Our Visit To The Kentucky Dam

While camping at Land Between the Lakes, we decided to take a short drive up to the Kentucky Dam Visitor Center to check it out.

The construction of the Kentucky Dam began in 1938 and was completed in 1944. It is operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

Standing 206 feet high and stretching 8,422 feet long, the Kentucky Dam is the longest dam on the Tennessee River.

It is one of nine dams that create a navigable channel across 652 miles through Kentucky, Alabama, and Tennessee, facilitating the transport of around 50 million tons of cargo annually.

The reservoir behind the dam, known as Kentucky Reservoir, is 184 miles long, making it the largest man-made lake in the eastern United States.

The reservoir boasts 2,064 miles of shoreline and approximately 160,300 acres of water surface.

The Kentucky Dam is a hydroelectric facility equipped with five generating units, which together provide a summer net dependable capacity of 223 megawatts.

The water level in the reservoir is maintained at a minimum winter elevation of 354 feet, with a typical summer target level of 359 feet.

Visitors can drive across the dam to reach the Visitor Center, which is open from the first weekend of April to the last Sunday of October, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on federal holidays.

The center is staffed by TVA retirees who can answer any questions you may have.

Despite its small size, the center features several excellent exhibits that educate visitors about TVA history, the Kentucky Dam, and the surrounding area.

A giant window allows you to peer into the dam’s control room, which I found particularly fascinating.

Outside the Visitor Center, you’ll find informational boards and a giant turbine on display like those used in the dam.

Visitors can walk a paved path by the dam and on the fishing pier. There is also a walking/biking path on top of the dam.

The Kentucky Reservoir is home to a diverse array of fish, including largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish, bluegill, sauger, and crappie.

Visitors can fish from the shore or the pier; we saw some massive fish jumping from the water during our walk.

The reservoir was bustling with boats during our visit as well so I’m guessing this is some prime fishing real estate.

You must have a valid Kentucky fishing license though.

If you’re visiting the Grand Rivers area in Kentucky, be sure to stop by the Kentucky Dam. It’s a great spot for a stroll and offers plenty of interesting information about the region.