Land Between the Lakes

What Land Between the Lakes does

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (LBL) is a 170,000+ acre federal National Recreation Area established in 1964 and managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, straddling the border between Kentucky and Tennessee across Trigg and Lyon Counties in Kentucky and Stewart County in Tennessee. It functions as a direct-to-consumer public outdoor recreation destination, generating user-fee revenue from camping, permits, rentals, and programming while drawing the remainder of its operating budget from federal appropriations. Core offerings include four developed campgrounds (Energy Lake, Hillman Ferry, Piney, Wranglers), the Golden Pond Planetarium & Observatory, the 700-acre Elk & Bison Prairie with restored American bison and elk herds, the Homeplace 1850s Working Farm, Woodlands Nature Station, and the Turkey Bay Off-Highway Vehicle Area with approximately 100 miles of OHV trails.

The recreation area's infrastructure footprint includes 261 miles of hiking trails, 144 miles of designated biking trails, 444 miles of scenic roads along the Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway, and over 300 miles of shoreline between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. Access is distributed through a self-serve online reservation system (usedirect.com), the Golden Pond Visitor Center, North and South Welcome Stations, and partner resellers such as Tennessee state hunting license vendors. Revenue streams are predominantly small unit transactions: $5 Elk & Bison Prairie vehicle entry, $25/year Hunter Use Permits, $10 3-day or $50 annual backcountry camping permits, $100/night group camping minimums, and $35-$45 guided horseback rides at Rocking U Riding Stables, with discounts for seniors, access pass holders, and military pass holders.

The business model is a horizontal segmentation strategy targeting five primary personas: outdoor recreation enthusiasts, licensed hunters, group organizers, educational groups, and scenic drive visitors. Strategic and operational partnerships include the Friends of Land Between the Lakes nonprofit, the National Wild Turkey Federation stewardship agreement, USDA APHIS for wild hog eradication, Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and corporate partners such as Firestone Tires and Tread Lightly! for trail restoration. As a federal entity, LBL does not disclose revenue figures and is governed by USDA Forest Service land management policy rather than commercial market dynamics.

Name

Land Between the Lakes

Legal name

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area

Website

https://landbetweenthelakes.us

Company type

Public

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Land Between the Lakes is a 170,000+ acre federal National Recreation Area managed by the USDA Forest Service across Kentucky and Tennessee, offering camping, hiking, wildlife viewing, hunting, and educational programming to general-public visitors through user fees and federal appropriations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Recreation and Public Land Management

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (72121)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

National/State Park Campgrounds & Public Campgrounds (THAMAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH), Campgrounds & RV Parks (Developed Sites) (THAGAOAA), Eco/Nature-Based Campgrounds (Sustainable/Off-Grid) (THAMAJAK), National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access) (THAAAAAH)

Keywords

• Outdoor recreation services
• Public campground management
• Wildlife education programs
• National recreation area
• Nature-based tourism

Headquarters

HQ city

California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Camping Fees: Fees collected from camping at developed campgrounds including Energy Lake, Hillman Ferry, Piney, and Wranglers. Fees vary by site type and season, with discounts available for seniors, access, and military passes.
2. Permits and Licenses: Revenue from hunter use permits ($25/year), backcountry camping permits ($10 for 3-day or $50 annual), special use permits, firewood permits, and Christmas tree permits.
3. Facility Rentals and Group Services: Revenue from group camping areas like Colson Hollow ($100/night minimum), cabin rentals at campgrounds, pavilion reservations, and special event permits.
4. Recreation Activities: Fees from guided horseback riding at Rocking U Riding Stables ($35 for 45-minute ride, $45 for 90-minute ride), pony rides, and recreational equipment rentals.
5. Educational Programs: Revenue from planetarium shows, laser light shows, educational programs at Woodlands Nature Station and Homeplace Working Farm.
6. Vehicle and Access Fees: Fees for Elk & Bison Prairie entry ($5/vehicle), backcountry camping permits, and general access fees for specialized areas.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is a 170,000+ acre federal public recreation area managed by the USDA Forest Service across Kentucky and Tennessee, offering developed campgrounds, hunting and fishing access, wildlife viewing, hiking and biking trails, planetarium shows, and living-history educational programs. Visitors pay fees for camping, permits, facility rentals, and special activities such as guided horseback rides and planetarium programs.

