The Monthly Pinecone
January 2026 Edition
Each month, The Monthly Pinecone highlights the wins, momentum, and meaningful work happening across Letcher County and our three cities Whitesburg, Fleming-Neon, and Jenkins.
Despite the challenges rural communities face, one thing is clear: progress is happening here. And it’s happening because of strong partnerships, community leadership, and people who care deeply about this place.
Here are just a few of the bright spots from this month
Daniel Boone Hotel: A Major Step Forward
The City of Whitesburg officially hired Joseph & Joseph Architects of Lexington, KY to lead the long-awaited renovation of the historic Daniel Boone Hotel a cornerstone project years in the making.
Thanks to funding from the Kentucky General Assembly, this milestone marks a major turning point toward restoring one of downtown’s most iconic buildings. The project will create new lodging and retail opportunities, boost tourism, and strengthen civic pride throughout the community.
This is a huge win for downtown revitalization and for everyone who’s waited patiently to see this landmark brought back to life.
Mountain Bike (MTB) Trails: Design Complete at Raven Rock Retreat
Design work by Nature Trails, LLC has now been completed for the trails at Raven Rock Retreat, marking a major step toward developing a world-class outdoor recreation destination right here in Letcher County.
Once built, MTB Trails will deliver:
High-quality mountain biking experiences
New tourism traffic
Increased overnight stays
Strong economic ripple effects for local businesses
Outdoor recreation continues to be one of our region’s most powerful economic engines, and the trails will be a cornerstone of that future.
Raven Rock Retreat: Cabins & Conference Center Move Forward
Momentum continues to build at Raven Rock Retreat, with architectural firms now officially hired to design both the cabin village and the new conference center lodge.
This development will bring:
Overnight accommodations
Retreat and conference hosting capacity
Expanded tourism infrastructure
Long-term job creation
Together with the trails, these projects position Raven Rock Retreat as one of Eastern Kentucky’s premier adventure-tourism destinations.
Letcher County Airport: Engineering Underway
After more than two decades of planning and advocacy, engineering work has officially begun for the Letcher County Airport project.
This transformative investment will:
Improve regional connectivity
Support emergency services
Enhance business recruitment
Expand economic opportunity
This project represents long-term vision finally becoming reality and it will reshape what’s possible for Letcher County’s future.
Why This Matters
These projects aren’t just “developments.” They represent confidence, belief, and momentum in the future of Letcher County.
Each step forward strengthens:
Our economy
Our tourism industry
Our quality of life
Our pride of place
And none of it happens alone, it happens through partnership, persistence, and people who care deeply about these mountains and communities.