S AND THE INN WAS RENOVATED OVER TIME.

>> A LOT OF THINGS I SAW COULD BE DONE HERE.

I APPLIED SOME OF THAT HERE.

>> THE INN IS A 1920 ERA FARMHOUSE AND WE HAVE VERY OLD TOOLSHEDS WE USE THAT WAS PROBABLY A CHICKEN HOUSE.

THE INN IS SURROUNDED BY THE FARM WHICH IS ABOUT 84 ACRES WITH WATER FALLS AND FORESTS.

WE HAVE A FISHING POND WHICH STARTED OUT AS A STOCK POND FOR THE CATTLE WHICH HAS EVOLVED INTO DARN GOOD FISHING PONDS.

WE ENCOURAGE OUR GUESTS TO WALK DOWN TO THE NORTH POND WHICH IS A LOVELY PLACE TO JUST SIT.

VERY OFTEN I GO DOWN TO ONE POND OR THE OTHER AND JUST THINK ABOUT THINGS.

WHEN PEOPLE ARIF, OCCASIONALLY THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT SHAKEN BY THE TRIP IN.

THEY ARE COMING INTO THE HEART OF APPALACHIA.

THEY ARE COMING DOWN A VERY LONG WINDY ROAD.

FOR A MILE THERE IS NOTHING BUT FOREST ON EITHER SIDE.

WHEN THEY ARRIVE TO THIS RUSTIC-LOOKING PLACE, THEY MIGHT FEEL SUSPICIOUS LIKE WHAT HAVE WE GOTTEN INTO.

BUT ONCE THEY WALK IN AND SEE THE COMFORTS AND THE ARTWORK AND THE BEAUTY OF WHAT WE HAVE TRIED TO CREATE INDOORS WITHOUT OVERDOING IT, THEY ARE AT HOME.

THE EXPERIENCE OF PEOPLE HERE HAS BEEN THEY FEEL AT HOME, THEY FEEL EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE, THEY ARE RELAXED, ARRIVE HERE AND SAY MY GOSH, IT IS SO QUIET.

THEY JUST RESPECT USED TO THAT, THE SOUNDS OF THE COUNTRY.

ONE GUEST COMMENTED ON THE SILENCE TO IT THE EXTENT HE WROTE IN THE GUEST BOOK, I OPENED THE DOOR IN THE MORNING AND LET THE SILENCE IN.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL COMMENT.

IS THEY ARE IMPRESSED BY HOW SECLUDED THEY ARE.

I POINTED OUT THE FACT WE HAVE A TELEVISION, BUT MOST PEOPLE SAY WE AREN'T GOING TO WASH TELEVISION, WE CAME TO GET AWAY FROM THAT.

>> I CAN HEAR THAT WATER FALL FROM HERE.

>> WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS MAZE OF BUSHES HERE.

THE FALLS, IT IS A CONFLUENCE OF TAYLOR AND ROCK BRANCHES.

TO MAKES A BEND AND BECOMES THE CUMBERLAND RIVER.

>> YOU MUST FEEL LIKE THE MOST LUCKY PERSON TO HAVE ALL OF THIS AS YOUR BACKYARD.

>> WELL I MARRIED INTO IT WHEN I MARRIED TIM.

WHEN HE SHOWED ME, AND I DISCOVERED FOR THE FIRST TIME THE ROCK FORMATIONS, THE WATERFALLS, THE ENORMOUS TREES >> AND THE SMALLEST THINGS TOO, THE WILDFLOWERS.

>> I WALK THESE TRAILS A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK TO SEE THE WILDFLOWERS.

>> THE FOLKS WHO STAY WITH YOU CAN GET OUT INTO WHAT LOOKS LIKE A NATIONAL PARK AND HAVE NOBODY AROUND.

>> GETTING INTO THE INN AND GETTING RECIPES AND FIGURING OUT A GOOD BREAKFAST WAS A LOT OF FUN.

HAVING BEAUTIFUL FRESH EGGS FROM THE CHICKENS WAS AN INSPIRATION.

WE HAVE 12 EGGS TODAY, AND GUESS WHAT, YOU GET THEM FOR BREAKFAST.

WE CAME UP WITH SOME THINGS I -- I CAME UP WITH THINGS I COULD LEARN TO DO, ALMOST ROUTINE IN ORDER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

OTHERWISE IT WOULD TAKE ALL MORNING.

SO WE HAVE SHARED EGGS, FOR EXAMPLE.

I CALL THAT MY SIGNATURE DISH BECAUSE, FRANKLY, ALMOST NOBODY HAS HEARD OF SHARED EGGS.

AND IT IS FUN TO HAVE A SURPRISE THAT TASTES GOOD.

THE EGGS COME FROM THE CHICKENS.

