$175,000 project adds 75 signs and 20 kiosks at key locations, covering all 101 miles of the lake in five counties
JAMESTOWN, KENTUCKY (June 19, 2025) — Floating past Low Gap Island on a houseboat from State Dock Wednesday morning, a group of regional tourism leaders and local officials paused to celebrate a new sight on Lake Cumberland: a large location marker sign — part of a comprehensive new wayfinding system designed to help visitors safely navigate the sprawling lake.
Stakeholders gathered to commemorate the completion of the two-year, multi-jurisdictional effort to install this first-ever signage system on Lake Cumberland. Made possible by a $175,000 American Rescue Plan Act grant from the Kentucky Department of Tourism, the project spans all 101 miles of lake waters in Pulaski, Russell, Wayne, McCreary and Clinton counties.
A true regional collaboration, the wayfinding system brought together the area’s tourism organizations and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which oversees the lake and installed the location markers on its shores.
As the boat floated in front of the Low Gap sign, Danielle Wilson, executive director of the Lake Cumberland Tourist Commission in Russell County, thanked the state tourism department and the Kentucky General Assembly for making the project possible.
“Their support in the vision of strengthening outdoor recreation tourism infrastructure and safety on the water is critical to getting this effort on the ground and across the finish line,” Wilson said.
This project isn’t just about convenience, Wilson said — it’s about safety, accessibility and enhancing the visitor experience. The wayfinding system includes 75 sign locations and 20 informational kiosks along the shores of Lake Cumberland, helping visitors find their way to coves, tributaries and marinas. Lake Cumberland is one of the largest and most visited lakes in the eastern United States, with more than 4 million visitors per year and 1,200 miles of shoreline that until now offered little to no signage for guests.
Michelle Allen, executive director of the Somerset-Pulaski County Convention and Visitors Bureau, shared with the group how important safety was when writing the grant.
“There are a lot of people who come here and have no idea where they are, and if something were to happen, at least now somebody could say, ‘Oh, we’re at this sign,’ or ‘we’re at this cove,’ and be able to make their way there,” Allen said. “So we’re really appreciative of that.”
Allen also praised the spirit of collaboration that brought the project to life, noting how tourism leaders quickly met the required 10 percent local match and how local marinas stepped up when asked for support.
“I’m telling you, there was not one hesitation,” she said. “With their support, we were able to move forward with this project, so I have to thank our marinas that are present.”
Allen gave special recognition to the Corps of Engineers, who not only contributed financially but also handled the challenging logistics of installing signage in difficult lake conditions and on a tight timeline.
“I can’t say enough about the Corps and their partnership,” Allen said.
Visitors can find a map of the wayfinding system on digital kiosks at marinas across Lake Cumberland, as well as search local tourism resources. For more information about the wayfinding system, contact the Somerset-Pulaski County Convention and Visitors Bureau at (606) 679-6394 or the Lake Cumberland Tourist Commission at (270) 866-4333.
