Golden Pond Visitor Center at Land Between the Lakes
The Golden Pond Visitor Center serves as our information hub at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.
Visitors will find a planetarium, brochures, maps, clean restrooms, soda machines, a gift shop, children’s play area, pavilion, trailheads, recycling center, and more. Regional brochures describe attractions and historic sites in the area.
Visit Us:
Golden Pond Visitor Center:
238 Visitor Center Drive, Golden Pond, KY 42211
Phone: 270-924-2000
Hours:
- Golden Pond Visitor Center: Open Daily, 9 am-5 pm.
- North and South Welcome Stations: April-October: Open daily, 9am-5pm. Nov. & March: Open Wed-Sun, 9am-5pm.
- All are closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day.
The Golden Pond Visitor Center’s exhibit room of historic photographs and interpretive messages explains the rich heritage of the land and the people who lived “between the rivers.” The exhibit also delves into the buildings of the dams on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers with the eventual forming of Land Between the Lakes.
Be sure to sit a spell to watch the 15-minute version of the 50th Anniversary Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area movie produced by the USDA for us.
Visitors will also find the adjacent Golden Pond to be a great place to relax, picnic, or teach your children how to fish.
For a small fee, visitors can see a show at our newly-upgraded Planetarium on exciting topics that include space exploration, planets, and the night sky. Shows are offered daily. Check the calendar for more information on which shows are being offered the day of your visit.
North and South Welcome Stations
Our gateway welcome stations serve as mini visitor centers. You’ll find regional information, commemorative merchandise, maps, brochures, snacks, water bottles, clean restrooms, recycle center, trail heads, and soda machines.
North Welcome Station
1820 Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway
Grand Rivers, KY 42045
Phone: 270-924-2185
South Welcome Station
1268 Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway
Dover, TN 37058
Phone: 931-232-7956
Welcome Station Hours:
April-October: Open daily, 9am-5pm.
March & November: Open Wed-Sun, 9am-5pm.
Gift Shops
A variety of merchandise is available in our Friends of Land Between the Lakes shops at the Golden Pond Planetarium, Woodlands Nature Station, Homeplace and North and South Welcome Stations in the Land Between the Lakes.
Here visitors will find books, t-shirts, bags, gifts, guides, quilts, music, maps, snacks, drinks, handmade items, and a full selection of educational and commemorative items. The gift shops in our environmental education attractions specialize in relevant merchandise.
- The Homeplace offers period tools, crocks, iron cook ware, children’s toys, and homemade goods like quilts, musical instruments, jellies, candles, pot holders and more, in addition to a wide a selection of Civil War merchandise and books. Ask for a demonstration of the “dancing man” toy.
- Woodlands Nature Station offers nature topical items that feature native wildlife, wildflowers, nature kits, bird baths, hummingbird feeders, and books that encourage conservation for all ages.
- Golden Pond Visitor Center and Planetarium offers NASA inspired toys, books, and educational charts in addition to merchandise made by area artists including quilts and delicious fudge.
A good time for holiday gift buying occurs in November when we prepare for the close of our season. Many items will be on sale.
Your purchases help fund educational programs, volunteer activities, and information services at the Land Between the Lakes. The proceeds benefit hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Thank you!
The friendly staff at our Visitor Center and Welcome Stations will assist you in making your visit to Land Between the Lakes a fun and memorable experience for everyone in your group.
