After years of talk, action is about to begin in the development of Cumberland Ford as a city park and tourist attraction in Pineville.

Cumberland Ford Historic Site and Museum Project is being formed by the City of Pineville to develop the area. The over all project includes improvements of the Cumberland Ford, to include a museum to the Narrows. The first phase is to cleanup around the Cumberland Ford and to build a trail on both sides of the river. The phase also includes developing an overlook and museum. Many may not realize Cumberland Ford is an actual historical place where deep wagon ruts may be seen where they crossed the Cumberland River.

Bell County has not taken advantage of its many historic aspects, in the past, now an effort is underway to show the significance of the area from Cumberland Gap to Pineville, where three gaps made development of the westward movement faster.

The first, and most developed area, is the Cumberland Gap. Moving from Tennessee northward, a settler would have then passed through The Narrows and then on to the Cumberland Ford where the Cumberland River had to be crossed.

“Pineville is the site of The Narrows, a spectacular ‘water gap' through Pine Mountain, and Cumberland Ford, the only place where the Cumberland River could be easily forded by people, livestock and wagons.

Pineville is located at a natural gateway-and it has therefore been central to many dramatic chapters in American history,” said David M. Burns, a writer and historian, formerly of Pineville.

About 400,000 people, ancestors of millions of Americans, passed through the Narrows and waded across the Ford.

“Cumberland Ford and The Narrows have been ignored. It is time at long last to redress this oversight. Kentucky's Historian-Laureate, the late Dr. Thomas D. Clark, put Cumberland Gap and the unique geography of The Narrows and Cumberland Ford at the top of his list of Kentucky Treasures,” said Burns.

“This part of Bell County is picturesque and breath-takingly beautiful. The wooded hills and rocks and caves of Pine Mountain State Resort Park; Wasioto Winds, one of the world's most beautiful mountain golf courses; and the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival...make Pineville a major destination for tourism and recreation. Add in historic significance and you have a basis of a viable tourism industry,” Burns added.

Development of the historic ford as a tourist and local site is coming together with the latest steering committee getting plans underway. The first phase of development, cleaning the ford of debris, trees, and building an overlook where not only the ford may be seen, but also The Narrows and Chained Rock.

“We are looking at putting picnic tables at the ford,” said Tim Cornett, a member of the steering committee. He said development of the former bakery building into a museum is part of the plan with local artifacts being planned for display. The area also will have other historic displays, relating to the area and its development.

“We want to provide walking trails, particularly along the historic part of the river,” stated Cornett. He said plans also include making all the trails handicapped accessible.

“We want to restore the original route settlers took westward, along with a trail to the ford, on both sides of the river,” said Diana Anderson, a member of the steering committee.

She said plans are being discussed to connect the Pine Mountain Trail to part of the project. Pine Mountain Trail is being developed from Pine Mountain State Park, northward to Breaks Interstate Park, at Pikeville and a connecting trail from Cumberland Gap National Historic Park.

“This project is going to be done. It is too important to our history and children not to follow through,” Anderson said.