Visit the smallest park in the park system where the ½-acre burial grounds of the Shelby family sits amid the peaceful countryside of Lincoln County. The stone-walled cemetery contains the monument and resting place of Kentucky's first and fifth governor, Isaac Shelby (1750-1826), along with the 22 graves of his wife and family. They rest in what Shelby once called, “the most beautiful land he had ever seen” when first visiting KY as a surveyor of the region in 1775 — it is indeed a photo-worthy spot. 

Before leaving the area, he cleared cane, planted corn, and improved the grounds so that he could secure his claim to it. Records indicate that the 1,400 acres were officially granted to him in 1780 and his home, Traveler's Rest, was completed in 1786. Upon his death, Shelby was buried in the cemetery of his estate.

The historic home was destroyed by fire in 1906, but the original detached brick kitchen still stands on private property and can be seen from a distance while visiting the site. Today, the Isaac Shelby Cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Isaac Shelby Cemetery

The William Whitley House and Sportsman's Hill stand today as a monument to pioneer ingenuity and resourcefulness. It was the first brick home and circular racetrack built west of the Alleghany Mountains, completed in 1794 by William Whitley and his wife Esther. Dubbed the "Guardian of Wilderness Road," the house was a gathering spot for early Kentuckians, including George Rogers Clark and Daniel Boone.


Hours of Operation
The grounds are open year-round (playground, shelter rental, and restrooms only) and access to the Sportsman’s Hill Walking Loop Trail is open year-round.

To reserve the shelter and for group tours call the park at (606) 355-2881.


State Parks Tagged With: Stanford