Allen County, Kentucky, is a quiet respite and a hot spot for history.

Situated along the border of Tennessee, Allen County’s rural, rolling hills are an oasis for those seeking a little down time. Wind down and enjoy the native grass fields hugging Barren River Lake, where camping, hiking, and birding are popular pastimes. Spot indigo buntings and bald eagles during the day, and hear the hoot of the barred owl at night. With 10,000 surface acres of water, there are endless ways to experience the lake. Four boat ramps/recreational areas are located in the county, each offering unique ways to enjoy the natural world:

• Bailey’s Point is open April through October and, with 215 sites, is the largest of the Army Corps of Engineers’ campgrounds on Barren River Lake. Enjoy waterfront camping, hiking trails, private coves for swimming, playgrounds, and weekend movie nights.
• Access the water year-round through Brown’s Ford ramp, where you can launch your boat or kayak or cast a line along the banks.
• Port Oliver boat ramp is open year-round and has an amphitheater, nine lakeside picnic sites, and a winding, waterside boardwalk that is fully ADA accessible. Fun fact: Port Oliver is home to The Port Oliver Yacht Club, which was founded in 1967 and has more than 100 active members! The club hosts many social activities throughout the year.
• The Walnut Creek Marina is open seasonally and features a picnic area, camping, jet ski rentals, and a boat ramp and dock.

Barren River was named by early pioneers for its treeless fields, which were created by Native Americans who burned sections of woodland to attract grazing buffalo. The area has a storied past, and, as such, there are many historical features and sites to visit and explore in the area. The Halcomb House serves as a time capsule to the history of Scottsville and modern medicine. Dumont Hill at Dugas Park honors the site’s history as a former Civil War encampment. The 36- by 23-foot Rosenwald School, built in the 1920s, was at one time the center for the African American community in Scottsville. Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald built almost 5,000 all-Black schools like this one in the early 1900s, and, thanks to the Allen County Chapter of the Kentucky African American Heritage Council’s preservation, it is one of only a few hundred Rosenwald schools left standing. While you are in the area, don’t forget to spend a tranquil moment at the Scottsville Public Spring, which was the main water source for the town’s settlers and a symbol of Allen County’s cultural heritage and natural resources. This blog would also be glaringly incomplete if it did not mention that Allen County is the official birthplace of Dollar General! J.L. Turner and his son, Cal Turner, Sr., started the concept in Scottsville in 1955.  

With all that exploring, you’re bound to work up an appetite. For those who prefer to dine locally, Scottsville has you covered. Stay lakeside and enjoy a southern breakfast or one of “the best hotdogs on the planet” at the eclectic Paradise Point. Stop into Earl G Dumplin’s, a longtime gathering place for locals, to socialize over a plate of gravy-covered anything, or stop by Harper’s Catfish, family-owned for more than 40 years and serving up—you guessed it—catfish (and much more!) Don’t be alarmed by the gravel road leading to it—yes, you’re going in the right direction. Would you believe that these are just a few examples of the local eats waiting to be tasted?

While you are in the area, be sure to visit one of the Kentucky Farm Bureau Certified Farm Markets in Allen County: Habegger’s Amish Market, known for their delicious fried pies, and Peach Tree Farm and Greenhouse, owned by the 2024 Kentucky Farm Bureau Farm Woman of the Year, Kori Thomas.

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For your convenience, Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance has multiple offices located in Allen County. Click here for more information.

The 120 is a blog series produced by Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance highlighting each of Kentucky's 120 counties—because we're well-known for knowing Kentucky well.