Big South Fork NRRA to Host Blue Heron Ghost Train

Date: September 2, 2011
Contact: Howard Duncan, 423-569-9778

artwork by Park Ranger Sue Duncan

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, in conjunction with the Big South Fork Scenic Railway, is planning a new special event on Saturday, September 24, at the Blue Heron Mining Community. The event will feature area storytellers presenting frightening tales in the evening hours at Blue Heron. Guided by National Park Service Rangers, visitors will be taken to different locations within the mining camp to hear tales of terror, mystery and intrigue.  

Storytelling and orientation to the event will begin at the Big South Fork Scenic Railway Depot in Stearns, Kentucky, at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Visitors will depart the Stearns Depot at 7:00 p.m. for the train ride to Blue Heron. Upon arriving at Blue Heron, visitors will be divided into groups and assigned a guide for the evening. Each group will spend approximately 15 minutes with each storyteller and then be escorted to the next location. Storytelling locations will include the Blue Heron Church, the Women's Life structure, under the tipple and on the depot platform. The program at Blue Heron will last approximately one and one-half hours. The train will return to Stearns at approximately 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Visitors are welcome to drive to Blue Heron to enjoy the event. Persons driving in are requested to arrive at Blue Heron by 7:15 p.m. It is recommended that everyone bring a small flashlight and wear comfortable closed toed shoes.

Tickets for the Big South Fork Scenic Railway are $12.00 for adults and $6.00 for children under 12. There is no charge for the program at Blue Heron. For information on the Big South Fork Scenic Railway, call [phone] or visit the Scenic Railway website at www.bsfsry.com. For more information on the ghost train event, you may call the Bandy Creek Visitor Center at [phone] or the Stearns Visitor Center at [phone].