Here’s an idea…
JMRA — pronounced jam-rah — is a proposal to create a Jellico Mountains Recreation Area in the Daniel Boone National Forest along I-75 in southern Kentucky, and transform Whitley and McCreary counties into an outdoor recreation destination that will be the envy of rural America.
The idea is to leverage the amazing natural assets we have in our own backyard to create a 40,000-acre public playground and nature preserve in national and private forests in Whitley and McCreary counties.
Surrounded by Cumberland Falls, Big South Fork, Laurel Lake, and more, JMRA’s central location could be the glue that binds together all these incredible attractions into a prime destination for nature lovers.
JMRA is a citizens proposed alternative to U.S. Forest Service plans to log more than half the Jellico Mountains, including over 5,000 acres of effective clearcutting on steep slopes.
More information below…
Principles
JMRA would follow many of the same guiding principles as the Daniel Boone National Forest:
- Safe
- Free Access
- Open 24×7
- Family and Dog Friendly
- Preservation
Photos
The relatively warm and wet environment means the Jellico Mountains are teeming with wildlife, birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects, flowers, fungi, and moss everywhere on everything. These riches of natural resources provide critical habitat and food for a wide diversity of wildlife, and several threatened and endangered species.
PHOTOS OF THE BEAUTIFUL JELLICO MOUNTAINS
Activities
JMRA would follow the multi-use mandate of the national forest to provide a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, camping, rock climbing, gun and bow hunting, fishing, gathering, sightseeing, horseback riding, and Jeep Jamborees.
Benefits
With JMRA nearby, local businesses would benefit from a steady flow of outdoor enthusiasts ready to spend money. Residents would benefit from the supply of good jobs and increased standard of living in the community. Everyone would benefit from the abundance of clean water and air from the surrounding forest.
Maps
JMRA’s central location could bring together all these great natural attractions into one must-visit destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Group Discussion
This website provides information related to JMRA. To discuss this proposal with other residents and stakeholders, please check out the Facebook group:
More information below…
Nearby Parks
JMRA is surrounded by an amazing collection of parks, including Big South Fork NRRA and Cumberland Falls State Resort Park with its world-famous moonbow.
Nearby Attractions
Nearby attractions like the new Cumberland Mint and Kentucky Splash Waterpark would benefit from a steady stream of outdoor enthusiasts flowing to the area for natural recreation.
Nearby Towns
The towns around JMRA have a lot of small-town charm. People are warm and friendly. Nearby towns like Williamsburg, Corbin, Pine Knot, Stearns, Whitley City, and Jellico would benefit from a steady stream of customers spending time and money on outdoor recreation.
Jellico Mountains
Jellico Mountains are foothills of the Cumberland Mountains in southern Kentucky, just west of Interstate 75. With a relief topping 1,200 feet, the Jellicos are more mountainous than the rest of the Daniel Boone National Forest in which they sit.
MORE ABOUT THE JELLICO MOUNTAINS
National Forest
Daniel Boone National Forest contains over 700,000 acres of rugged terrain and steep forested slopes. Visitors can enjoy camping, hiking, fishing and other outdoor recreation opportunities.
National Designation
We respectfully request that Congress designate a National Recreation Area or National Monument in the Jellico Mountains managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
MORE ABOUT NATIONAL DESIGNATION
Logging
JMRA is part of a citizens proposed alternative to U.S. Forest Service plans to log nearly 10,000 acres of the Jellico Mountains, including herbicide use and over 5,000 acres of effective clearcutting on mostly steep slopes.
News
- Jellico Mountain tas …WTVQ — A group of Whitley and McCreary County citizens have banded together to protect thousands of acres of the Daniel Boone National Forest. This is in response to the U.S. Forest Services’ plans to clear-cut approximately 5,000 acres of the forest and log a total of 10,000 acres over the next 40 years, the […]
- Citizens Alternative …March 15, 2023 Tim Reed, District ManagerDaniel Boone National ForestStearns Ranger District3320 Highway 27 NWhitley City, KY 42653 Subject: Citizens Alternative to the Jellico Vegetative Management Project #63037 Dear Mr. Reed, This letter is in response to U.S. Forest Service plans to log the Jellico Mountains of the Daniel Boone National Forest over the next […]
- Kentucky Residents A …WILLIAMSBURG, Kentucky—Brandon Bowlin learned of the U.S. government’s plan for clear-cutting in the southernmost mountains of Daniel Boone National Forest only a few weeks after the hard summer rains of 2022, when the earth slid off a mountain beneath a slope he had once logged. Since age 14—when Bowlin first held a chainsaw—he has harvested […]
- Corbin Tourism spear …We need to share JMRA with this marketing group! The News Journal – An alliance of eight tourism commissions in our region received some good news recently when they were informed that a total of $350,000 in federal funds would be allocated to them in order to launch a brand new marketing campaign designed to […]
- Letter to the EditorThe following letter was sent to the editor of The McCreary Voice and is shared below with the express permission of the author. Dear Editor, I am writing to you and the community in reference to two articles: Locals Express Views During Town Hall Meeting and Vigorous Response to Jellico Vegetation Management Proposal. The U.S. […]
About JMRA
JMRA is not a company, organization, or governmental agency. It’s a proposal by citizens to create a Recreation Area in the Jellico Mountains.
All images on this website are copyright their respective owners and published here with permission or license. Please see the Copyright page for more information or to report a copyright issue.
Image Credits:
> Arrows – by OpenClipart-Vectors – pixabay.com/vectors/arrow-button-right-next-forward-153644/
> Bison – by Spongylumps – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Buffalo_bison_bison.jpg
> Boy on Swing – by feeeling_blue – pixabay.com/photos/swing-son-happy-kid-mother-4232162/
> Cumberland Falls – by Design219 – commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cumberland_Falls_Moonbow_panarama.jpg
> Divider – by Gordon Johnson – pixabay.com/users/gdj-1086657/
> Hiking – by Timm Martin
> Jellico Mountains – by Timm Martin
> Logging – by Raoul Croes – unsplash.com/photos/_hKJavN6iRk
> National Forest – by Mzzl – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Daniel_Boone_National_Forest_Tater_Knob.jpg
> Rock Climbing – by Martin Wyall – unsplash.com/photos/i5b_1B-xTk0
> Univeristy of the Cumberlands – by unknown – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:University_of_the_Cumberlands_Welcome_Sign.JPG
> Waterpark – by Jed Villejo – unsplash.com/photos/xkeLHL5suF0