AND OF COURSE ONE FAMILY'S VISIT, I TRY TO DO THINGS LIKE PANCAKES THAT KIDS LOVE TO EAT.

I ALWAYS ADD SCONES INTO THE BREAKFAST BECAUSE, FOR ONE THING, BEDS AND BREAKFAST PLACES DO THAT, BUT I'M A YANKEE DOWN HERE, AND THEY ARE A NATURAL-BORN THING TO ME.

I TELL YOU MY BISCUIT STORY.

I HAD A WONDERFUL VISITOR FROM EASTERN KENTUCKY A NEWLYWED WHO WAS ACTUALLY MY AGE.

SHE HAD YEARS AND YEARS OF EXPERIENCE COOKING IN A RESTAURANT IN THE TOWN SHE CAME FROM.

BISCUITS WERE HER DISH.

AS I MADE SCONES ONE MORNING IN THE KITCHEN, SHE MOVED IN CLOSER AND CLOSER, AND SHE FINALLY COULDN'T STAND IT AND BURST OUT WITH: I DON'T MAKE THEM LIKE THAT.

I TOLD HER I WASN'T MAKING BISCUITS.

WHEN I GOT INTO THE BED AND BREAKFAST BUSINESS, I HAD TO FIND OUT SOMETHING ABOUT TOURISM.

AND I HAVE LONG KNOWN THAT TOURISM WOULD BE A WONDERFUL INDUSTRY IN THIS AREA BECAUSE OF ITS NATURAL BEAUTY AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE REGION TO SUPPORT A HUGE TOURIST BUSINESS WHICH WE DON'T QUITE HAVE YET BUT WE ARE ON THE BRING.

SO I JOINED THE TOURISM COMMISSION.

I WAS APPOINTED TO THE TOURIST COMMISSION THREE YEARS AGO.

THIS PAST YEAR I BECAME CHAIR.

I HAVE AN AGENDA TO PROMOTE IT ALL.

MY LITTLE BUSINESS IS A LOT OF FUN BUT WE NEED TO BRING THE THOUSANDS ACROSS THE RIVER TO THIS PLACE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL AREA THIS PLACE IS.

>> IT IS A NICE, QUIET PLACE TO BE.

>> THE NEXT STORY, IF YOU HAVE TRAVELED TO WESTERN KENTUCKY PARKWAY, YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE OF THE BEAVER DAM REST STOP AND SERVICE AREA, BUT FEW PEOPLE GET OFF THE INTERSTATE AND HEAD INTO THE TOWN OF BEAVER DAM WHICH IS WHERE WE FOUND THE BEAVER DAM CAFE.

IT IS WELL WORTH THE VISIT.

>> THE CAFE IS ONE OF THE FIRST ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE CITY.

IT WAS OPENED BY FAMILY, FAMILY-OWNED OPERATION.

IT HAS BEEN SOLD OVER THE YEARS.

I THINK IT IS JUST A TRADITION OF PEOPLE ENJOYING THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE SMALL CAFE.

>> THE FIRST TIME I CAME HERE, I GOT A BIKE OUT OF THE DEPOT, CAME HERE AND ATE DINNER IN 1933.

>> IN 1945 I STARTED DATING MY HUSBAND.

ON SATURDAY NIGHT WE WOULD GO TO THE MOVIE AND THEN COME HERE TO EAT.

THE PLACE WOULD BE FULL OF OTHER COUPLES.

IT WAS SORT OF A SOCIAL HANGOUT AFTER THE MOVIES.

>> I WAS 14.

I WAS THE OLDEST OF NINE CHILDREN.

AND MY DAD WAS VERY OLD SO SOMEONE HAD TO GO TO WORK.

>> SHE STARTED AS A YOUNG GIRL WORKING HERE AS A WAITRESS.

THEN SHE WORKED SOME OTHER PLACES, BUT SHE CAME BACK WHEN THIS PLACE WAS FOR SALE, SHE BOUGHT IT AND SHE IS A GOOD BUSINESS LADY.

IT'S LIKE IT IS YOUR LIFE.

THE PEOPLE BECOME YOUR FAMILY.

>> IT IS THE CONTINUITY OF THE TOWN, THE PEOPLE, AND I THINK THAT A SMALL PLACE, A SMALL TOWN HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER.

>> WE HAVE 3300 PEOPLE HERE AND I AM SURE PROBABLY OTHERS MAY HAVE BEEN HERE TOO.

>> THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO CHANGE IT; THEY WANT TO YOU LEAVE IT LIKE IT IS.

THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE DINING ROOM FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WANT IT MORE FANCY, AND THIS IS WHERE THE COUNTRY PEOPLE EAT OUT HERE.

BUT THIS IS THE CAFE.

>> IT IS MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME.

