Lake Cumberland was recently called the "Redneck Riviera" by The Christian Science Monitor in its June 15, 2007 edition. This floating lifestyle has visitors relaxing in houseboats that rival Florida condos in both size and ammenities.

These floating havens are as much as 110 feet long and sport such nautical amenities as up to 6 bedrooms and 4 baths, Jacuzzis, water slides, wall-sized flat screen TVs, accent lighting, with a helm in the living room near the flat screen TV. Many of these floating palaces never leave the dock, where the social scene thrives. Lake Cumberland is located in the heart of rural farmland and lies along the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains in Southern Kentucky.

Lake Cumberland has 12 marinas, most of which cater to private houseboaters as well as rentals. Houseboating is not a Kentucky invention. Houseboating started in Europe hundreds of years earlier. Those that started manufacturing the lake-style houseboat in this area will say that they only 'perfected' this unique tradition.

Considered the No. 1 house-boating destination in the United States, you will love the warm-weather activities Lake Cumberland offers. Choose from houseboating, camping, jet skiing, leisure boating or simply relaxing. Lake Cumberland offers excellent spots for five species of bass, crappie, catfish and trout fishing. Don't be surprised if you catch a 40-pound striper bass. The state record for largest bass, at 58 lbs., was caught at Lake Cumberland.

Lake Cumberland is a preferred destination for visitors from Northern Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Michicagan. Visitors from Illinois, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are just now discovering the recreational ammenities offered much closer to home. The main lake is 101 miles long, has 1,255 miles of shoreline and covers one mile at its widest point. The western end of the lake offers the 3,117-acre Lake Cumberland State Resort Park. The resort offers the Rowena Landing Restaurant, a grocery store, a 63-room lodge and 30 cottages, Horseback riding, picnic areas and camping sites.

Lake Cumberland is located in Wayne, Russell, Pulaski, Clinton, McCreary, Laurel, and Whitley counties in Southeastern Kentucky on the Cumberland River. The damsite is at river mile 460.9 or about 10 miles southwest of Jamestown, Kentucky. The Wolf Creek Project was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938 and the Rivers and Harbor Act of 1946. Construction of the project, designed and supervised by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, began in August 1941. After a three-year delay caused by World War II, the project was completed for full beneficial use in August 1952. The dam was completed for flood control operation in 1950. Three of the six hydroelectric generating units were placed in operation in 1951 and the remaining three in 1952. Operation of the lake is for the primary purposes of flood control and the production of hydroelectric power. The cost of the project was approximately $80.4 million. The dam, powerhouse, and lake are operated and supervised by Corps of Engineers’ personnel under the direction of the District Engineer at Nashville, Tennessee.