Lost River Cave

In between Frankfort and Bowling Green, we spent about a week and a half in Tennessee. Due to an oversight on our part, that portion of our trip was published to the blog out of sequence back in May. You can reread it here if you like.

While waiting to tour the National Corvette Museum, we had a couple of days in the Bowling Green, Kentucky, area to fill. One day we spent driving around country roads. I was delighted that our adventures took us across a bridge that reminded me of my childhood, specifically, the slab on Dry River.

Kentucky "slab"

Bowling Green is home to Lost River Cave. What makes this cave tour a little different is that part of the tour is on a boat. The tour lost a little of its specialness for me when we reached the dam of the river inside the cave. The dam keeps the river to a depth of 3 - 4 feet in order to operate the boats. 

The river, primarily underground, reaches the surface in several blue holes near the cave. No matter how inviting the water looks on a hot day, do not swim there. Unsuspecting people are pulled under to their deaths, not knowing about the unseen holes sweeping underneath. 

What I liked about the cave was its earlier history as a nite club. During the 1930's, before most places had ever heard of air conditioning, a cave was quite literally a cool place to be. Lost River Cave has one of the largest natural cave entrances east of the Mississippi. An enterprising owner built a dance floor, a small hydroelectric dam, and a bar. It was so popular that Kentucky bar owners, who were losing money, managed to get a law passed that prohibited the sale of alcohol below street level. If one wanted a drink, he had to walk up the 100+ steps to street level. 

After the nite club closed, the cave entrance became a dumping ground. For years it was neglected. Western Kentucky University bought the property, hauled out over 55 tons of trash, and started a non-profit organization, offering tours to discourage further dumping of trash. You can rent the venue too. I would have loved to have danced there to the sounds of a big band.

Lost River Cave Entrance

Let's dance

Inside the cave

Duck your head

Dance floor view

Man-eating bottomless pit

Where Are We Going Next?

Horses and Trains

Kentucky is also known for its horse racing. The countryside is dotted with manicured, beautiful horse farms.  It seemed like everyone had a gated entrance. 

We were staying in Frankfort, not too far from Keeneland. You can walk around the grounds for free. Download a self-guided tour or ask for a printed guide at the ticket counter. We caught the last of the horses being schooled the morning we visited. Young horses were being walked around the paddock and mounting areas to get them used to the idea. If you show up at 5:00 a.m., you can see them running the horses on the track. We did not do that. 

The Spring Meet was happening while we were there but we had already made other plans and did not attend the actual races. 

Schooling the horses

Keeneland clock

Keeneland track view

Those other plans included tickets for a scenic rail ride. The Bluegrass Railroad Museum offers rides throughout the summer and had just reopened for the season. The train takes you out to Young's High Bridge over the Kentucky River, passing along a couple of horse farms on the way. It's a great vantage point with the Wild Turkey Distillery on the far bluff. With the cold and rainy weather we had that day, we were glad we were in an enclosed train car as opposed to sitting in uncovered seating at Keeneland!

Ticket to ride

Young's High Bridge and Wild Turkey Distillery

Up close diesel

Where Are We Going Next?

Kentucky Bourbon

We had toured Buffalo Trace Distillery a couple of years ago. The tours require reservations and most were sold out. We were able to get in on the Old Taylor Tour. The history is interesting and most of the old buildings are still in use. The grounds are well-manicured. Our guide told us that they were even thinking of offering a garden tour.

Inside a warehouse at Buffalo Trace

Smallest bonded aging warehouse - one barrel only

Fun to watch the barrels rolling

Buffalo Trace from Cove Springs Park

In stark contrast to the mass production of Buffalo Trace Distillery was the production process at Old Pogue Distillery. It produces only 500 barrels in a year. The entire process happens in one building and the barrels are stored off-site. 

Old Pogue Distillery

Next generation of Pogues

Though there are plenty of distillery and brewery touring options available, and the city for Frankfort is happy to point them out, those were the only two tours we opted to do. 

Where Are We Going Next?

Whistles!

We're always on the lookout for something different. So, when we saw the opportunity to tour the American Whistle Corporation in Columbus, we signed up. The tour is right around an hour in length. The guide runs a couple of the presses for you. Other machines you watch from a tv screen. Everything from start to finish is done in one room. The newest press is from the 1970's and the oldest from 1905. You end the tour with your own free whistle! If you want, you can select your own colors and make your own whistle for a small fee. How cool is that?  

Steps in the process

Adding the lanyard

The Stamper

Blister packaging

Dedicated Whistle Store

We decided that Columbus Washboard Company was a bit further than we wanted to travel. However, their tour is on our radar for another time. Who knew that they still made washboards here in the USA?

Where Are We Going Next?