September 24, 2009

BOWLING GREEN CVB LAUNCHES ‘SALUTE AND STAY’ MILITARY ATTRACTION ITINERARY

Planes, Trains, Automobiles & Caves Highlight Unique Historical Exhibits That Celebrate America’s Bravest

BOWLING GREEN, Ky., – The Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau announces its Salute and Stay Military Attraction Itinerary, which offers travelers one more reason to consider Bowling Green, Ky., for their next getaway.  

The introduction of the Salute and Stay itinerary coincides with the upcoming visit of The Wall That Heals, September 24-27, 2009. Salute and Stay includes stops at some familiar Bowling Green landmarks as well as up and coming new attractions, including the Aviation Heritage Park, which was recently featured on CBS Evening News. 

The Salute and Stay itinerary is designed to offer visitors a variety of unique experiences that both educate and entertain people of all ages with attractions that offer engaging and interactive explorations into US military history. Bowling Green’s role in the Civil War is highlighted as well as the sacrifices made by soldiers in the Korean War, the Vietnam War and World Wars I and II. Visitors can tailor their stops to include sites such as:

• Aviation Heritage Park – featuring a fully restored F-4D Phantom airplane flown by Bowling Green native General Dan Cherry who was recently joined by Nguyen Hong My, the Vietnamese pilot whom he shot down while flying the Phantom in April of 1969.  Their amazing story of reconciliation is told via radio broadcast which visitors can tune in to while touring the park. For more info, visit www.aviationheritagepark.com.

• Lost River Cave – this first stop on Bowling Green’s Civil War Discovery Trail includes entertaining stories of how Lost River Cave and Valley played host to Civil War soldiers.  Visitors can explore the valley’s beautiful hiking trails and take Kentucky’s only underground boat tour.  For more information, visit www.lostrivercave.com.

• Kentucky Library & Museum – Located on the campus of Western Kentucky University, the Kentucky Library & Museum features artifacts including John Hunt Morgan’s saddle, a simulated Civil War campsite, slave cabin, Victorian photo studio and more.  Nearby Ft. Lytle features remnants of the original fortification among embankments and trenches. For more information, visit http://www.wku.edu/library/kylm.

• National Corvette Museum – Visitors will enjoy cruising over to the National Corvette Museum, a 115,000 square foot tribute to America’s sports car, where they are welcomed by the military-themed scale model Corvette. On permanent display is one of Chuck Jeager’s pace cars, driven by the retired USAF General who was the first pilot to break the speed of sound. For more information, visit www.corvettemuseum.com.

Other sites on the tour include the Historic Railpark and Train Museum, which currently hosts a Civil War Medal of Honor. The Warren County Courthouse in Bowling Green’s historic downtown features a bronze memorial that pays tribute to each military branch.  The 125-foot Guthrie Bell Tower on Western Kentucky University’s campus honors all who lost their lives in the line of duty.  In addition, a veteran’s memorial in Fairview Cemetery remembers local fallen soldiers.  

Discounts for Military Personnel

Local hotels and attractions offer special rates and discounts to active and retired military personnel. For a complete list, visit www.visitbgky.com/military.

According to BGACVB Executive Director Vicki Fitch, the new itinerary showcases the area’s diverse attractions.  “There aren’t too many places where you can experience military history interpreted in so many ways.  We’ve got planes, trains and automobiles as well as caves.  Our attractions offer fascinating tributes to American soldiers and unique perspectives of Bowling Green’s role in the various conflicts,” she commented.

Fitch said visitors can help kick off the Salute and Stay itinerary this weekend and experience  The Wall That Heals, a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., that will be open around the clock at the park located at 1825 Three Springs Road (the corner of Three Springs and Smallhouse Roads) in Bowling Green.

In addition, visitors planning ahead can celebrate Veterans Day weekend with a stay in Bowling Green to enjoy Salute and Stay participating attractions as well as the upcoming National Corvette Museum’s Vets ‘n Vettes event held November 5-7.  The event includes three days of celebrations held in honor of American soldiers. The entire month of November is Military Appreciation at the Corvette Museum, with free admission for military and their families.

Less than one hour north of Nashville, TN, off I-65, Bowling Green rolls out a red carpet experience for anyone in search of an opportunity to sample the Southern hospitality of a unique town on the move. For more information about planning a trip to Bowling Green, visit www.visitbgky.com.

###