I AM HERE EVERY DAY.

SOMETIMES I COME THREE TIMES A DAY WHEN I WASN'T EVEN WORKING.

>> PEOPLE HERE ARE NEIGHBORS.

YOU CAN'T GET THAT IN THE BIGGER CITIES.

I THINK THAT IS WHY PEOPLE ARE SO KNIT TOGETHER.

>> THE PEOPLE ARE MY FAVORITE PART, WHICH IS WHY WITH THIS HEART DISEASE, THEY TALK ABOUT RETIRING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO IF I DIDN'T COME DOWN HERE EVERY DAY TO BE WITH THE PEOPLE.

>> I LIKE THE PEOPLE HERE.

I KNOW ALL THE NAMES.

WHEN MY WIFE PASSED AWAY IN 2001, THEY KEPT ME IN MEALS FOR TWO WEEKS, NO CHARGE.

>> WHEN I WALK IN, I KNOW ALMOST EVERYBODY.

THAT IS TRUE WHETHER I COME ON SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH OR ON MONDAY OR WEDNESDAY FOR DINNER.

I ALWAYS KNOW THE PEOPLE.

IT IS JUST SUCH A FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE.

I PERSONALLY KNOW MARGARET AND THE WAITRESSES AND I THINK IT IS A COMBINATION OF KNOWING THE INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMERS AND THE FOOD.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET.

IT KEEPS PEOPLE COMING BACK.

AND BY THE WAY, THEIR PIE IS SUPERB.

I ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE IT.

>> WE TRY TO HAVE FROM FIVE TO SIX DIFFERENT KINDS OF MEAT A DAY, AT LEAST SIX TO EIGHT VEGETABLES AND SALADS.

MOST OF THE TIME WE HAVE TEN TO 12 DESSERTS.

>> IT IS GOOD, DOWN-HOME COOKING THAT IS REALLY GOOD.

>> COME ON DOWN AND CHECK US OUT.

IF YOU HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE, I WANT TO KNOW.

IF YOU WANT TO COME HERE AND EAT, I THINK YOU WILL BE BACK.

I AM JUST A FIXTURE OF THIS PLACE.

>> THEY GIVE US THE BEST SERVICE.

>> JASON BEHIND THE CAMERA, IT IS GETTING TO BE LUNCH TIME.

ON THE NEXT STORY, WE GO BACK TO BALLARD COUNTY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA, I SAY "BACK" BECAUSE WE ARE OVER AND OVER THERE DRAWN FOR A REASON, OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DUCKS AND GEESE AND EAGLES VISIT THE AREA IF IS A SIGHT AND SOUND TO BEHOLD TO WATCH 30,000 GEESE LIFT OFF.

THE MANAGEMENT AREA IS A WONDERFUL PLACE, NOT ONLY FOR THE WILDLIFE WHO CALL IT HOME BUT ALSO FOR THE NATURE ENTHUSIASTS AND THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE TO SEE SHEER NUMBERS OF WATER LIFE OF THE AVIAN VARIETY, OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND MIGRATORY WATER FOWL CALL IT HOME IN THE WINTER.

THE MANAGEMENT AREA IS ON THE OHIO RIVER UPSTREAM NEAR THE MISSISSIPPI CONFLUENCE.

THE SEASONAL FLOODING OF THE OHIO IS WHAT MAKES THIS SUCH A GREAT STOPPING PLACE FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS AND THE EAGLES.

ONE REASON I KEEP COMING BACK IS MY GOOD FRIEND CHARLIE WILKINS THE AREA SUPERVISOR HERE.

DURING MY YEARS WITH FISH AND WILDLIFE AND KENTUCKY AFIELD, WE COVERED A LOT OF TERRITORY TOGETHER.

>> IT SURE IS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> GLAD TO HAVE YOU OUT.

>> TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BALLARD.

>> THE AREA WAS LAND PURCHASED WITH ABOUT 4,700 ACRES OF TIMBER AND UNIQUE HABITAT.

>> THESE ARE ALL NATURAL-MADE >> YES, LAKES AND SLEWS, ABOUT 11 FEET DEEP.

WE HAVE GOOD FISHING IN THESE LAKES.

>> AND JUST MILES OF GRAVEL ROADS YOU CAN RIDE DOWN AND GET INCREDIBLE PHOTOGRAPHS OF WILDLIFE.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR BIRD-WATCHING.

THE AREA IS OPEN AT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH 15TH TO OCTOBER 15TH.

DURING THIS PART OF THE YEAR, THERE IS A SMALL PORTION THAT OPENS, A GRAVEL ROAD AND YOU CAN DRIVE THROUGH TO SEE WATER FOWL AND GEESE AND DEER.

