Beach to Beach

You probably have heard of the trail blazers: Daniel Boone, Lewis & Clark, and Kit Carson. But have you heard of “Wade” H. Candler, Robert A. Blair, Tom Gallagher, and I. O. “Sonny” Chitwood? On July 10, 1927 these four men from the Corbin Kiwanis Club and a specially rigged Model T Ford made the historic trail-blazing journey from Corbin, KY to Cumberland Falls. By September of that year the Kiwanis Trail to Cumberland Falls was complete. Work to improve the route continued and by 1931 the highway and the “Dryland Bridge” was finished.

Trips to Cumberland Falls were common outings for my family.  We loved seeing   the famous moonbow. Cumberland Falls is the only place in the western hemisphere where this phenomenon happens. My sister and I have seen the moonbow in the spring, summer, fall, and winter. Winter is my favorite time to see the glow of the moonbow's arch as it stretches down the Cumberland River. The glow reminds me of Mother of Pearl.  Legend has it that Native Americans used both Cumberland Falls and Eagle Falls as a place of worship and it is believed the reason for this was the moonbow. The moonbow is definitely worth seeing. Rainbows can be seen almost any sunny day.

                                                                

                                                                 

Another spot at Cumberland Falls State Park that holds a special place in my memory- the natural sand beach. During my teenage years we would spend those lazy summer days at the beach. Picture for a moment this sandy beach nestled in the Cumberland Mountains, the soft, gentle waves of the Cumberland River kissing the shoreline, and the sound of the Falls in the background.  Peaceful setting? Let me say, it was anything but peaceful during the summers of the 50’s and ‘60’s.

 The record, “What’d I’d Say” by Ray Charles comes blasting through the Jukebox at the  Beach House, echoing into those mountains.  Next someone plays Cozy Cole’s “Topsy Part II”.  Yes, lots of 50’s & 60’s music blasted from the Jukebox on those lazy summer days. Swimming was excellent. A little dancing in the sand was fun. Kentucky summers were hot. The Cumberland River was gorgeous and refreshing.

                                                               

                                                            

 I live in Dunedin, FL now.  Honeymoon Island State Park is about a ten minute drive from my coach.  Yes it is different. The Gulf of Mexico’s waves are louder and stronger. The beach is huge compared to that little sandy beach on the Cumberland River. I love walking along the shoreline here. Sure I could take my media player and listen to those songs of my youth. But instead I let my imagination take me back to “hear” the music and “see” those fun youthful days.  Anyway, I might miss the sound “Grandma” coming from little Evelet as she runs along the beach.

The beach at Cumberland Falls is gone due mainly to flooding. The beach house, destroyed by fire in 1968, was never rebuilt. When the horrific oil spill accident happened in April of this year, the scare of oil destroying our beaches was real. For the present the beaches here in the Tampa Bay Area are safe. Let’s hope that we continue to have these marvelous beaches and that our grandchildren’s children will get to enjoy them as much as we do today.

--The History of Cumberland Falls by Jeannie McConnell was my source for some of the facts and dates about Cumberland Falls.