Miguel's Pizza

Rock climbers pulled Miguel's Pizza into existence. In the early 1980s, Miguel Ventura took over an abandoned storefront across from Natural Bridge State Resort Park and turned it first into an ice cream shop, then — as climbers began asking to camp on the property and wanted more substantial food — into the pizza place it is today. The building is a small yellow structure on Natural Bridge Road in Slade, and the property has grown around it: there is tent camping behind the restaurant, a gear shop, bathrooms, and shower facilities alongside the picnic tables out front.

The menu is built around customization. Pizzas come with a hand-tossed crust and homemade sauce, and the topping list runs well beyond the basics — unusual options like sweet potato, corn, and avocado sit alongside the standards. Oven-baked bowls and salads round out the lunch and dinner menu, and the kitchen also serves breakfast in the morning. Online ordering is available directly through their site for pickup.

For a rider coming off KY-715 or through Nada Tunnel, the gravel lot and picnic tables are a natural place to decompress. The crowd is a genuine mix — climbers debriefing their routes, hikers, campers, and motorcyclists all share the outdoor seating. Weekends from spring through fall fill the lot fast, and a wait for your order during peak hours is common; the upside is the conversation that tends to happen while you're waiting.