Bowling Green: In the Heart of the Deep South by Courtney Ronan
Where's a good editor when you need one? That's a question the residents of then-Bolin Green, Kentucky, may have asked when, four years after their town was established in 1978, the local post office opened its doors to the public. The spell-checking function being a couple of centuries away yet, the postmaster's sign over the door read for all the town to see: "Bowling Green Post Office." The name, though incorrect, stuck. Contrary to what you might expect, there's no proliferation of bowling alleys or bowling leagues in Bowling Green. There is, however, plenty of "green" -- in terms of rolling hills and picturesque scenery. This town of nearly 50,000 residents, which served as the Confederate capital of Kentucky during the Civil War, has attracted a diverse portfolio of industries throughout its existence. Today, its largest employers include Western Kentucky University, an institution of higher learning which is based in Bowling Green; and General Motors Corvette. Being associated with one of the nation's hottest sports cars, the legendary 'Vette, is a distinction of which locals are quite proud. Among the draws to this scenic Southern town (located 60 miles north of Nashville and 110 miles south of Louisville) are its numerous parks, its historic downtown district filled with unique architecture, and, of course, its large tribute to the 'Vette. Bowling Green welcomes thousands of tourists -- some of them Corvette owners and others merely dreamers -- each year to its National Corvette Museum and Corvette Assembly Plant. On the recreational side, perhaps Bowling Green should be renamed "Golfing Green," given the local interest in the sport. Others come to enjoy the picturesque surroundings while hiking through one of the town's parks, exploring one of the natural caves in the region, or spending money at one of Bowling Green's upscale retail shops or restaurants. A few other local sites of interest worthy of your attention include the Barren River Imaginative Museum of Science, an interactive center featuring a mini-tornado and an interactive transportation exhibit; the Cave Springs Caverns, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and considered both a Native American sacred site and an archaeological jewel; the Duncan Hines Scenic Byway, an 82-mile route that begins at the former home of author Duncan Hines, and which takes visitors by magnificent mansions, Civil War-era schoolhouses, battlefields, cemeteries, antique shops, an old stagecoach stop and picturesque views of rural Kentucky; the Eloise B. Houchens Center, an historic Greek Revival mansion built in 1904 by former Bowling Green Mayor Francis Kister; the Bowling Green Civil War Driving Tour, featuring four historic forts; and Fountain Square Park, the scenic highlight of downtown Bowling Green. Bowling Green's residential real estate market accommodates every budget. Three- and four-bedroom single family homes range anywhere from $120,000 all the way up to $1 million and more. The town also offers residents the option of townhomes, condominiums and apartments and an abundance of land for building homes. Considered one of the South's best towns for corporate relocations, Bowling Green is now Kentucky's fifth-largest city. It's big enough to offer its residents a strong local economy, a diverse selection of professional opportunities, a major university and the shopping and cultural draws of any urban metropolis. And yet, its small-town Southern charm has remained. Thanks to the efforts of local historians and city planners, so have Bowling Green's historic mansions and estates and its Civil War relics. Bowling Green represents the best of what the South has to offer. This town has embraced urban progress and the advancement of technology, but has managed to place these signs of modernization alongside its well-preserved historic offerings. Because Southern hospitality rules here, friendly greetings remain standard procedure. Businesses can race to keep up with technology, but locals refuse to keep pace at the expense of the charm for which the deep South is so revered. |
