When you think of like the Cumberland House, boats are definitely one of the first things that come to mind.

Somerset is known as the houseboat capital of the world, and the modern houseboat originated on the banks of the Cumberland.

The industry has seen its share of ups and downs, but continues to be a big economic factor for the region.

Our tip Holston went on the road to one of the major players in the Somerset houseboat industry to see the nationwide appeal of these impressive vessels.

House boating on Lake Cumberland first started more than 70 years ago.

Somerset native Jim Sharpe is credited with starting the industry, having an epiphany while serving his country.

We visited with him on Kentucky Life 20 years ago.

In 51, I was recalled into the Navy during the Korean War, and I was a operator on the emotes that launched troops and tanks and so forth.

And I was out circling and cruising around Bacchus Island and in the Caribbean.

And I just got to thinking, you know, I believe folks would love a boat like this and put a cabin on it, give them a place to spend the weekend and their vacations, so forth.

And so when I got back home in the early 53, I set in motion the plan to do it.

And I had a machine shop build the first steel hull for me.

And I personally built the first cabin and, sold it before and finished.

Sharpe's grandson, Chris Gertler, now heads the Economic Development Authority in Somerset and Pulaski County.

He acknowledges the immense impact the industry has had on the area.

The backbone of this economy is tourism is like Cumberland, and house boating has been a very, very big part of that.

We have thousands of houseboats on Lake Cumberland alone.

The largest rental fleet except Lake Powell is on Lake Cumberland.

So, you know, Lake Powell, while they have a larger rental fleet of houseboats, the thing I always like to point out is that 99% of all those houseboats on Lake Powell out in Arizona, Utah, were made right here in Kentucky on the shores of Lake Cumberland.

The majority of those boats are now manufactured by Trifecta Houseboats in Monticello.

The name reflects the three large manufacturers in the area that merged in 2014.

The appeal of these vessels is clear.

I mean, it's an all inclusive vacation in one place.

You can actually stay at your hotel on water and move it around to different places, and you have the amenities, as well as the functionality of being able to to lay out in the sun as if you're on the beach or jump in the water and cool off for the day.

It can take anywhere from 6 to 10 months for one of Trifecta Series boats, built from a template to be completed.

Customers can also opt to completely customize their boat all the way down to the upholstery and countertops.

One of those custom jobs, a 120ft long monster of a houseboat, took two and a half years to complete.

Boats range in price from $500,000 to well over a million, with $800,000 being the average.

Where the business used to focus on custom orders.

Trifecta now builds more of their series boats, which are typically purchased before they're ever completed.

Around 120 people are employed in a variety of areas to build the boats.

And Hedgepeth says seeing them out on the water is a beautiful thing.

Sometimes even more beautiful is walking around the factory and seeing the people on those boats getting the job done.

Smiling at just saying hello and just sort of knowing that they have been in this industry for sometimes decades and that they love what they do do.

It means a lot to us to meet the needs of the houseboats on the water at Lake Cumberland.

The first new Marina built in six decades there opened in 2020.

Marina at Rowena has slips for 300 boats and was full a year after opening their doors.

Houseboats here range in value from $40,000 to over a million.

Owning one of these amazing boats is a goal for many, but the rental market here is how many are first introduced to the pastime.

Most people from outside of the south central Kentucky area, the first time they experience Lake Cumberland was typically on a rental houseboat.

You know that they would rent from one of the marinas and come out for, you know, a 3 to 7 day period with their families.

That was how most people discovered Lake Cumberland.

Dyson not only works at the Marina, but he and his wife, Joy love the houseboat lifestyle.

They keep their 84ft boat docked at Robina.

The couple lived in Columbus, Ohio, and for decades would make the five hour trip each way to Cumberland around 48 weeks out of the year.

Dyson says there's a misconception about a lot of the people who own these incredible boats.

They look at people on the on the lake and think, all those are all rich, wealthy people.

But quite honestly.

And there are some of those, you know, make no mistake, there's there's some people on the lake that have a lot of money, but they are far, far outnumbered by just normal, everyday working folks who enjoy the outdoors and who want to get out.

They just choose to spend their, you know, their disposable income doing that activity.

The industry has seen its share of ups and downs before the economic downturn of 2020.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association said the recreational boating sector in Kentucky had an annual economic impact of $1.7 billion, supporting 401 businesses and more than 8700 jobs.

I am hopeful that it will come back, but that, you know, that's going to take people coming to the lake who haven't experienced it, reconnecting with nature, getting out on a houseboat and seeing what it's all about.

And when it does come back.

The craftspeople of Somerset, Kentucky, who build these magnificent boats will be ready to answer the call.

We can't say enough about those folks that have dedicated decades, to creating a masterpiece.

Whether it's through their welding, techniques and skill sets, whether it's through their carpentry, their finished work, in the cabinet shops and just the, the overall entrepreneurial spirit, that we've seen for years to come out of this, it's exciting to know that a product of this nature was invented right here in Somerset, Kentucky.

For Kentucky edition, I'm Chip Polston.