Fort Knox

Understand

Fort Knox is internationally known for the United States Bullion Depository, which stores a large portion of gold and other valuable items in the United States' possession. It is estimated to hold 2.3% of all gold refined in human history. Film producer Albert Broccoli managed to get permission to use the exterior of Fort Knox as a location for the James Bond film Goldfinger, though they were restricted to a minimum of 3000 ft (900 m) in the airspace above it for the aerial scenes. The interior scenes were a film set at Pinewood Studios.

Getting there

US 31W runs roughly north/south next to Fort Knox; drivers may access the Brandenburg Station Road, Chaffee Avenue, and Wilson Road Gates, as they travel north to south, respectively. 31W connects Elizabethtown 15 minutes to the South, and Louisville about 60 minutes to the north. Further east runs I65, also connecting Elizabethtown and Louisville. KY 313, running east/west, brings in traffic from I-65 to the east, via exit 102.

Getting around

Not much effort seems to have been made to make navigating around post easy; most signs for buildings use difficult-to-read "military speak" (for example, the Leader's Club sign is marked: "Directorate Of Morale, Welfare, and Recreation", and in relatively tiny text at the bottom: Leader's Club). However, almost every street intersection is clearly labeled, though the existing signs differ for some roads from the names given by Google Maps. The Fort Knox MWR Guidebook (available at several locations around post) has probably the best map of post available to the average visitor.

See

1 Patton Museum of National Cavalry and Armor, 4554 Fayette Avenue, ☏ +1 502-624-3812, [email protected]. M-F 9AM-4:30PM; October–April: Sa Su 10AM-4:30PM; May–September: Sa Su 10AM-6PM; Open some holidays. Self-guided tours of General Patton and weaponry from World War I-present. Free. Saunders Spring Nature Preserve, 100 Saunders Spring Ln, Radcliff. Not really military-related, but it sits side by side with Fort Knox and is pretty charming with pioneer cabins and waterfalls and biking trails. Daily 7:30AM-6PM.

Do

Four gymnasiums (Otto, Smith, Natcher and Gammon), an Olympic-sized indoor swimming pool (Anderson) and several large athletic fields are available at various locations around post.

1 Otto Physical Fitness Center, 6591 Abel St, ☏ +1 502-624-3316. M-F 5AM-9PM, Sa Su closed. (updated Dec 2018) 2 Smith Physical Fitness Center, 5927 26th Calvalry Drive, ☏ +1 502-624-3641. M-F 5AM-9PM, Sa Su 11AM-7PM. (updated Dec 2018) 3 Natcher Physical Fitness Center, 2341 Garry Owen Regiment Ave, ☏ +1 502-624-8169. M-F 5AM-9PM, Sa Su closed. (updated Dec 2018) 4 Gammon Total Fitness, 850 Radio St, ☏ +1 502-624-4033. M-F 5AM-9PM, Sa Su 7AM-3PM. (updated Dec 2018) 5 Anderson Indoor Aquatics Center, 7962 Wilson Rd, ☏ +1 502-624-6217. M-F 6AM-7PM, Sa 11AM-7PM, Su noon-5PM. (updated Dec 2018) Most locations and activities are fairly typical for a large military post; including an outdoor recreational area (Camp Carlson Army Travel Camp), Shooting Club (French Range), bowling alley (Houston Bowling Center), and golf course (Lindsey Golf Course).

6 Camp Carlson Army Travel Camp, 9210 US-60, Muldraugh, ☏ +1 502-624-4836. (updated Dec 2018) 7 French Shooting Range, 9333 Main Range Rd, ☏ +1 502-624-7754. Th 3PM-7PM, Sa Su 10AM-5PM, M-W and F closed. (updated Dec 2018) 8 Houston Bowling Center, 2385 Knox St, ☏ +1 502-624-4740. M Tu 11AM-10PM, W Th 10AM-10PM, F 11AM-midnight, Sa 10AM-midnight, Su noon-6PM. (updated Dec 2018) 9 Lindsey Golf Course, 4024 Bullion Blvd, ☏ +1 502-624-2717. 9AM-5PM. (updated Dec 2018)

Buy

The Post Main PX, Commissary, and Clothing and Sales are all in the same general vicinity.

1 Fort Knox Main Post Exchange, 127 Gold Vault Rd, ☏ +1 502-942-0067. M-Sa 10AM-8PM, Su 10AM-6PM. (updated Dec 2018)

Eat

There are a few restaurants near the Post Exchange such as a Burger King, Popeyes, Qdoba and Subway.

Drink & nightlife

Rocker II and the Leader's Club have full bars on post. Rocker II offers wide screen TV's, 4 pool tables and dart boards, and various video games to provide weekend diversions. The Leader's Club features Fiddler's Green Bar and Lounge, as well as the Bullion Room Restaurant.

Sleep

There are 600 transient lodging spaces at 6 locations around post are available for soldiers on TDY assignment. Separate spaces are also available for up to 76 Permanent Party Geographical Bachelors (GBQ). Transient lodging spaces range from dormitory style to efficiency apartments, but most will feature queen-sized beds, basic kitchen facilities with microwave and refrigerator (and sometimes stove), as well as cable TV and high-speed internet connections (wired). For civilians, look for accommodation in nearby Radcliff, Brandenburg or Elizabethtown.

Go next

The nearest large town with a little more to offer is Louisville, while Lexington is further away, but still a reasonable drive.