BIG BONE LICK STATE PARK
BIG BONE LICK STATE PARK3380 Beaver Road Union, Kentucky 41091-9627
Phone: 859-384-3522 Reservations: 859-384-3522 Email: 
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During the Pleistocene Epoch, over 15-thousand years ago, a huge ice sheet covered the ground all the way from Canada down to the Ohio River. On the edges of this ice sheet, great herds of giant mastodons, wooly mammoths and ground sloths were attracted to the warm salt springs that still bubble from the earth at Big Bone Lick State Park.
The salty marsh that attracted these prehistoric visitors sometimes proved to be a fatal attraction. Animals became trapped and perished in what the early pioneers called "jelly ground," leaving skeletons and interesting clues about life in prehistoric Kentucky.
The fossilized remains of these prehistoric animals were discovered in 1739 and displayed extensively at museums throughout the world. Notable Americans such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin personally examined the fossils, many of which are on display today at Big Bone Lick Museum. The scientific community recognizes the site as the "Birthplace of American Vertebrate Paleontology."
FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW
Day-UseFishingyes
Hiking Trailyes
Swimming Beachyes
CampingWater/Electric Sitesyes
WinterActivitiesyes
Spacious campground features 62 campsites with utility hookups, grills, a swimming pool and playground. Showers, rest rooms, and laundry facilities are available at a central service building. Campground grocery on-site.
Pets are allowed if restrained. Campground open Year-Round. Campground grocery open April 1-October 31.
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Nearly 40 acres of picnic grounds with tables, grills and a playground are ideal for family outings. The two picnic shelters have tables, grills, water and electric, and may be reserved for rental up to one year in advance.
Gift ShopA gift shop adjoins the museum and features Kentucky handcrafts and souvenirs of all types. The gift shop will be closed February and March.
Learn the history of Big Bone Lick in our brand new museum with displays of fossilized bones and artifacts from the last 18,000 years. Open year round.
Outdoor Museum - Discovery TrailThe new Discovery Trail addition to the Outdoor Museum at Big Bone Lick gives visitors a glimpse of the drama that unfolded at the springs in pre-history.
Recreated grasslands, wetlands and wooded savannas lie along the trail leading to a "bog" diorama. Shown going into or struggling inside the marsh bog are a woolly mammoth, a mastodon, a giant sloth, bison, various skeletal remains, and scavengers feeding on the carcasses. Visitors approach the diorama on a boardwalk that rises above the floor of the marsh, enabling them to "look history in the eye." An amphiteater upslope from the diorama can be used as an outdoor classroom. The diorama and the Discovery Trail are sited to provide the physically challenged visitors with the opportunity to experience the varied grassland, wetland and savanna environments and the bog diorama.
The outdoor museum continues for a mile past the entrance to the Discovery trail. The paved Big Bone Creek Trail wanders through the original swampland, now growing wild with brush and flowers, and the last remaining salt-sulphur spring. The final portion of the loop, the Bison Trace, brings a live buffalo herd into view. Year-round.
Buffalo Herd: The American buffalo, or bison, is the largest of all North American land mammals. Great buffalo herds once roamed this area and provided food, clothing and shelter for the Indians and pioneers. Hunted to near extinction, the last wild buffalo was seen in Kentucky around 1800. The park’s herd is an effort to reestablish these animals at Big Bone Lick.
Park Visitor Online Reviews
January 2 Birthplace of Paleontology by StealthHunter
Now...what I am wondering is why are there ball fields, tennis courts, and picnic tables at what is supposed to be a treasure trove of natural history and archaeology???
November 1 a favorite for years! by Brittany
I have camped, fished, visited and hiked here for years, all around love it and my kids love visiting the park as well! Not once have a had a bad or undesirable experience here.
October 29 Do not feed the lizards. by Jim Cobia
this is a great place, hikeing ,camping,fishing,been going here since1979 field trips frm school were awsome.
August 13 Thomas Family Reunion by Lisa
I am 45 years old and ever since I was a baby myfamily has been having our annual family reunions here.Its a wonderful park.I love the museum as well as my kids and now grandkids do !!! I highly recommend going for a visit .
March 1 a beautiful place
Such a great park!
