A Snapshot of Pulaski County : Through the Lens of a Citizen
By Christopher Harris
When Count Casimir Pulaski left France in 1777 and came to this continent to help General George Washington ’ s army fight for independence from England , little did he know he would one day lend his name to the greatest place on earth .
Okay , maybe there are a few contenders out there for that title . But certainly , Pulaski County is pretty special to those who live , work and play within its borders .
Where else can you find one of the largest man-made lakes in the United States , visit the car show that set the standard for countless others to follow , wander in the sylvan wonderland that is the Daniel Boone National Forest , and dine at exceptional local restaurants that have been seen on national TV — and do it all in the same day ?
But what makes Pulaski County so special isn ’ t all its recreational attractions and its natural beauty . No , what makes Pulaski County special is the people . This is the kind of place where you can still get to know your neighbor . Where you drive past a stranger on the road — and they wave at you like you ’ re an old friend . Where people go to church , sing their school song , gather on the square for community celebrations , and sometimes gather generations of family together under the same roof ?
It ’ s really hard to find that idyllic Mayberry setting in today ’ s society . But in many ways , Pulaski might be as close as it gets .
Talk to almost anyone about this area , and they ’ ll immediately recognize the name “ Lake Cumberland ” — especially if they ’ re one state to the north , from whence comes the Ohio Navy every summer like clockwork .
Covering over 65,500 acres , Lake Cumberland is one of the region ’ s most popular destinations for boating , fishing , and all forms of freshwater aquatic recreation . That ’ s especially true if you want your summertime lodging to be on the water itself , as Lake Cumberland is billed as the “ Houseboating Capital of the World .”
But that ’ s not all we ’ re the capital of here — Somerset is also the “ Official Car Cruise Capital of Kentucky .” A team of dedicated classic car lovers started Somernites Cruise in 2001 and not only has it grown over the last two decades-plus , but it ’ s inspired others to do the same — so much so that Cruise organizers call it the “ Somernites Effect .”
When the Cruise started , there were maybe one or two other similar events in Kentucky ; now , almost every weekend in the summer , there ’ s one somewhere in the region . But nobody does hot rods and custom vehicles like the volunteers of the Somernites Cruise team , who put on a show every year April through October , rain or shine on the fourth Saturday of the month .
The cruise has drawn celebrities , ranging from the cast of “ American Graffiti ” to TV car show personalities , and celebrity cars , like the original Mustang used in the Steve McQueen cinematic classic “ Bullitt .”
But that isn ’ t the only place you ’ ll find well-known personalities in Pulaski County . The HGTV hit “ My Lottery Dream Home ” and host David Bromstad came to town earlier this year , as did “ American Pickers ” star Mike Wolfe and actor Steve Zahn , both just on surprise visits to town .
The town has had a number of contestants on popular reality shows , every so often giving Pulaskians something to be proud of on the screen , as well as its own vibrant arts and theater scene — Flashback Theater Co . is a semi-professional theater group that annually produces both new material and beloved classics on the local stage , joining with Somerset Community College ’ s own drama program to produce our own homegrown superstars .
And then there ’ s Master Musicians Festival , which has been bringing talented musical artists to Pulaski County for 30 years now . Somerset Community College provides the lush green clearing known as “ Festival Field ” for loyal MMF fans and newcomers alike to pack each year , in anticipation of names like Willie Nelson , Counting Crows , Richie Havens , Blues Traveler , Sister Hazel , the Avett Brothers , Robert Randolph , Kenny Wayne Shepherd , and so many more . This year , Wynonna Judd , Nappy Roots , and even the Louisville Orchestra will take part in MMF and add to the legacy of this local gem for music lovers .
If you love to camp , there are all kinds of great venues for that , from large sites like Pulaski County Park and General Burnside Island State Park to smaller , hidden getaways throughout the county . If you love to eat , there are a collection of top-notch restaurants , from the Harbor to Guthrie ’ s and Charred Oak Whiskey Grill , from Serendipity at the Orange Door to the Chalet — the latter two both seen on the aforementioned HGTV program . If you love fast cars , you can visit the Lake Cumberland Speedway — or just watch cars race each other up and down the U . S . 27 “ strip ” on any given summer Saturday night . And if you love the holiday season , visit the ceremonial tree lighting on the downtown square , then head on down to Christmas Island on Burnside Island and its collection of colorful light displays . It ’ s a must-see come November and a beloved local tradition that recently found new life .
Business and industry has invested in Pulaski County , from big companies like Gatormade and TTAI and Hendrickson , to small boutiques like the Mole Hole , or the Pink Bee . We ’ re home to the Kentucky Green Living Fair in April , a place to learn about sustainable living with dozens of vendors from around the region , the Liberty Nature Center and its dedicated youth who help rehabilitate injured animals from the wild , and the Sheltowee Art Fair , featuring one-of-a-kind creations every fall at one of the area ’ s greatest resources , The Center for Rural Development .
We ’ ve got three public school systems — Somerset Independent , Pulaski County Schools , and Science Hill School — with some of the finest academic and athletic traditions in the area , and alternative options , such as Somerset Christian School , which also offer standout educational opportunities .
We have dedicated police , sheriff ’ s deputies , special response and rescue personnel , and of course firefighters — most of them volunteer , spread throughout the county . And it ’ s a massive county — third-largest by area in the state at 677 square miles , with more than 65,000 citizens , putting it in Kentucky ’ s top 15 . That ’ s a lot of ground for first responders to cover , and they do it , every day , putting their own lives on the line to help their neighbors .
We ’ ve got one of the area ’ s most notable historic sites — the Mill Springs Battlefield , where the first significant Union victory of the Civil War took place in 1862 . The site recently was accepted into the National Park Service and was established as a National Monument . While you ’ re out in western Pulaski County , stop by Haney ’ s Appledale Farm , a family legacy in agribusiness like no other , or popular agritourism spot Bear Wallow Farm — good , wholesome family fun doesn ’ t get any better than a Haney ’ s apple slush drink and fried pie before heading out to fire the “ punkin ’ chucker ” at Bear Wallow .
But all the fun isn ’ t just out in the county here in Pulaski — downtown Somerset has undergone a renaissance in recent years . There ’ s a fun downtown celebration almost every time of year , something that couldn ’ t be said when most of us were kids , everything from food truck festivals to an observance of the newest national holiday Juneteenth , from the chilly air and warm spirits of the fall Moonlight Festival , to watching the “ prop drop ” to ring in the new year on December 31 with our own downtown celebration — eat your heart out , Times Square .
For Pulaskians of a certain age , it was getting harder to remember when downtown was a busy place , filled with stores and fun things to do . In the 1970s , ‘ 80s and ‘ 90s , the highway was becoming the popular place to be , and businesses chose to move out there , leaving downtown Somerset almost barren of anything save law offices and the library for many years .
But we ’ ve built up again around that beautiful fountain on the square — and even gave it a modern facelift . There are places to shop now , places to get a craft beer or a good meal , places to support local artists like the Maker ’ s Mill or the John Sherman Cooper Community Arts Center — and of course , the Virginia is back , the familiar old movie house turned now into a hip performance venue with a marquee that has quickly become an essential part of the downtown landscape .
Count Pulaski would surely be proud that all of this can be found in the county that bears his name . But once again , what he should be proudest of is the people of Pulaski County . They ’ re the lifeblood of this place , the engine that makes it go . They ’ re the magic that makes this community more than just a lake and festivals and camping and whatnot — they make it feel like home .
Here ’ s looking at you , Pulaski County .
2 2023-2024 Pulaski Community snapshot l a special publication of the Commonwealth Journal