Kentucky's Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet announced a $6.9 million investment to enhance facilities and amenities at Pine Mountain State Resort Park, according to a statement from the governor's office.

The funding will support improvements designed to enhance the visitor experience while bolstering tourism and economic growth in the southeastern Kentucky region. The announcement came from the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.

Pine Mountain State Resort Park, located in Bell County near Pineville, opened in 1924 as Kentucky's first state park. The 1,500-acre facility features the Herndon J. Evans Lodge with 30 guest rooms, historic cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, the Wasioto Winds Golf Course, and the Laurel Cove Amphitheater. The park also offers 12 miles of hiking trails, including the popular Chained Rock Trail, and dining at the Mountain View Restaurant.

The upgrades represent continued state investment in Kentucky's park system, which contributes significantly to the commonwealth's tourism economy. State parks draw millions of visitors annually and support local employment across the state.

Facility improvements at Pine Mountain have been undertaken periodically in recent decades to maintain and modernize the park's core attractions while preserving historic structures built during the Depression era.