By Daniel Leathers
Special to NKyTribune
Kentucky never ceases to amaze me. You find an outdoor adventure in some of the most obvious places though many have little twists all their own.
Salato Wildlife Education Center in Frankfort not only has animals to see and things to learn about, but also hiking trails and a wonderful dragonfly marsh as well as fishing lakes.
Numerous other nuggets of “adventure gold” are everywhere we look.
But then sometimes you happen upon a nugget that is hidden at the end of an old road, the bend of stream or the backside of a mountain. One such place is Blue Wing Landing near Owenton.
Blue Wing Landing was built in 1850 and served as the summer home and retreat for Mason Brown, former Kentucky Secretary of State and son of Senator John Brown.
This home and the surrounding area were beautifully redone by a previous owner and are currently maintained by Doug and Kathleen Martin.
The condition to which the main house had fallen was a disgrace for a home on the National Registry of Historical Places. Blue Wing Landing sits on over 600 acres of privately-owned land and surrounds the Kentucky River Wildlife Management Area. Doug and Kathleen have brought their love of the outdoors and their love of history to nest and grow in a truly splendid place.
In addition to the main house, there are multiple cabins around the property, some of which are original to the plantation and served as slave cabins prior to the Civil War. You can almost sit on the back porch and see the ghosts of history plowing the fields, preparing meals in the still standing cook cabin or even the sound of the whistle from the river boat as it pulls into the small landing at Gratz.
There are few places that offer the variety of adventures available at Blue Wing Landing and this is one of the reasons we are highlighting them here in Bluegrass Adventures. “Your imagination is the limit” to your adventure, according to Doug and Kathleen.
The Martins offer numerous outdoors endeavors including, kayaking and fishing on the bordering Kentucky River, hiking on maintained paths winding through the woods, trailblazing through the mature hardwood forest, bird watching and much more.
The trails range from easy to moderately-difficult. Most of the difficulty comes in elevation changes over relatively short distances. Be sure to take along your boots for protection of your ankles when hiking over rocks.
While on the trails you will see a variety of wildlife and large old-growth trees. If you listen very closely, you may hear the sounds of the dipping paddles of Shawnee Indians echo over the centuries as they travel the river.
Blue Wing Landing is also a working cattle farm as well as outfitter for hunting and fishing services with some of the best deer hunting around. They even contract with a jet boat company in Madison, Indiana to offer 70 mile per hour trips in a jet boat down the Kentucky River.
Whatever adventure you choose to partake in at Blue Wing Landing, you will truly be blessed by the hospitality and variety offered. This is one of those places where your spirit can get lost in rest and at the same time your soul can be found. For a family that has varied interest, this is a place to consider when making weekend getaway plans.
There are many ways to enjoy your personal and family time. No matter how you choose to spend your time this season, don’t leave the outdoors out. Make it a part of every season.
Veteran outdoorsman Daniel Leathers is a U.S. Army veteran and also has worked as the director of the Outdoor Program for the Boy Scouts of America in Central and Western Kentucky and as the regional director for the National Wild Turkey Federation. He is the co-founder of Longhunter Outfitters, an outdoor skills, guide service and experiential learning company. Email him at leathers11@live.com.