Kentucky is scattered with hundreds of small towns. In fact, over half the cities in the state have less than 1,000 residents! Hopefully you have the time to get off the highways and explore some of Kentucky's "map dots" but if your time is limited, just take a 15 minute drive north of Bowling Green to Warren County's second largest city of Smiths Grove, population 799. We like to refer to it as our little Mayberry!
For many, a visit to Smiths Grove is like a step back in time, full of revitalized historic buildings, small cemeteries, churches and a slower pace. For others, it seems a lot like visiting grandparents or other family living in rural America, full of honest, hard-working folks, a variety of agriculture and quirky finds.
And then for a certain sect of visitors, going to Smiths Grove is like visiting the epicenter of horror movie lore! Former Bowling Green resident and Master of Horror, John Carpenter, named the fictional sanitarium from which Michael Myers escapes in Halloween the "Smith's Grove Warren County Sanitarium." More about that and our "Reel Sites, Real Scary" Driving Tour can be found on our John Carpenter microsite here.
We suggest you stroll along Main Street until a storefront pulls you in or an architectural style piques your interest. Families can let the kids release some energy at Ed Spear Park, complete with a nice playground, picnic shelter, walking trail, and outdoor basketball and tennis courts, or stretch the imagination at the Warren County Public Library's Smiths Grove Branch featuring weekly programs and special events.
And now... shopping!!
Find antiques, fabrics, home & garden decor, vintage items and Kentucky-made goodies all within a few blocks! And don't forget to grab an afternoon treat or snack from The Flavor Isle, a local favorite.
Participating shops include:
An eclectic little shop with vintage finds and sly designs! Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 3pm.
Don't let the name scare you, it's just a fitting name for such a colorful shop full of fabrics, quilting supplies, tie-dyed shirts and art. Open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am to 5pm.
Head next door for even more farmhouse, Mid Century Modern and "loads of smalls!" Open Monday-Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 12 to 5pm.
Find all things garden including living baskets and plants plus antiques and Kentucky-made goodies. Group programs and gift baskets available! Open Monday-Friday from 9am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm, and Sunday 12 to 5pm.
New vintage shop featuring eclectic, repurposed and locally crafted fashions and furnishings. Open Thursday-Friday from 1 to 6pm, Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from noon to 4pm.
Aside from shopping and history, Smiths Grove is also a cyclists' haven as it is located along U.S. Bike Route 23, a 109-mile route from the Kentucky/Tennessee border that ends at Mammoth Cave National Park. This route also connects to U.S. Bike Route 76 that mostly follows the TransAmerica Trail. Find more information and maps of these routes from the Adventure Cycling Association at https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/us-bicycle-route-system/maps-and-route-resources/.
Just off I-65 at exit #38, find antiques, fabrics, home & garden decor,... Read More
