The Slab (by the Barren)

95%

402 reviews

· Gamaliel, Monroe, Kentucky

500 acres hosted by Carrie S.

5 lodging sites · 74 RV/tent sites · 1 tent site

Best in Kentucky: 1st place

Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2024.

Amazing views

Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.

Family-friendly

Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.

Creature comforts

Enjoy the comforts of home at some sites—including flush toilets, showers, and a kitchen.

Welcome to Heaven on Earth for those that love the Great Outdoors!! If you cant find something to do here then you obviously don't want to do anything and thats ok we have ya covered there too!! We will be hosting some special events in 202at we would like to make you aware of first thing so you can plan your visit accordingl Tanking, kayaking, camping and the trails will remain OPEN year round!! Now that all of that is out of the way... Let me introduce you to our little hidden gem in scenic Monroe county Kentucky. The Slab by the Barren campground is an outdoor recreation area like no other!!! We are the perfect place for all of your family fun in the sun!!! We have 75 very large shaded primitive sites spread out all over our 500 acre farm with nice gravel roads to most of the campsites. We do NOT have any hookups but can accommodate RV's on most sites and you are welcome to run a quiet generator. ( We will be setting up at least 3 sites this winter with hook ups for Rvs. Please follow us here or on facebook for updates on those sites) Sites 1 - 40 are located on the banks of Salt Lick creek and Barren River with direct water access. The gravel bars are open for all campers to enjoy. Camping areas A, B, and C are spread out across different sections of the farm. Even though they aren't directly on the water you are still welcome to go down to the creek at any site and swim and fish and just enjoy the water. If you need any help in choosing the perfect site for your stay feel free to message me or call the office at (812)653-0102 and I will help in anyway I can. On to our amenities!!!! THE BARN!! Is our converted milk barn where Kent and his mother Linda used to milk cows. The tank room is now our office for check in and camp store that we try to keep stocked with the best ice cream and anything else you might have forgotten at home. The old milk parlor where they actually milked the cows has been converted into 4 separate shower houses that are open 24/7. The Holding barn is currently undergoing some major changes this winter. It was such a large room that we have decided, in order to maximize its space, to split the barn in half and make 2 separate areas out of it. The front half by the showers will remain the kids and family play area, it will still have the pool and air hockey tables, family friendly games, tables and chairs. We will be adding more games to this area this winter and adding some exciting outdoor activities for the whole family for this summer. The other half of the barn is currently becoming the Jenkins Joint at The Slab. The Joint will be our full service bar where those 21 and older can enjoy a cold beverage, a game of pool, live music, karaoke, or just hang out. We will have a food truck set up every Friday thru Sunday until we get our kitchen completed and can serve our own food. The food truck and the kitchen will be available for anyone that would like to order food, especially those that check in late and don't feel like cooking their first night. KAYAKING!!! Take a relaxing paddle down the river in your kayak or ours. We have multiple trips 1, 2, 3, 6, and 10 miles and offer a shuttle service, and kayak rentals for those that don't have their own. LAZY RIVER TUBING!!!! Go with the flow in your tube or ours and float your cares away on our 2 mile float down Barren River. Float as many times as you would like per day, stop at the rope swing, or hang out at your campsite and then take off again. TANKING!!! Yes you read that right we now offer Tanking!! I'm sure you have never heard of it but let me tell you, as one group of campers exclaimed... "It is the most genius, redneck, fun thing we have ever done". Depending on the size of your group we will either put you in a 6ft or 8ft round metal cattle water tank and float you 2 miles down the river in it!! We have designed them for the maximum amount of fun and relaxation you can have on the water without getting wet... unless you want to. We have installed benches in them so all you need to bring is your cooler and friends and come spend the day on the river with new unique experience. FISHING!! Multiple fishing holes where you can catch stripe, small mouth, rock bass, Kentucky bass, channel cats, flat heads, and walleye on a regular basis. HIKING We have trails all over the farm from the scenic views on top of the bluffs to the quiet spring fed slate rock holler there is a trail for everyone to enjoy while you explore the farm. WATER SLIDE!!!! On the upper side of the Slab bridge is a 75 ft long water slide into one of our many swimming holes. It is steep and fast and you are sure to make a splash!!! SLIP N SLAB 600!!!! New at the end of 2023... is my Greatest Creation!! The Slip N Slab 600. What is it you might ask.... well.... It is the LONGEST Slip N Slide in ALL of Kentucky!! Come take a ride down our 600 Ft long Slip N Slide!! It starts up at the top of the hill by the office and you slide down the natural hollar and end in the pond just below the amphitheater. It really is Fun for the WHOLE Family!! We have had people as young a 2 and as old as 73 slide down it and each and every one of them came back up to the top with a smile on their face and was ready to do it again!! NOW ON TO THE RULES!!!! NO OUTSIDE FIRE WOOD!!! We sell large bundles for $10 at the camp store. We DO NOT allow ANY outside fire wood to be brought onto the farm!! DO NOT CUT DOWN ANY TREES ON THE FARM NO MATTER HOW SMALL!!! CAMPSITES WILL BE CHECKED AFTER YOUR STAY. IF WE FIND ANY TREES CUT DOWN ON YOUR SITE YOU WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND WILL BE CHARGED 7 TIMES THE MATURE VALUE OF THE DAMAGED TREE. BOOKING A CAMPSITE AT THE SLAB BY THE BARREN THRU THIS SITE MEANS THAT YOU AGREE TO THESE TERMS. We hate to have to do this but we have had trees chopped down for no reason. There is firewood available at the camp store and you are welcome to burn anything laying on the ground, trim low hanging branches, or pull stuff out of our brush piles. just don't cut down any trees. NO GLASS BOTTLES ARE ALLOWED ON THE FARM!! If we see them we will confiscate and dispose of them!! We are a WATER park and people run around barefoot. The last thing we need is broken glass all over the farm and people cutting their feet. So leave the GLASS AT HOME!! DIRT BIKES AND ATVS ARE NOW ALLOWED ON THE FARM!! Rider be respectful of our campers and ONLY ride on the designated trails!! There are idle only areas around Pickett Bottom cabin and ALL Campsites. If you are caught riding with throttle down the gravel roads in the campground or thru campsites you will be given ONE WARNING!! THE SECOND TIME it happens YOUR VEHICLE WILL BE IMPOUNDED for the remainder of your stay and you will receive A LIFETIME RIDING BAN FROM OUR CAMPGROUND. Be respectful and courteous and we will all have a great time!! We are trying to be inclusive to new activities while still staying the quiet peaceful slice of heaven that everyone has come to love. Please bear with us while we grow and try to work with everyone to make the Slab a place that everyone can enjoy. Thank you for your interest in our campground and we look forward to meeting you this 2024 camping season. God Bless!!

