Travel plan idea blog

Coal mining tourism

Here's a different kind of travel destination: a coal mine tour:

"The trend in tourism is this experiential travel," said George Ward, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Parks. "We'll show tourists the evolution of coal mining, from the picks and shovels and donkeys in early mining to the high-tech equipment used today."

To be honest I was skeptical of this "Disney-like tourist attraction with animatronic miners and underground tours" until I read something important at the end of the article:

"We have something here that is well-preserved and is emblematic of the mining camps that once existed throughout Appalachia," he said. "This is our last best chance to preserve our history and to preserve our culture."

Honestly, I don't see how something "Disney-like" could preserve culture but if showing off a dying culture is the intent of the mining museum I'd say it's worth a visit. Of course it's not finished yet, but the plan is to combine an existing nearby tourist attraction - "Benham already has a coal museum that attracts 30,000 people a year and an inn that was created from an old coal company school" - and combine it with the Portal 31 mine.

Posted by James Trotta at March 5, 2005 6:34 PM