This week Stearns became the sixth Kentucky town to achieve the official Kentucky Trail Town certification. Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear bestowed the honor at a ceremony at the Big South Fork Railway Depot on July 8, 2015.
Beshear noted Stearns’ close proximity to the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, access to the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail and its rich historic and cultural heritage are what make it an excellent Kentucky Trail Town.
Kentucky Trail Towns is a designation and assistance program that helps communities connect the dots for travelers and guide them to trails, food, lodging, campgrounds, museums, entertainment and other services. The Trail Towns program is a major part of the state’s adventure tourism effort.
KSD is proud to have developed the Stearns Trail Town logo, welcome sign and street banners as part of the community’s designation process. The logo reflects two core assets of Stearns: The famous Sheltowee Trace Trail system and the historic railroad. The word “rail” is highlighted in the “Trail” part of the logotype, a direct reference to the well-known historic rail attraction in Stearns. The symbol in the logo comes in two versions: a compass with a representation of the Sheltowee turtle, and a stylized rendering of a steam locomotive and tracks.
