Big Bone Lick State Historic Site

Big Bone Lick State Historic Site is a famous landmark located in Union, Kentucky. Celebrated as the birthplace of American paleontology, the park has a museum on-site displaying the fossils discovered over the years. In addition to paleontology, the museum offers educational exhibits about Ordovician geology, Native American history, and Ice Age mammals.

Perhaps the biggest attraction is the bison that call the state park home, home, home on the range. An imposing creature, the bison can be deceptively hard to spot, but they are always at the state park. Recognized for its place in the development of scientific theories regarding extinction, the land was once home to prehistoric animals such as the wooly mammoth and ground sloth.

Want to take your time exploring all the fascinating phenomena on offer here? Big Bone Lick State Historic Site's expansive campground has 62 RV full hookup sites, as well as an area for tents. Amenities include a swimming pool, playground, and a large lake for fishing. A campground store makes picking up last-minute or forgotten items easy and convenient.

Pets are allowed to camp here, but they must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. While the park might be pet-friendly, there is no telling if the buffalo are, so use caution! There are hiking trails if Fido would rather stay away from the bison.

Known as the Bluegrass State for its place in musical history, Kentucky is also home to beautiful mountains and rolling hills. Nearby adventures include the Pine Mountain Scenic Trail and Blue Licks Battlefield.

With fossils dating back to the Ice Age, the campground possesses many artifacts from our past while being the home to very much alive bison. If you’re interested in reconnecting with nature, camping at the Big Bone Lick State Historic Site provides a fascinating glimpse of our history as a species.