Due to a lack of commercial navigation on the Kentucky River, the Army Corps of Engineers closed all 14 of the locks and dams along the Kentucky River in the late 1980s. Shortly after, the Kentucky River Authority assumed control of the Kentucky River and after years of planning and preparation, locks one through four were reopened in 2012. Very few people, including recreational boaters, are aware it is again possible to travel from the Ohio River to Frankfort, KY via the Kentucky River.

Activities in the river are primarily recreational rather than commercial and the Kentucky River Authority has partnered with local community organizations to help promote the Kentucky River. However, there continues to be a general lack of awareness in the general public as well as recreational boaters that boaters can travel between locks one through four. To assist in this effort, starting in the 2018 cruise season, Kentucky State University added lock through experiences as part of its watershed education programming.

Passengers aboard the Kentucky River Thorobred are able to directly experience the mechanics of a river lock to transit from one pool to another by either ascending or descending to the next pool. The lock structures are quite old and the history surrounding them helps connect people to their Kentucky River. Some passengers used to navigate the locks with their parents or grandparents decades ago when the Army Corps of Engineers operated them. Being able to transit them again has been a real treat for some. Numerous passengers say they used to lock through all the time. Often, a passenger will express their appreciation for the lock through experience, “it’s great you all are doing this. It’s been a long time since I went through the lock!” Other passengers are also grateful for the educational cruise since they learn something new about the river. They’ve said, “I’ve lived here more than 20 years and I didn’t know that! Thanks!”

The 2018 cruise season was the most successful since the Kentucky River Thorobred began operating in 2014. There were a total of 103 cruises carrying a total of 1814 passengers despite some challenging weather and river conditions. Future programming is being developed to create additional active learning experience for passengers with the expectation of additional pleased passengers.