SLADE, Ky. — U.S. Sen. Rand Paul visited Eastern Kentucky this month to announce a new tourism initiative — the Eastern Kentucky Leaf and Blossom Trail — designed to connect and promote communities, attractions and small businesses across Appalachia.
The initiative was first introduced during an Oct. 16 meeting in Paintsville, attended by representatives from 24 counties participating in the proposed trail. Paul joined that meeting virtually from Washington, D.C. The following day, he and his staff visited the Red River Gorge area, meeting with local leaders, dining at area restaurants, and taking in the region’s natural beauty.
“This would bring together local stakeholders, tourism leaders and local officials to talk about the development of this and how we do it,” said Rob Givens, State Director for Sen. Paul. “The main goal is to make this a very marketable thing. You tell people, ‘Come visit Kentucky, come do the Eastern Kentucky Leaf Trail.’”
Paul said the initiative aims to strengthen regional tourism and create new opportunities for Appalachian communities.
“I’m thrilled that so many people assembled today who believe in the promise of Eastern Kentucky,” Paul said. “This is about celebrating Appalachia, showcasing the beauty of the region and creating new opportunities for people who call these mountains home.”
During a press conference Oct. 17 at the Red River Gorge Visitor Center in Slade, Paul said the initiative could follow a model similar to the state’s popular Bourbon Trail, in which participating destinations pay a membership fee that supports marketing and promotion.
“I think we can compete with Tennessee and North Carolina,” Paul said. “The mountains are every bit as beautiful, if not more beautiful. It’s so crowded down in Tennessee and places that I think we can siphon off a lot of that business. The future of Eastern Kentucky — a lot of it is tourism.”
A steering committee will guide the project’s development, including Terri Walters and Darrell Maynard of Pikeville; Geoffrey Justice of Whitesburg; Mark Haney of Nancy; and Sandy Dunn of Louisville. Oversight will come from Givens, with assistance from the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, led by CEO Kristen Smith Collins.
“Our goal is for Eastern Kentucky to step up and run this program,” Paul said. “The Leaf and Blossom Trail is designed for you. It’s a way to connect all the wonderful efforts from across the region under one roof.”
The proposed trail will stretch roughly 600 miles, from the foothills near London and Somerset up through Pikeville, Whitesburg and Prestonsburg, looping across Paintsville, Salyersville and Morehead before circling back toward the Red River Gorge.
Visitors will be able to start anywhere along the route — whether entering from I-75 or the Mountain Parkway — and follow signs or GPS directions through Eastern Kentucky’s backroads, lakes, parks, and small downtowns.
“We’re looking at around 24 counties total,” Givens said. “We want folks to have a reason to get off the interstate. The route will have eight main paths and sixteen smaller loops — each loop built around different themes like outdoor adventure, food, local art and mountain music.”
The goal, Givens added, is to encourage longer stays and regional exploration.
“The goal is for someone to come to Eastern Kentucky and spend three or four days just exploring,” he said. “They might stay overnight in Pikeville, eat in Paintsville, shop in Whitesburg and hike in Wolfe County — all as part of the same trail.”
Organizers also plan to launch a mobile-friendly website where travelers can explore routes by interest, find lodging, and track events or festivals happening along the trail.
“It’ll make the route accessible and easy to navigate without the cost of maintaining an app,” Givens said.
Paul said the project fits within his vision for an “all-of-the-above” approach to economic development in the region.
“The one thing that God gave us was the mountains, and I don’t think we’ve capitalized to the fullest,” Paul said. “Even the people who think we’re succeeding in tourism would say we aren’t to the best that we can do.”
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