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Taylorsville Lake

2825 Overlook Rd
Taylorsville, KY 40071
(502) 477-8882
Office hours: M-F, 7:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. (may vary, call ahead)

Contact Us                                                      Lake Map

Lake Levels

Lake temperatures/dissolved oxygen profiles are taken weekly during lake stratification which typically occurs from late spring through early winter.

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 Location
Taylorsville Lake is located on the Salt River beginning at river mile 78 about 5 miles west of Glensboro and extends downstream to the dam at river mile 60.  The Lake is 18 miles long and extends into portions of Spencer, Nelson and Anderson Counties of Kentucky.  The dam is located about 20 miles from Exit 23 on the Gene Snyder in Louisville and about 50 miles from southwest Lexington.
 Authorization
Taylorsville Lake was authorized under the Flood Control Act of 1966.  The Louisville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designated, built, and now operates the project for flood control, quality water storage, outdoor recreation, and fish and wildlife preservation and enhancement.
 History

The lake bears the name of nearby Taylorsville, founded in 1799 by Richard Taylor, landowner and proprietor of a local gristmill.  The town occupies 60 acres of land donated by Taylor at the mouth of Brashears Creek.  The Salt River was named for the numerous salt works that operated along its banks during the 1800s.  Flooding occurred along the Salt River for decades, destroying crops, wrecking communities and threatening lives, which drove citizens to ask their elected representatives for help.  Construction on the dam began in 1974 and was completed in 1983.  The dam is over 4 football fields in length and 15 stories high.  It is an earth and rock fill structure designed to hold an additional 45 feet of water over seasonal pool as flood storage.  In addition to the primary purpose of flood control, the Taylorsville Lake project offers 3050 acres of water which provide outdoor recreation opportunities, fish and wildlife enhancement, and quality water storage. 



 Recreation

 

Taylorsville Lake offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities. There is something for everyone - the camper, hiker, horseback rider, sportsman, boater and more. The project includes 12,093 acres of land and 3,050 acres of water.  The Corps suggests that visitors begin their visit at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Center, Overlook and Dam Area.  The Visitor Center offers a variety of displays and presentations covering a variety of topics including wildlife, archeology and construction of the lake. Visitor Center hours are normally 7:30-3:45 M-F, but may vary due to staff work duties.  Behind the visitor center is an overlook with a great view of the dam and lake.

A picnic area located off the Visitor Center parking lot has several picnic tables and pedestal grills perfect for cookouts.  The Tailwater provides excellent fishing opportunities downstream of the dam along with a shelter to make your next picnic enjoyable.  You can admire the beautiful view from the picnic tables and have fishing access upstream of the dam from the Overlook Recreation area.

For the more energetic visitor there are approximately 2.5 miles of trails that begin at the Visitor Center picnic area.  The three trails are color coded and range from light to moderate/heavy exertion levels. Click here for a copy of the trail map.

There is also a short interpretative trail within the Historic Area near the Visitor Center. A guide to the interpretive trail is available at the Trailhead. The Historic area consists of the old Ashes Creek Schoolhouse and Yates Log Cabin, which were moved from areas now inundated by the lake.

Please follow the links below for more information on…

Hunting opportunities on the 9,417 acre Taylorsville Lake Wildlife Management Area.  Hunting is regulated by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Camping, boating, wildlife viewing, hiking, mountain biking, or horseback riding at Taylorsville Lake State Park.

Marina slip rental, boat rental, or hours of operation at the Taylorsville Lake Marina.

Cottage rentals at Edgewater Resort.

 Driving Directions

From Louisville, KY: Start out going East on I-64 East toward Lexington. Merge onto I-265 South/KY-841 South via Exit Number 19A. Take the KY-155 exit- Exit Number 23- toward Jeffersontown/Taylorsville. Turn left on to Taylorsville Road/KY-155 East. Turn right onto Taylorsville Lake Road/KY-155. Continue to follow KY-155. Turn left onto KY-44/KY-248. Turn right onto KY-2239. Turn left into the parking lot of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Center at 2825 Overlook Road, Taylorsville, Ky. Distance is approximately 36 miles.

From Shelbyville, KY:
Start out going West on US-60 West/KY-53 West/KY-55 West. Continue to follow US-60 West/KY-55 West. Turn left onto KY-55. Turn left onto KY-155/KY-55. Continue to follow KY-55. Turn left onto KY-44/KY-248. Turn right onto KY-2239. Turn left into the parking lot of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Center at 2825 Overlook Rod, Taylorsville, Ky. Distance is approximately 22 miles.

From Lexington, KY:
Start out going West on US-60 West toward BG Parkway/Versailles. Merge onto Blue Grass Parkway West toward Lawrenceburg/Elizabethtown. Take the KY-55 exit- Exit Number 34- toward Bloomfield/Springfield. Turn right (North) onto KY-55. Turn right onto KY-2239. Turn right into the parking lot of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Center at 2825 Overlook Road, Taylorsville, Ky. Distance is approximately 54 miles.

From Lawrenceburg, KY:
Start out going Southwest on US-62 West toward Bloomfield. Turn right (North) onto KY-248. Turn left onto KY-2239. Turn right into the parking lot of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Center at 2825 Overlook Road, Taylorsville, Ky. Distance is approximately 35 miles.

From Springfield, KY:
Start out going North on KY-55/Road Run. Continue to follow KY-55. Turn right onto KY-2239. Turn right into the parking lot of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Center at 2825 Overlook Road, Taylorsville, Ky. Distance is approximately 25 miles.

From Elizabethtown, KY:
Start out going East on the Blue Grass Parkway East toward Bardstown/Lexington. Take the KY-55 exit- Exit Number 34- toward Springfield/Bloomfield. Turn right (North) onto KY-55. Turn right onto KY-2239. Turn left into the parking lot of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Center at 2825 Overlook Road, Taylorsville, Ky. Distance is approximately 44 miles.

 Events

November 15 - December 1: Drawdown of lake to winter pool elevation.

March 15 - April 1: Return to summer pool lake elevation

September 29, 2018, 8:00 am - 1:00 pm: National Public Lands Day Event - "Taylorsville Lake Clean Sweep" Registration at Possum Ridge Picnic Shelter or call (502) 477-8882 for more information. Free lunch and door prizes after a morning of picking up trash in and around the lake.

 

 

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