Members of the public are invited to come to Lake Barkley State Resort Park at 11 a.m. on May 31 for an open house. The lodge will take this opportunity to show its $5.87 million in recent renovations.

Park Manager John Rittenhouse said that public dignitaries had been invited to the event and that the general public was welcome. Parks Commissioner J.T. Miller will give a few brief opening remarks before leading a tour of the renovated rooms.

The 124 lodge rooms have new granite-top vanities, carpet, wall coverings, furniture, refinished woodwork and mechanical and electrical upgrades. New heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems were also installed.

Because of these renovations, the park recently became the third resort park to receive a three-diamond rating from the American Automobile Association, according to a press release. A three-diamond rating from AAA means the establishment appeals “to the traveler with comprehensive needs. Properties are multifaceted with a distinguished style, including marked upgrades in the quality of physical attributes, amenities, and level of comfort provided.”

“It passed my expectations,” Rittenhouse said of the renovations. “It will hopefully last as long as the previous renovations did.”

Rittenhouse said the last major renovations to the lodge were done about 10 years ago but did not involve nearly the expense that the most recent ones did. He said the new renovations fixed a lot infrastructure issues that don’t usually get addressed, such as the plumbing. The potable water and sewer lines were replaced along with all the visible changes, he said.

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