellent way to both interact and see the mining history of the area. This is a spot you must check out if you are near Tahoe. Here is all the information.

• 7 dollars for a tour (as of 2015)
• 1 dollar for the museum only
• Hours: 10 AM – 4 PM
• Open only in the summer
• All information from 2015

First off, if you don’t do the tour, there is not a lot of reason to come here. The museum has some old relics but is very small and probably wouldn’t be worth the drive on its own. The tour, however, is chalked full of information and an amazing historical site. It takes about an hour and a half, and here is what you do on it.

The tour begins with the history of gold mining in the area and then moves up to the building that houses the mine.

In there, you will learn about the way they mined for the gold, from the tools to the success rate (low).

After this, you will have an opportunity to go into the mine itself. It had a cave-in three years ago though, and you can only go in about 15 feet, so it is somewhat anticlimactic.

One of the most exciting things about this part of the tour is the old water machine that powered the work they did in the mine. After that, the tour heads into the stamp mill, and this is when it becomes fascinating.

First, you have to cross the bridge, which was what initially drew me to visit the mill. It is a wooden trestle that the ore was pushed across before it was crushed in the mill. It has a style that is not present in modern architecture, and I loved photographing it.

The mill itself is 70 feet tall, and it houses a four-step extraction process for the gold. The tour guide takes you through and explains the process from beginning to end; here are the floors.

This floor is where the carts of ore were dumped, and if it was small enough, it went down to the next step. If not, it got stuck on the grate and had to be broken down.

Fourth Floor

This floor houses the machine that started the crushing process. It had a massive belt to power it and a lot of rudimentary tools to help the process.

This floor is where the smaller pieces of ore fell into and were put through another breaking process.

This is also where we met the bats for the first time.  These bats come here around July to give birth to their babies and were all over the mill; it was crazy. We even got to see a few up close.

This floor had a chopper type machine that continued to refine the rocks down to small enough pieces to be crushed.

This floor is where the water machine that powered the whole mill was and also where the stamps were. These stamps literally drop and crush the rocks into dust, which let the miners remove the gold from the ore.

Anything that doesn’t get crushed here drops down to the shaker, which is the last step of the process.

As you can see, this entire process was elaborate and pretty amazing for a turn of the century mill. This mill is one of only a few in the world that has not been refreshed and still has all of the original pieces in it. The tour is a must do on a visit here as these pictures do not do justice to seeing the fantastic stamp mill in person.

After completing the tour, you will have the opportunity to visit the museum if you did not see it beforehand. I loved the history and the artistry of the Kentucky Mill, and I cannot recommend it more if you are into history like I am. Make sure to leave a comment with your thoughts.

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• Red River Gorge Vacations

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Kayak tours, underground kayak tour details.

Feeling adventurous? Paddle your way through a 100-year-old limestone mine on this unforgettable one-hour Red River Gorge kayaking tour. Explore the incredible subterranean paths and learn the history of the area as our expert guides lead the way illuminating the unique features of the Gorge Underground. There are new discoveries to be made around every corner of this one-of-a-kind mountainside cavern.

If you’re seeking a truly extraordinary experience that combines exploration, natural beauty, and the thrill of the unknown, try underground kayaking in Kentucky for your next adventure. Our tours are perfect for families with children 5 years of age or older, school groups, couples, and anyone looking for a memorable time. Contact us to arrange your Red River Gorge cave kayaking expedition. Your underground adventure begins here.

• Max Group Size: 12
• Weight restrictions: Single kayak - 300 lbs, double kayak 475 lbs. Individuals on the kayak tour (single or double kayak) must not exceed 300 lbs.
• Minimum age for children on this tour is 5. For safety, children under 5 years of age are not able to participate.
• Kayak, Paddle, PFD, Helmet & Headlamp
• Tandem kayaks are available upon request at arrival

Adult (Age 13+) Youth (Age 9-12)

$55 Mon-Thur, $65 Fri-Sun $55 Mon-Thur, $65 Fri-Sun

The Gorge Underground Kayak and SUP tours are fine for beginners. There is no wind, waves, or current in the mine, so it is a gentle, easy paddle. It is very dark, but everyone will have a helmet with a headlamp, and the guides will have a spotlight to highlight different features of the mine. There will be a quick intro to paddling given for each craft before departure.

