PINE CREST LODGE 

 is available for group rental.  The lodge consists of a grand room around a huge stone fireplace with a kitchen  and two wings.  One wing is set up as a six room dormitory with two public bathrooms and showers.  The other is set up as four luxury rooms with private bathrooms.  The space allows flexibility to accomodate 10 to 40 people for as little as $500 a night. 

Dormitory (far left), Ohio Cabin (top center, Directors House (bottom Center), one of many views (right)

Historic Pine Crest Camp 

November 2008

 Beartrack Arts & Entertainment is a production company established in the Spring of 2005 in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky.  The company is currently renovating a nine acre  camp on a picturesque promontory overlooking 1200 acres of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Lee County.   The renovations include: landscaping the ten acre campus and refurbishing/redesigning five  buildings to provide production facilities, recreational areas and entertainment opportunities for performers and audiences.  The company and facility, using local and professional artists and entertainers, also provides a venue for the development of local art/entertainment based attractions to complement the growing tourism industry.  

The staff of BTA&E brings thirty-three years of theatre experience as actors, directors, managing directors and producers, six years experience in film,television, modeling, and commercials. This has created a breadth of experience and resources to create entertainment opportunities for local and tourist audiences and to build a bridge between developing and established artists and the arts/entertainment industry in large urban markets.   

The Mission
The Mission of Beartrack Arts and Entertainment is to provide a cost effective, dynamic performance and educational venue with a supportive organization to attract established and fledgeling performers, craftsmen, artists and audiences to the area.

 The History of Development
  Inspired by the growth of regional tourism in the late 90s, A pair of entrepreneurs with ties to both the New York based art and entertainment industry and the local area considered a venture to expand entertainment opportunities in this part of Eastern Kentucky. In late 2004, the local community completed construction on a 300 seat outdoor amphitheatre and 200 seat community center.  A local youth camp also went on the auction block.  The influx of tourism dollars into the region and commitment by the community to provide a venue for theatrical production was the inspiration to commit time and resources to  develop a production facility.  The Pine Crest Camp was purchased in February 2005  and serves as the base of operations for the development of Beartrack Arts & Entertainment. In December  0f 2008 the Dining Hall and 10 room Dormitory became available for group rentals.

What's Been Done 

July 2005 saw the first stage production, "The Southern Hostility Comedy Tour", BTA&E teamed up the talent of three rising comics from the New York club scene, Duncan Jay, Quint Hatch, and Daryl Wright, with the classical Bluegrass sound of "Billy Paul Charles and Three Rivers" to create a bitingly funny show with a strong Southern, Country theme. The development of the show and advertising strategy established a working relationship with many of the local radio and newspaper outlets.  

 December 2007 saw the first joint event with Mulberry Street Diner as all the local boys and girls were invited to have "Breakfast with Santa"  and have their pictures taken with the jolly old elf.  

January 2008 The 3,400 sq ft. Dining Hall renovations were completed.  It now has 400 amp electrical service, propane heat, city water, updated septic system, an industrial kitchen, two public bathrooms, two bedrooms with a private bath, a 53x13 common room, a 53x19 great room with a fireplace.  It is ready for rental and event use. 

May 2008 Classes were held on 3 consecutive weekends for "Introduction to being a model/actor" and "Avoiding beginner mistakes as an Actor/Model"

October 2008 BTA&E provided production assistance and performers for Beattyville Ky's haunted hay ride during the "Trick or Treat on Main" event. 

 December 2008 The second annual Breakfast with Santa was enjoyed by many of the local young at heart. 

January 2009 Cheryl Walton, a local visual artist, offers classes in the BTA&E Dining Hall teaching   Watercolor techniques.   A series of seven meetings were held to meet local artists and discuss the issues around developing an arts based industry in the area.  20 Artists participated and a Newsletter page was added to the Web site to discuss issues.

April 2009 14  Strikingly beautiful and inspiring young ladies brought the sun out on a rainy day and thrilled an audience of about 100 with their poise, grace and smiles.  Walking on a 40 foot runway decorated with art from the Lee County Grade and High Schools and local artists, the audience was treated to broad range of local talent. 

 We also had a group of 12 ladies stay a weekend at the lodge in April. They were a real treat and great fun  to be around.  It appears they felt the same way and penciled their next retreat with us in 2010.

June 2009  on June 13 we had a religious group of 20 from Pennsylvania on a mission book the lodge for eight days.  And we now have a church from Illinois with a group of 25 staying until June 26.  Every group so far has penciled themselves for return visits. 

Projects in the planning stages: 

"Campus Landscaping": The 10 acre campus for the BTA&E facilities was neglected for 10 years and after the trash, cast off camp books, toys, and equipment was carted off to the dump or donation center, numerous trees needed to be cut down to eliminate danger to the buildings and overhead power lines that remain.  The process is ongoing.  Upon completion of landscaping, we plan to have numerous outdoor meeting areas and meditation overlooks with an eye to meeting the expectations of those who want to catch rays or sit in the shade.

 Comdians Bootcamp":  A week long training program for those who always wanted to be comedians.  Would be comedians will spend the days working with established comedians to write and tell their jokes, learn the ins and outs of making it in the business, perform daily in front of other comedians and finish the week with a performance in front of a paying audience judged by a panel of experts from the entertainment industry.  The person determined to by the winner by the panel would be given an opportunity to appear on stage in a New York Comedy club.

  "Christmas Musical":  BTA&E is negotiating to secure the rights of a musical, to be determined,  for an early December production using local talent augmented by professional actors and singers.  This venture will allow novice and community actors and musicians to work with and learn from professionals in the industry about preparation for performance and the realities of making a living in show business. 

"Web Site": As you can see, BTA&E is developing a web site. In the near future, we plan to advertise merchandise, arts and crafts, and tickets for sale on the site. 

Contact us for information on our facility or our production company in Beattyville,

Kentucky, to take part in our artistic endeavors from theater and drama to comedy and music.

Links:
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
Kentucky Arts Council • Actors' Equity Association

Home | Shows | Contact Us