WE HAVE AN AVALUABLE CAMERA BLIND AND A WOOD ELEVATED PLATFORM AND A METAL ONE OUT IN ONE OF THE SLEWS TAKING THE INDIVIDUAL OUT OVER THE WATER.

>> WE ARE HERE IN THE WINTERTIME.

TELL US ABOUT THE BIRDS THAT ARE HERE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

>> THE PRIMARY BIRD OF THE DUCKS IS THE MALLARD WITH NUMBERS REACHING FROM 60 TO 70,000.

THE CANADA GOOSE, THE NUMBERS HAVE DECLINED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

AS YOU DID SEE, WE HAVE PROBABLY 60,000 SNOW GEESE RIGHT NOW.

>>T IS A THUNDEROUS SOUND AND SIGHT.

>> QUITE A SIGHT TO SEE.

OUR NUMBERS HAVE INCREASED.

IN '85 WE HAD 15 TO 18,000.

NOW WE HAVE 50 OR 60,000.

THERE IS HUNTING BY APPLICATION WITH WATER FOWL BLINDS FOR A NOMINAL FEE.

>> THAT IS JUST 60 DAYS A YEAR.

>> THESE ARE STOP-OFF POINTS.

>> WE HAVE THE NATIONAL SYMBOL THAT HAS MADE A COMEBACK OVER THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS HERE.

>> I BELIEVE LAST YEAR WE GOT UP TO ABOUT 92 EAGLES ON THE AREA.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE BETWEEN 45 AND 50, THE BALD EAGLE.

WE GET A FEW GOLD ONES, TWO ACTIVE NESTS ON THIS AREA.

THE FIRST NEST WAS IN 1985.

SINCE THEN THERE HAS BEEN WELL OVER 40 IN THESE TWO NESTS.

>> THEY DON'T LOOK THAT BIG FROM DOWN HERE BUT THEY ARE HUGE.

>> THE ONE YOU MAY HAVE SEEN YESTERDAY WAS ABOUT 90 FEET TALL AND THEY ARE PROBABLY ABOUT SIX FOOT DEEP WITH TWO AND-A-HALF OR THREE FOOT BOWL IN THE MIDDLE.

>> ARE THEY HUNTING WATER FOWL?

>> THEY ARE LOOKING FOR EITHER CRIPPLED WATER FOWL OR FISHING THE OHIO RIVER AFTER LEAVING THE ROOST SIGHT AND THEY PERCH AND FISH ALONG THE RIVER THEN SIT OVER THE WATER AREA RESTING PLACES.

>> I AM HAVING A BALL JUST LIKE I DO EVERY TIME I COME HERE.

THIS IS HEAVEN TO ME.

>> IT IS SOME UNIQUE HABITAT ALL KENTUCKYIANS CAN BE PROUD OF.

>> LET'S LOOK AROUND SOME MORE.

>> AROUND EVERY BEND OF ROAD OR STREAM, WONDER AND BEAUTY CAN BE FOUND.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO WORDS JUST HOW MANY EXTRAORDINARY SIGHTS THERE ARE TO SEE HERE IN THE WINTER, IMAGES LIKE WATCHING A BLIZZARD OF GEESE BURST INTO THE SKY, BALD EAGLES PERCHED ON BRANCHES INTENTLY STUDYING THE GROUND FOR PREY, AND BUCKS FIGHTING FOR DOMINANCE OR MAYBE JUST SPORT AMONGST THEMSELVES.

LIKE STARING AT A BREAST-TAKING SUNSET A LITTLE TOO LONG, THESE IMAGES OF TRUE WILDLIFE EVEN AFTER IMAGE BURNED INTO THE FIND AND YOUR IMAGINATION.

EVERY SENSE SEEMS IN TUNE TO THE NATURAL WORLD AND THE NATURAL ORDER.

THE GENTLE RUSSELLING OF HEAVY SNOW FALLING TO THE GROUND, SNOW MELT DRIPPING FROM THE TREES INTO THE SPILL WATER OF THE SLEWS, BROKEN BY THE ALARM OF GEESE RUSHING INTO THE SKY.

THIS IS A FIERCLY BEAUTIFUL PLACE, AN EARTHLY CATHEDRAL FILLING THE VISITOR WITH WONDER AND HUMILITY.

CHARLIE WAS RIGHT, THIS IS A PLACE FOR ALL OF US TO BE PROUD OF, PROUD OF PROTECTING.

I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL I FIND MY WAY BACK HERE AGAIN.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE STORIES WE HAVE EACH WEEK, JUST VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT WWWKET.ORGBY THE WAY THIS IS WILLIE, ONE OF MY TWO FAVORITE CHILDREN.

HE HANGS OUT WITH ME A LOT OF TIMES ON "KENTUCKY LIFE" JUST LIKE THESE TWO OLD DOGS RIGHT