It’s 50 degrees underground, so dress in light athletic quick drying layers (you may get a bit damp depending on your paddling skill), extra pair of socks (no shoes allowed in clear kayaks), gloves (great idea) and comfortable shoes. Kids tends to get colder, so dress them warmly. We rent neoprene socks and mitts on the deluxe tours for $2.00 if needed.

We try our best to keep you dry, but there are times when you may get a little wet. There may be a little bit of water in the bottom of your kayak, and sometimes the seats are a bit wet. Some people also get wet from the water dripping off their paddles, but if you hold your paddle low this should not be a problem. There are also a few places in the mine where the water drips from the ceiling, but your guides will direct you around these places.

The mine stays a constant temperature of about 52 degrees year round, and the water temperature stays about 40 degrees.

No, it really doesn’t. The entire tour is underground in the mine, so our tours go out rain or shine! (In fact, some people prefer to go on a rainy day so they can do other activities when it’s sunny.)

Yes, we do have some tandem kayaks. If you would prefer to use a tandem with someone in your group, simply let the guides know when you get there, and they will pull out a tandem for you to use. Pricing is still by person.

We provide all necessary equipment.

Kayak Tours : Kayak, Paddle, PFD, Helmet & Headlamp

Clear Bottom Kayak Tours:  Kayak, Paddle, PFD, Helmet & Headlamp

SUP Tours : NRS Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board or Hylife Sit & Stand Hybrid Board, Paddle, PFD, Helmet & Headlamp.

Boat Tour : Boat, PFD, Helmet & Headlamp

Ride Along Child Ticket: PFD, Helmet & Headlamp

The cave boat tour is probably the best choice if you have small children. All children need to be at least about 40 lbs. and able to wear a PFD and helmet and sit still for the full hour-long tour.

The Gorge Underground is dark, but everyone will have a helmet with a headlamp, and the guides also have spotlights to point out various features in the mine.

We’re sorry, but we cannot accommodate children under 3 years of age.

We have had a few, but it doesn’t happen very often at all. The kayaks are relatively stable and are safe even for beginners. The Stand Up Paddle boards are also very wide and stable. A guide with rescue training goes on every tour, just in case.

30 minutes prior to your tour time

Yes! We highly recommend booking tours in advance. In the busy season many of our tours will fill up, and during the slow season, we need to know what tours are going out so that we have guides available.

The tours last one hour, but you will need to arrive 30 minutes prior to your tour time for check in and to put on gear.  Deluxe Tours  last 90 minutes for extra time to explore.

The Gorge Underground does not allow any pets on tour.

The Gorge Underground is open year round! We have more tours during the summer and fall, but we have tours available during every season! (The mine stays about 52 degrees year round, so the water in the mine never freezes!)

If you are coming with more than 12 people, we highly recommend our cave boat tour which can accommodate up to 20 people.

We limit our kayak tours to 12 people and our SUP tours to 10 because it becomes very difficult to hear the guides when you are spread out in a bigger group. For larger family groups or church/scout groups, we occasionally make exceptions to this rule at the manager’s discretion.

Yes! You can get a 10% group discount if you have at least 12 people and one person is paying for the whole group. For church/scout group discounts, please call the office at 844-254-6244. 

(Group discounts and church/scout discounts are not available on Saturdays or holiday weekends.)

We understand that sometimes plans change. Please read our policy fully. 

Due to the specialty nature of our events and our limited availability we  DO NOT OFFER REFUNDS.  Tickets can be rescheduled  NO LESS  than 7 days before event! A change fee of $10 will be applied per reservation. If you need to reschedule the week of the event you will be charged 50% of your booking as a rescheduling fee. Changes made less than 48 hours prior to tour are not allowed. Ensure you arrive a minimum of 30 minutes prior to your tour time.

No shows are not eligible for rescheduling, gift card, or refund.

We reserve the right to decline any person as a tour participant if the person’s behavior, health, or mental condition impedes the operation of the tour.

Got a Group?

Gather up your friends, family, even uncle Gary, or some co-workers and we’re here to show you how adventure is done. Give us a call for special pricing and package offers.

