Date: August 19, 2005
Contact: Steven Seven, 423.569.9778

Officials at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (NRRA) are pleased to announce that a contract has been awarded and work will begin this week to repair facilities at the Blue Heron Mining Community. 

The first of the two projects will involve repairing the deteriorated walls at the Blue Heron Depot while the second project will replace the roof at the Blue Heron Food Service building.  That building was closed when a leaking roof made its use unsafe. 

The Blue Heron work serves as another positive outcome from the partnership which exists between the McCreary County Heritage Foundation and the National Park Service.  Once completed the newly renovated Blue Heron Mining Community will compliment all the work being done by Heritage Foundation in Stearns, Kentucky.  Together, Stearns, the Scenic Railway and Blue Heron will serve as a popular attraction for tourists traveling into Southern and Eastern Kentucky.

During the time that work is being done on the depot will be necessary to remove those exhibits which are currently mounted on the walls.  The restrooms, gift shop and all other exhibits located in the depot, as well as all the ghost structures at Blue Heron will remain accessible to park visitors. 

The National Park Service regrets any inconvenience this may cause, and wishes to assure it’s park neighbors and visitors that every effort will be made to complete the work in a timely fashion.