What a year 2025 has been! From the addition of new events, businesses and attractions, to the steady support our long-time Bowling Green attractions received from visitors and locals alike, the past year was unforgettable. We are so thankful for a year well spent and wanted to take the time to recap a few of our most memorable moments in tourism throughout this past year.
The Moments In Between
We started off strong with the launching of our new marketing campaign, The Moments In Between. This campaign was designed to showcase our community for visitors. The Moments in Between featured a family making a roadside stop in Bowling Green, which leads into a weekend of unexpected fun, as they quickly discover more of what Bowling Green has to offer! We believe the best moments are those that happen in between, and that is just what Forerunner TV perfectly captured in this campaign.
To check out The Moments In Between, click here.
Two Bowling Green Locations were Featured on the Kentucky African American Heritage Trail
While 2024 may have been the year of the tourism trail, (see Western Kentucky Wine Trail and Kentucky Garden Trail) we were lucky enough to see two Bowling Green attractions featured on the launch of the Kentucky African American Heritage Trail. The Historic Railpark and Train Museum and the Historic Shakerag District both made their way onto the trail launch early this year. This honor provides enormous opportunity for visitors to see and better understand the history and legacy created by African American individuals in our community.
We Joined the West Kentucky Film Commission
Lights, Camera, Action! Bowling Green got ready for its closeup in 2025 by joining surrounding counties in the West Kentucky Film Commission. This initiative spotlights the growing film and television industry in Western Kentucky. When people come to film in our community, that also means people come to visit! Film companies stay in our hotels, eat at our restaurants and utilize our attractions, businesses and everything in between! By joining the WKFC we are actively working to influence filmmakers to choose Bowling Green and surrounding counties as their next muse on the silver screen.
If you happen to be a filmmaker interested in filming in Bowling Green, click here!
We Bought Land and Broke Ground for a New Visitors Center
2025 was the beginning of the end… for our current Visitors Center! Bowling Green is growing at the speed of a Corvette right now which means our office is also growing. To accommodate this growth and be more accessible for our valued visitors, we have built a new home! Sunbelt Construction Inc. has recently completed our new building at 720 Ewing Way. Located just off of I-65 at Exit 26, the new location will provide improved ease of access for our visitors and provide the space and functionality to better serve our guests. We are excited to welcome visitors to Bowling Green in a space that was created to reflect our community so well!
We Spoke About the Importance of Tourism to South Central Kentucky on KET
Kentucky Education Television (KET) visited Bowling Green in 2025 to shine a spotlight on the incredible growth and vitality of South Central Kentucky. Our Executive Director, Sherry Murphy, was honored to speak alongside other community leaders about the growth of our area. She shone a light on how tourism is often times the beginning of the bigger picture for choosing a place to live. Many people visit Bowling Green to experience our attractions, and are then drawn to stay in our wonderful community.
To watch the South Central Kentucky special on KET, click here.
We Were Included in Major Media Mentions
Bowling Green was honored this year in multiple capacities with recognition from various journalist and outlets. We pitched experiences, attractions and opportunities in Bowling Green to journalists all year long. From our work as well as outstanding work alongside the Kentucky Department of Tourism's pitching and our hosting we were able to secure some truly notable media mentions! A few notable pieces include Forbes choosing the NCM Motorsports Park as one of “Five One-of-a-Kind Experiences to Wow Dad for Father’s Day.” Afar gave the spotlight to the newly launched African American Heritage Trail which specifically highlighted the Historic Shake Rag Walking Tour and Historic Railpark and Train Museum. Stuff, a popular British-based international magazine called Bowling Green, “The Underrated City with Fast Cars, Deep Caves and Super Fine Strawberry Milk.” Which if you didn’t know, strawberry milk is a spring special found at Chaney’s! Last but not least, Brand USA gave us a holiday gift by mentioning The Reindeer Farm as a “Must Experience” destination during the 2025 holiday season.
We Won 13 Traverse Awards at the KTIA Fall Conference
We rounded out the year by attending the Kentucky Tourism Industry Association Fall Conference! There, we had the opportunity to meet with other tourism offices, collaborating, learning, and reflecting on the work we all did in 2025. We were fortunate to be recognized among our peers by receiving 13 awards at the Conference! Some of the awards honored our collaborative work with other tourism offices, because we are all stronger when we work together! Three multi-partner projects that were created out of our office including “Kentucky American Triangle,” “Bluegrass Train Experience,” and “Horses Horsepower and Hollers,” all brought home some hardware. And the “Kentucky Garden Trail,” which we were a member of also swept the award stand in 2025 as well. One solo project “The Moments In Between,” Marketing and TV Campaign brought home two awards! We are so grateful for such wonderful recognition and can’t wait to see what next year’s KTIA will bring!
Click on each project to learn more about it.
What Does 2026 Have in Store for Bowling Green?
We strengthened our visibility this year too, with 19 published blogs! By utilizing this social media avenue, we were able to provide in-depth looks at events, attractions, and individuals that make Warren County unique! Next year, we’ll aim even higher!
Here’s to a bright 2026! Thank you so much for being a part of our journey. We can’t wait to see what the future holds!
