It’s Not Narnia. It’s Red River Gorge

[Rob Bergeron]

Walk with me for a moment.

You’re in a distant land. You open a cupboard door. You step through it. And on the other side is something that feels impossible — cliffs, arches, forests, waterfalls. A place so beautiful it almost feels fictional. A place you thought only you knew about.

But this isn’t Narnia.

It’s Red River Gorge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_pXTBev76I
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_River_Gorge

Not a fantasy world.
Not a fairytale.
A very real, very magical place — right here in Kentucky.

And the secret is officially out.

Why the Buzz Is Real (and Earned)
Red River Gorge lies within the Daniel Boone National Forest and was designated the Red River Gorge Geological Area, spanning roughly 29,000 acres. Entirely within that sits the Clifty Wilderness Area, more than 13,000 acres of fully protected wilderness.

This land isn’t just scenic — it’s nationally significant.

It’s a National Natural Landmark, a National Archaeological District, and it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Gorge itself is an intricate canyon system filled with towering sandstone cliffs, rock shelters, waterfalls, and more than 100 natural sandstone arches. Those cliffs are why climbers from around the world refer to it simply as “The Red.” The density and quality of routes here have made it one of the top rock-climbing destinations on Earth, supported by a truly global climbing community.

Immediately adjacent is Natural Bridge State Resort Park, home to one of the largest natural sandstone arches in the region and one of Kentucky’s most visited natural attractions.

Because of its rugged terrain and elevation changes, the Gorge also contains a remarkable variety of ecological zones — something you usually only see across much larger regions.

This place is protected, finite, and impossible to recreate.

The Data Is Catching Up to What Locals Already Knew
According to AirDNA, Red River Gorge was recently ranked as the 4th fastest-growing short-term rental market in the United States.

AirDNA tracks real booking behavior — occupancy, nightly rates, and revenue growth — across tens of thousands of markets. This ranking isn’t hype. It reflects where people are actually going.

Tourism data is fragmented because the Gorge spans federal land, state parks, and private attractions, but the trend is clear:

Over one million annual recreation visits to the Daniel Boone National Forest

Well over two million annual visits across the broader Red River Gorge area

Consistent year-over-year growth, driven by outdoor travel, climbing tourism, and national exposure

More people are discovering the Gorge every year.
And unlike cities, you cannot build more Gorge.

I’ll leave you with this:

“What you are doing is exploring. You are undertaking the first experience, not of the place, but of yourself in that place… nobody can discover the world for anybody else. It is only after we have discovered it for ourselves that it becomes a common ground and a common bond, and we cease to be alone.”

— Wendell Berry, The Unforeseen Wilderness: Kentucky's Red River Gorge

Lots of projects going on there. Keep your eyes peeled!