Western Kentucky Landslide Drawing Tourists

A landslide at a western Kentucky state park has become a tourist attraction.

The slide has taken out about 75 feet of land from its farthest point at Columbus Belmont State Park in Hickman County and is now 80 feet long. There’s concern more could collapse.

Park Manager Cindy Lynch told WPSD-TV in Paducah the bluff began showing signs of movement 15 years ago and a month ago she started seeing cracks in the dirt. Last week a 50 foot section finally fell about 160 feet into the Mississippi River.

Since last week, Lynch says smaller portions of the bluff caved in. She expects another five feet will probably wash off with another strong rainfall.

“It just started progressing, getting a little bigger, little bigger,” Lynch said.

Visitor Clint Moon says the park is close to the town of Columbus and everyone wants to see what is happening.

“I can remember the fence used to be a lot further out,” Moon said. “You have water up and down all the time.”

The Army Corps Of Engineers will pay a visit to the area to see if they can find any solution to stabilize the bluff.