January 12 Friendly campers and great time by Tim
We stayed there for a week in April 09 when I was sent to Erlanger for training. I decided to take the wife and my 5th wheel and take advantage of the opportunity to camp on the company dime! What a great park. Bring plenty of leveling blocks however since very few of the sights are actually level and many require quite a bit of leveling. The steps to my RV ended up over a foot and a half off the ground.Nice trails and scenerey. Need to turn the buffalo loose form the small pens!
July 26 My Favorite Park by #1 big bone camper
I love this park, i camp here like everyother weekend. i really like the hikes, good wildlife (deer, rabits, owls) lots of fun!
June 2 Great place to see wildlife!
I went for a feild trip and I had an amazing time!We ate lunch in a feild with lots of deer,rabbits and birds.It was great we went on a river walk we even got to throw a spear!It is the best place ever!!!!!
April 11 Terrible Easter Egg Hunt by Rose
A very uncoordinated event! I will never attend that or anything to do with any event at this park again! I came home with one hurt child, one traumatized, and one upset! NEVER again!
February 20 Origin of name
Big bones, big salt lick...
January 10 Its a real place LOL
wow where does the name originate from
November 15 Awsome park.
A great park to take your family. Although its located way up north in Kentucky its worth the drive. If not for the park go there just because the name sounds so funny, thats why i did.
July 6 Our First Real Camping Trip by Firt time tent campers
This was a very clean and well kept camp ground. The host (The Pratts) were very helpful and nice. There is a lot to do for kids of all ages and the fishing was great also.
May 20 by john newman
very clean , family friendly. Our favorite park to go to. The Pratts are terrific host!!!!
April 21 all around great
it has the best fishing around, and its no wait just go right to the water. the people are very friendly and its a great place for food.
| Area Campgrounds |
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| Area Fishing Related Businesses |
| Adrien Fly Fishing Outfitters
7829 Cooper Rd
Cincinnati, OH
(513) 794-1100
| Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World
300 Cincinnati Mills Dr
Cincinnati, OH
(513) 826-5200
| Cincinnati Wholesale Bait Co
3901 Spring Grove Ave
Cincinnati, OH
(513) 542-1300
| Latonia Bait & Tackle
3408 Rogers St
Covington, KY
(859) 581-2002
| Fehrmann's Live Bait & Tackle Shop
3901 Spring Grove Ave
Cincinnati, OH
(513) 542-1300
| Fly & Shot Outfitters Inc
3516 Dixie Hwy
Erlanger, KY
(859) 342-7700
| Folz Fishg Lake
7312 Bridgetown Rd
Cincinnati, OH
(513) 941-4765
| Queen City Tackle
2971 Saddleback Dr
Cincinnati, OH
(513) 232-5355
| Weezel Bait Co
2971 Saddleback Dr
Cincinnati, OH
(513) 232-5355
| Casterline's Lake & Grill
3996 Pruett Rd
Covington, KY
(859) 356-3717
| Fins
1500 Interstate Dr
Erlanger, KY
(859) 282-0583
| Lake Gloria Golf Fishing
10511 Pippin Rd
Cincinnati, OH
(513) 825-9900
| Lake Chetac Fishing Lake
8616 Lake Chetac Dr
Cincinnati, OH
Unverified listing
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| Area Resorts and Lodging |
| Red River Gorgeous
4303 Kirby Ave
Cincinnati, OH
(513) 245-0025
| St John's Lodge
817 Windham Ave
Cincinnati, OH
(513) 559-9052
| Mountain View Chalets
7044 Royalgreen Dr
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(513) 231-7100
| Quality Inn Evendale
1717 Glendale Milford Rd
Cincinnati, OH
(513) 771-5252
| Kingsgate Marriott Conf Hotel
151 Goodman St
Cincinnati, OH
(513) 487-3800
| Cinti Ski Club Voice Message
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(513) 768-3245
| Hyatt Hotels & Resorts: Hyatt Regency Cincinnati
151 West 5th Street
Cincinnati, OH
(513) 579-1234
| Marriott Hotels Resorts Suites
6189 Mulhauser Rd
Cincinnati, OH
(513) 874-7335
| Cincinnati Airport Marriott
2395 Progress Dr
Hebron, KY
(859) 586-0166
| Marriott Hotels & Resorts: Cincinnati Marriott at River Center
10 W Rivercenter Blvd
Covington, KY
(859) 261-2900
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The park is located 22 miles southwest of Covington on KY 338, off US 42 - 127 and I-71 / I-75. Here is an area map.