Need a place to stay in the Gorge?

Red River Gorge Cabin Rentals - 70 Cabins and Luxury Yurts for rent throughout the Red River Gorge. Small families to large groups we have something for everyone.

We’re Right in the Heart of Red River Gorge

Convenient for groups coming from: Lexington, KY: 1 hr Louisville, KY: 1 hr 59 mins Ashland, NC: 2 hrs 4 mins Cincinatti, OH: 2 hrs 2 mins Nashville, TN: 4 hrs 3 mins

1-844-254-6244

2478 Glen Cairn Road, Rogers, Kentucky 41365

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This Glass-bottomed Kayak Tour Through an Abandoned Mine in Kentucky Brings You to an Underground Waterfall

Spot fish, bats, and an underground waterfall during this epic tour.

Kentucky may conjure up images of bourbon distilleries , its famous derby , and bluegrass music, but the state also offers visitors a one-of-a-kind water sports experience.

SUP Kentucky , a stand-up paddleboard tour company in Rogers, about an hour east of Lexington, offers guests a guided paddleboarding experience through an abandoned limestone mine in the nearby Red River Gorge. To make things even more interesting (and Instagram-worthy), travelers can choose between a clear-bottom kayak or a paddleboard with multicolored LED lights illuminating the water underneath.

"Kentucky has many, many cave systems. I knew I was going to try to find a cave to paddle in," Heather Warman, co-owner of SUP Kentucky, told Travel + Leisure . She explained that after she and her partner founded the company in 2016, they started looking for unique adventures to offer their clients. Then, one day, Warman, a native Kentuckian, drove by the limestone mine and saw a banner advertising kayaking tours.

"I had been driving there my whole life and never knew [the mine] was even here. And certainly, I didn't know that it had water in it. And so we went in and discovered it's huge. It has five miles of tunnels. And it's all flooded from an underground aquifer," Warman explained.

Courtesy of Sup Kentucky

As it turned out, the mine had been there well before she was even born. It started as a surface mine in the 1800s and was converted into an underground mine in the middle of the 20th century when workers used dynamite to blast out the tunnels. Then, around the 1980s, they hit the aquifers, and water began to seep into the hallways. Eventually, the mine was shut down, and it remained so for about 30 years until SUP Kentucky started offering its Crystal Kayak and SUP Glow Tour.

The mine's tunnels are 60 feet in width and about 30 feet in height. Because there is no wind or waves inside, the waters are always calm, and previous paddleboarding experience is not required. Another unique aspect of the tour, according to Warman, is that unlike other bodies of water in Kentucky, which have muddy waters, limestone acts as a natural filtration system, making the water in the mine crystal clear. During the tour, guests can spot rainbow trout, napping bats, fossils, and even an underground waterfall. SUP Kentucky's groups are limited to eight people, but the company can accommodate a larger group on a private tour.

The easiest way to get to the Red River Gorge Area is to fly into Lexington and drive to the Gorge Underground. The nearby Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Slade is home to a lodge with 35 rooms with private balconies. Two campgrounds and a restaurant are also available to travelers. With many hiking trails, swimming, zip lining, fishing, pedal boating, a sky lift (open April to October), and rock climbing opportunities, the area is brimming with activity year-round.

Once guests arrive at the mine site (Warman recommends getting there 15 minutes early to gear up), they can choose between a clear-bottom SUP board — the company's newest offering — or a kayak. Temperatures in the mine are in the 50s year-round, so dress accordingly. On a hot summer day, for example, when it's in the 90s range outside, guests can expect a 40-degree temperature drop once they enter the cave.

"We do suggest that people wear light athletic layers, so they can take things off if they need to. I usually tell people if you think about a 50-degree day, and you're going to take a brisk walk, you'd want to wear something like that," she added. And that includes thick socks. Guides ask travelers to take their shoes off in the clear kayaks and SUPs, to maintain them clean and, well, "clear."

There are various items available for rent on-site, such as neoprene socks and gloves for $2 each or floating phone cases. The company's gift shop also sells sweatshirts for those who forget to bring one.