Product overview

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is a 170,000+ acre national recreation area managed by USDA Forest Service spanning Kentucky and Tennessee. It offers a diverse portfolio of outdoor recreation services centered around camping, wildlife viewing, environmental education, and historical interpretation. The main facilities include developed campgrounds (Energy Lake, Hillman Ferry, Piney, Wranglers), the Golden Pond Planetarium & Observatory for astronomy education, the Homeplace Working Farm for living history experiences, Woodlands Nature Station for wildlife education, and Turkey Bay OHV Area for off-highway vehicle recreation. Outdoor activities include 261 miles of hiking trails, 144 miles of biking trails, boating, hunting, fishing, target shooting, and paddling. The recreation area also hosts annual events including geocache challenges and educational programs like the Parade of Raptors and Life on the Farm demonstrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Camping Facilities Multiple developed and primitive campgrounds including Energy Lake, Hillman Ferry, Piney, and Wranglers offering various amenities, cabin rentals, and camping sites for RVs and tents.
• Golden Pond Planetarium & Observatory Astronomy education facility offering daily programs, laser light shows, and observatory access for stargazing.
• Elk & Bison Prairie 700-acre restored native habitat with American bison and elk herds viewable via 3.5-mile paved loop road.
• Homeplace Working Farm 1850s living history farm with 15 original and restored log structures, heritage breed animals, and period interpreters demonstrating farm life.
• Woodlands Nature Station Nature education center with animal exhibits, native species displays, and wildlife education programs.
• Turkey Bay Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area 100 miles of designated OHV trails for off-road vehicle riding experiences with primitive camping opportunities.
• Hunting & Fishing Managed hunting with quota permits for deer, turkey, and small game. Fishing available on Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley.
• Golden Pond Target Range Free rifle, pistol, and archery target shooting range open dawn to dusk with 175-yard rifle range and 50-yard pistol range.
• Meet The Animals Program Educational animal ambassador program featuring rescued wildlife including bobcats, red wolves, eagles, and reptiles at Woodlands Nature Station.
• Group Camping Facilities (Colson Hollow and Brandon Spring Group Center) Group camping areas like Colson Hollow ($100/night minimum, up to 200 people) and Brandon Spring Group Center for reunions, retreats, weddings, and special events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 250+ bird species documented at Woodlands Nature Station
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Firestone TiresminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 June 2023Firestone Tires provided funding and volunteer work for trail restoration project at Turkey Bay OHV Area on June 16, 2023. Volunteers installed new trailhead kiosk and trail signage, and repaired trails with new aggregate.
• Tread Lightly!minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2023Tread Lightly! organized and led the trail restoration project at Turkey Bay OHV Area with 25 volunteers accumulating approximately 125 volunteer hours for trail improvement work.
• USFS (United States Forest Service)coreOthers · 16 June 2023Parent federal agency managing Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. USFS provides administrative oversight, law enforcement, and land management support.
• Klean FreakminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 June 2023Partner supporting the Turkey Bay OHV Area trail restoration project with volunteer work and funding.
• National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLBL has a stewardship agreement with the National Wild Turkey Federation to help with forest and open land management for wildlife habitat. NWTF assists with wildlife habitat improvement projects throughout the recreation area.
• USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLBL is working with USDA APHIS and state wildlife agencies to eradicate wild hogs on the recreation area through intensive trapping and removal efforts.
• Friends of Land Between the LakescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit organization supporting LBL through educational resources, program support, fundraising for exhibits, and community engagement. Located at 345 Maintenance Drive, Golden Pond, KY.
• Kentucky Dept. of Fish & Wildlife ResourcesminorOthersState agency providing hunting license services and regulations for Kentucky portion of Land Between the Lakes.
• Tennessee Wildlife Resources AgencyminorOthersState agency providing hunting license services and regulations for Tennessee portion of Land Between the Lakes.
• Theodore Roosevelt National ParkminorOthersBison bloodline source - LBL bison herds originated in part from animals transferred from Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota in 1969.
• Fort Niobrara National Wildlife RefugeminorOthersBison bloodline source - LBL bison herds originated in part from animals transferred from Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska in 1988 and 2012.
• Wind Cave National ParkminorOthersBison bloodline source - LBL bison herds originated in part from animals transferred from Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota in 1996.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area: Federal National River & Recreation Area in TN/KY managed by the National Park Service with comparable scale, outdoor recreation mix (camping, trails, hunting, horseback), and federal-management structure. Most directly comparable peer given shared regional footprint and recreation mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeflickr.com/photos/lblkytn
• Facebookfacebook.com/LBLNatlRecArea
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/between-the-lakes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Land Between the Lakes