It's three decades in the making, but several Eastern Kentucky tourist attractions are in jeopardy. Now Harlan County leaders are trying to keep them going.

Money for the three attractions is set to run out October 1st, but Harlan County leaders met Friday and came up with a plan to keep them open.

Nearly 30 bikers riding through the southeast, found a pleasant surprise at the Benham Schoolhouse Inn.

"This was great, really a treat for us, weren't expecting anything like this," said Steve Bobo from South Carolina.

The Southern Riders stayed for lunch and they were just down the hall from county leaders, who were holding a special meeting to try to figure out how to keep the hotel, the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum, and the Portal 31 Mine Ride, from closing.

"Since this rich history is being preserved through these three complexes, we're trying to preserve that, and it would be a shame if October 1st, if it fell off the map," said Harlan County Judge Executive Joe Grieshop.

The attractions were part of the Kentucky State Parks system, but the state pulled support earlier this year after budget troubles statewide. The Harlan County Fiscal Court debated whether to come up with enough money, to keep them open.

"These are too important to let go. We have to find the funding to keep these attractions afloat," said Harlan County Magistrate David Kennedy.

"In three years, if we didn't do what we did today and they were completely gone, what would we say? We should have done that, the opportunity was there," Grieshop said.

The fiscal court voted 3-2 to use more than $100,000 to keep the attractions open. They want tourists like the Southern Riders to keep coming to Harlan County.

County leaders hope the money sustains the attractions until early next year, when they plan to ask state legislators to reverse their decision, and once again throw support behind the projects.