The Rockhouse
Visit a National Natural Landmark
THE CREELSBORO NATURAL ARCH—also known as the Rockhouse—has seen various uses throughout its history. It has been a shelter and burial ground for Native Americans, a refuge for long hunters who mapped the Kentucky wilderness and a hideout for moonshiners during Prohibition. Today, it’s a destination for the modern-day hiker and paddler. To stand beneath such an awesome formation, you can’t help but think of its known and imagined history. Easily visible from the river, the formation makes you wonder how many people stopped to rest, camp, cook or live within it.
The arch took 300 to 400 million years to form. Documented history reveals that the Rockhouse was discovered by long hunters in the 1770s. William Campbell established a ferry not long after, providing one of the few river crossings for many miles. This crossing soon attracted two brothers, Elijah and Elza Creel. They built a small tavern and trading post nearby that became one of 12 major trading centers along the Cumberland River. The town of Creelsboro was incorporated in 1836, and residents named the natural rock arch “the Rockhouse.”
For a century, riverboat workers and patrons stopped at the Rockhouse for picnics, social gatherings and revivals. The residents of Creelsboro even used the Rockhouse as shelter during bad storms. Although Creelsboro is a ghost town today, it is still on the map thanks to Campbell’s Creelsboro Country Store, built in 1876. It’s one of Kentucky’s few remaining historic country stores, so be sure to stop in.
The Flood Control Act of 1938 approved a plan for flood control, including a dam at Wolf Creek. One of the possible sites for the dam was below the Rockhouse, and would have flooded it forever. The property owner at that time was Thomas Goff, who had grown up on the property and had only recently bought it back from another owner. Along with his wife, Lorene, and others in the area, Goff spent much time and money convincing the government that the Rockhouse was of historical value and deserved to be preserved for all to see and study.
In 1987, the National Park Service named the Creelsboro Natural Arch a National Natural Landmark, preserving the Rockhouse and a crucial part of Kentucky’s history. To see the Rockhouse yourself, head to Russell County on State Route 379 toward Creelsboro. About 2 1/2 miles west of Creelsboro, watch for a turnoff that leads to a small parking area. The Rockhouse is truly a hidden Kentucky jewel that doesn’t get much fanfare, but it’s well worth a visit.
