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Post by Greg Stamper on May 27, 2021 14:44:25 GMT -5
Eastern Kentucky is poised for an ecotourism boom—but a new resort sparks debate A proposed project on the edge of the protected Red River Gorge highlights community tensions and possible solutions. By Austyn Gaffney Published May 25, 2021In late spring, the Red River Gorge Geological Area undergoes a transformation: cadaverous winter trees turn a lush green, mayapples scatter across the forest floor, and rhododendrons and mountain laurels sprinkle deep ravines with white and pink flowers. But this year, the 42,000-acre preserve known as the Gorge is undergoing another change. Under the shadow of coal’s collapse, state officials decided Eastern Kentucky’s future was in tourism—and they’ve earmarked the Gorge as the official gateway. “Eastern Kentucky is sitting on a gold mine,” says Christie Abrams, director of Wolfe County Tourism. “Everyone thought it was in coal, and it’s not. It’s literally our [ecological] region.” Read More:www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/kentuckys-red-river-gorge-ecotourism-boom-sparks-debate
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