Walk among storied military aircraft
Get up close with military aircraft at Aviation Heritage Park in… Read More
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The Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau offers travelers a customized ‘Salute and Stay’ Military Attraction Itinerary as a reason to consider Bowling Green, Ky. for a Veterans Day trip or their next getaway. Designed to offer visitors a variety of unique experiences that both educate and entertain all ages, ‘Salute and Stay’ includes stops at some familiar Bowling Green landmarks as well as newer sites like the Aviation Heritage Park, recently featured on CBS Evening News. These attractions offer engaging and interactive explorations into US military history.
Visitors can tailor their stops to include sites such as:
Aviation Heritage Park – This outdoor plaza features a fully restored F-4D Phantom airplane flown by Bowling Green native General Dan Cherry who went on to meet the Vietnamese pilot whom he shot down flying this very plane in April 1969. The second addition to the park is a F9F- 5 Panther similar to one flown by Blue Angels Commander Johnny Magda, a Camp Taylor native and WKU alumnus. Their amazing stories plus many others are told via radio broadcast that visitors can tune into while touring the park. A museum is under construction and is scheduled to open in fall 2023.
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.
Kentucky Library & Museum – Located on the campus of Western Kentucky University, the Kentucky Library & Museum has artifacts including John Hunt Morgan’s saddle in its collections. Nearby Ft. Lytle features remnants of the original fortification among embankments and trenches.
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.
Other sites on the itinerary include the Historic Railpark and Train Museum that hosts a Civil War Medal of Honor and rare Mathew Brady Civil War railroad photographs. 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 Plaza and a Confederate Monument in Fairview Cemetery remember local fallen soldiers. Make plans to visit in November to experience the Bowling Green Veteran's Day Parade, always the Saturday prior to Veteran's Day in downtown Bowling Green.
Visitors honoring Veterans Day with a ‘Salute and Stay’ in Bowling Green can enjoy the National Corvette Museum’s annual Vets ‘n Vettes event (moving to May in 2023) full of activities celebrating the freedoms gained by American soldiers. Participants enjoy the camaraderie, special events, and take scenic drives to nearby military sites (Corvette not required!)
Many attractions offer Military Discounts or even free admission! Check here to see the current offers. In addition, nearby Mammoth Cave National Park offers free selected tours on Veterans Day for all military members and their families.
VisitBGKY thanks our veterans for your service!