TVA to Reopen Kentucky Dam Visitor Center
July 17, 2003
GRAND RIVERS, Ky. — TVA’s Kentucky Dam Visitor Center will reopen Monday, July 21, giving visitors an opportunity to learn more about TVA and the hydroelectric plant.
With a touch of a button, visitors can view videos and historical photos of the plant’s construction. Children and children-at-heart can generate electricity by hand cranking a model hydroelectric generator.
Located on the Kentucky Dam Reservation, the visitor center offers a view of the largest man-made reservoir in the eastern United States. The area around Kentucky Dam has more than 17 million recreation visits each year.
The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on major holidays. Tours are no longer available of the power plant, but the visitor center offers information, photographs, and models to give the visitor a similar experience.
TVA will continue to close visitor centers at Kentucky Dam and other locations when the national Homeland Security Office imposes a high (orange) alert or higher. The centers have closed periodically since Sept. 11, 2001, based on the Homeland Security alerts. They were closed earlier this year while TVA evaluated all its visitor centers for safety and cost effectiveness.
TVA is the nation’s largest public power producer and is completely self-financed. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve 8.3 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA also manages the Tennessee River and its tributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood control, navigation, water quality, and recreation.
Media Contact:
Pat Becker, Knoxville (865-632-4660) or TVA News Bureau, Knoxville (865-632-6000)