The minimum age for kids is five years old, and Warman explained that children always ride in their own seats for safety reasons. During the 90-minute tour, guests descend about 175 to 200 feet underground; at times, the water gets about 30 feet deep. Expect to spend about 60 minutes on the water. The other half hour is spent taking photos (guides carry cameras and charge $5 per photo), loading equipment, and walking to and from the mine.

Warman explained that the water temperature hovers around 42 degrees, which is one of the reasons this tour is guided.

"If you were to fall in and be in the water longer than ten minutes, you could become hypothermic," she said.

The Crystal Kayak and SUP Glow Tour is SUP Kentucky's most popular experience, so booking well in advance is recommended. Warman explained that weekend slots often sell out in the summer months in advance. Tickets cost $75 for adults ages 13 and older for tours between Sunday and Friday and $80 for Saturday tours. The earliest tour starts at 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and at 10 a.m. on weekdays.

You can book your spot here .

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CLICK HERE TO BUY A GIFT CARD!

• Operating Year Round!

Crystal Kayak and SUP Glow Tour

Quick Details

• Hour Glass Duration: 1.5 Hours
• User Ages: 5+ Years
• Users Group size: 8 Guests
• Star Outline Adventure Highlights:
• Single weight Limit  275lbs / Tandem 400lbs (Max individual size 275lb)
• Spend 1 hour paddling underground.
• Check out the Rainbow Trout by LED Light
• Explore an underground waterfall.
• Enjoy a small-group experience with a maximum of 8 guests (Larger groups by request)
• Clear kayaks have a tandem option that you can request upon arrival
• Stand Up Paddle or try our NEW Crystal Clear Bottom Kayaks

Explore the Red River Gorge by kayaking a flooded mine by LED light

Have you ever seen an underground waterfall? That’s just one highlight of Mine Glow, our most popular cave kayaking in Kentucky adventure.

You’ll paddle through an abandoned limestone mine by the glow of your LED lights and your headlamp.

Keep an eye out for rainbow trout who often follow the tour. If you’re lucky, you’ll see a Kentucky brown bat taking a rest on the limestone walls.

Get ready for some fun on this unique Red River Gorge underground Crystal Clear Kayak and SUP glow adventure.

• Chevron down What’s included
• 1.5 Hour Guided Tour
• Crystal Clear Bottom Kayak or Clear SUP Board
• Nocqua Led Lights
• Helmet & Headlamp
• Personal Flotation Device
• Small group experience
• Chevron down Itinerary
• Arrive 30-minutes early for quick skills review
• Time to head Underground for 90 Min
• 15 Min Wrap Up Photo Delivery
• Chevron down Travel
• Located in the heart of Kentucky’s Red River Gorge
• 1 hour from Lexington, KY
• 2.5 hours from Cincinnati, OH
• Bert T Combs Mountain Parkway Exit 33 toward Slade, KY

From Bert T Combs Mountain Parkway, take Exit 33, turn right, and go 4.7 miles. You will take the first left past Mill Creek Lake, which is Rogers-Glencairn Rd. Look for the Gorge Underground sign. The mine is your first left off Rogers-Glencairn Rd. It is a gravel drive through a large gate with a Gorge Underground banner, but don’t stop there. Stand Up Paddle Kentucky is a short way past the kayak outfitter.

• Chevron down FAQ

Questions? We love them! Check out our FAQs page or send us an email at [email protected] .

• Chevron down Payment Policy

Payment is required at booking.

For group bookings and special payment arrangements please email [email protected] . Please include your order number, name, trip dates, and amount.

• Chevron down Cancellation & Refund Policy

We understand that sometimes plans change. Please read our policy fully.

No refunds will be given prior to your adventure.

You may reschedule your adventure as long as you do so at least 7 days prior to trip time. A 10$ change fee will be applied per ticket No exceptions will be granted to our cancellation policy.

We reserve the right to cancel trips with inadequate participant attendance, in which case all money paid to Stand Up Paddle Kentucky is refunded. We CANNOT be held responsible for any personal expenses, such as airline tickets, fuel, or travel time, due to changes in itineraries or tour cancellations.

Stand Up Paddle Kentucky reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a tour participant should such a person’s behavior, health, or mental condition impede the operation of the trip.

Stand Up Paddle Kentucky reserves the option to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of your tour director as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, safety, or other unforeseen incidents.

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