Cumberland Falls…

Cumberland Falls…. A Past Resort. Ever since pioneers discovered Cumberland Falls in the late 1700s, visitors have been attracted to its inspiring beauty. In 1875, just a few years after the first homestead here, the first hotel was built on this site. Soon thereafter, Cumberland Falls quickly became a popular summer resort., Named the Cumberland Falls Hotel, the inn was a two-story, wooden structure with 40 rooms on each floor. Logs were floated from a sawmill upstream for its construction. Later, a separate building was added for a dining room, with a ballroom on the second floor. , In 1902, the hotel was purchased by Henry Brunson and renamed the Brunson Inn. He and his family ran the inn until 1931 when Cumberland Falls became a state park. The hotel then became known as the Moonbow Inn and operated under that name until 1949 when it was destroyed by fire. No attempts were made to rebuild the hotel. , You Can’t Get There from Here! , During the good old days visitors to Cumberland Falls did not have many of the comforts we are accustomed to today. Just getting here was quite a chore. Guests arrived on the Cincinnati Southern Railroad at Parker’s Lake, 12 miles west of here. They were then loaded on mule-drawn “jolt wagons” for the remainder of the trip to the falls. Those last 12 miles took four hours on a dirt road! , If you would like to learn more about the history of this park pick up a copy of The History of Cumberland Falls in the gift shop.