Kentucky Derby Pie

By Sandra Scott

At the mention of Kentucky the first thing that usually comes to mind is the Kentucky Derby and horses.  So when John and I saw Kentucky Derby Pie, a “luscious chocolate and walnut filling in a delicate crust,” on the menu at the Pine Mountain State Resort Park we decided we just had to
try it.

Kentucky Derby Pie is a yummy mix of English walnuts, chocolate chips, sugar, eggs, flour, butter and vanilla presented with chocolate drizzle. Of course, we had heard of the Kentucky Derby, but we had never heard of the namesake pie. But then again we had never heard of Pine Mountain State Resort Park, either.  It was as much a treat as the dessert.  Each accommodation has a balcony with a beautiful view of the mountains, the perfect place to relax after a day of exploring, hiking, or golfing.  Along with a nature center the park has several trails including Lost Trail, a short but somewhat challenging loop that crosses a little stream. Golf Digest ranked the park’s 18-hole golf course, Wasioto Winds, as the fourth best new public course in the U.S. Wasioto Winds hosts an outstanding First Tee program for aspiring young golfers.

It would be easy to never leave Pine Tree Mountain Resort but there are a plethora of things to do in the area.

Cumberland Gap National Park, only 17 miles away, is the second largest National Historical Park in the U.S.  In the Visitor’s Center a video, “Daniel Boone and Westward Movement,” explains the importance of the Cumberland Gap in the development of America, including the hardships faced by Daniel Boone, his family, and other settlers. After the video we headed up the scenic road to Pinnacle Overlook that looks out over Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee.  Our guide, Carol Borneman, enthusiastically told the story of the Wilderness Road as it made its way through the Cumberland Gap. It was easy to imagine the bison crossing to greener pastures, Native Americans on what they called the “path of the armed ones,” and the early settlers plodding through the snow on their way to Kentucky.

The story of the early pioneers is one of incredible hardships.  So difficult was the crossing that few settlers traveled by wagon.  If they did, the wagon had to be dismantled and carried though the gap.  When they arrived, life continued to be difficult. There was the land to clear and dangers to survive.

The people who settled beyond the Cumberland Gap were independent and self-reliant. To learn more about the people of the mountains we visited the historic Hensley Settlement on top of Brush Mountain. Sherman Hensley established the settlement in 1904. For nearly 50 years 100 people maintained an 18^th century style of living by choice.  In the words of Herb Hensley, “…we was about as nigh self-supporting as I knowed of anywhere… We made a habit of trying to grow and make what we used….”

Back at Pine Mountain Lodge we relaxed on our balcony savoring a piece of Kentucky Derby Pie and a glass of cold sweet tea.  Before us spread the beautiful mountains – mountains that had been witness to some of the most dramatic moments in American history.

For more information check: www.tourseky.com, http://parks.ky.gov/findparks/resortparks/pm/,  www.nps.gov/cuga/