Activities

Biking

Boating

Fishing

Hiking

Natural features

Beach

Forest

River, stream, or creek

Swimming hole

Select a site

Filter by

Reviews

95% Recommend959 ratings · 402 reviews

Kimberly B.

8 reviews

Recommends

· April 2025

Another excellent stay

Tent ·

23 Creek

This is our fourth or fifth time staying at The Slab, and it is still amazing, even though there was a lot of flood debris around from the recent floods. You can still find a place to camp (they advised us we can camp anywhere on the farm), but we still chose a place on the riverbank. I am looking forward to our next visit.

Ryan S.

11 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2025

Tent · With kids ·

13 Creek

Never seen so many skipping stones. Had a great time camped on the edge of the creek.

Brian B.

3 reviews

Recommends

· March 2025

Tent ·

23 Creek

This was out third trip to The Slab and we had another great stay by the creek. Our new highlight was seeing a river otter climb on shore across from our camp and roll around in the dirt for 10 mins. That said, one thing we feel we should note is that sadly many of the creek side sites have been impacted by what appears to have been some major flooding. All of the sites are technically still there, but many are covered in flood debris along the trees. The least impacted seemed to be sites 1-5 and some in the 30's. Other sites are still usable if you don't mind the debris. Carrie was kind enough to let us set camp wherever we wanted as we were the only ones there this weekend. I believe we ended up staying at would have been 03 Creak (none of the sites were marked).

Shane L.

2 reviews

Recommends

· March 2025

We saw an eagle! Cool spot.

Tent · With pets ·

03 Creek

The camp host was so nice! I'm looking forward to the next time we're passing through!

Justin W.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· March 2025

Great Stay - Loved the water

Tent · With kids ·

23 Creek

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We had an amazing stay at this beautiful riverside campsite! The location was peaceful and perfect for a relaxing getaway. The hosts were incredibly kind and accommodating—Kent even went out of his way to bring us a lighter when ours gave out. The site was well-maintained, and we loved falling asleep to the sounds of the river. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a great camping experience with thoughtful hosts!

Adam M.

6 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· November 2024

Hunting trips

Tent ·

C06 Dispersed

Stayed here on multiple hunting trips. Great place to camp and take a shower! Carrie was super helpful and accommodating! One of the trips I was up they had a band and delicious food truck!

Location

Gamaliel, Monroe, Kentucky, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East), S’atsoyaha (Yuchi), and Shawandasse Tula (Shawanwaki/Shawnee) First Nations according to

Native Land Digital.

To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking