Owensboro’s national recognition as a destination city continues to grow, as Rolling Stone magazine recently listed it as one of seven “Must-Visit Places Country Music Fans Should Flock to Now.”
“With these seven destinations, you’ll take a closer look at how country music came to be,” the article reads. “Learn about its roots in folk music and bluegrass, commemorate musical legends and discover up-and-coming artists.”
In addition to Owensboro, the list includes Nashville, Southwest Virginia, Austin (Texas), Cheyenne (Wyoming), Branson (Missouri), and Pigeon Forge (Tennessee).
“What this western Kentucky town lacks in fame, it makes up for in music,” the article notes of Owensboro. “As the home of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, it’s the ideal place to dig into country music’s roots. This signature attraction teaches visitors about bluegrass sounds and rhythms, famous musicians, and hosts power performers for on-site concerts. You can tour Owensboro as a day trip from Nashville if time is short, but spending the weekend lets you stay for the Friday After 5 concert series.”
Executive Director Chris Joslin said it’s a huge honor both for the Hall of Fame and for the Owensboro community at large.
“It shows that people are paying attention, and that Owensboro is part of the conversation mentioned in the same breath as some of the most visited music towns in the country,” he said. “Fifteen million people visit Nashville every year, and music is the primary driver. Can you imagine the economic impact if just a fraction of those visitors decide to make a trip to the Bluegrass Music Capital of the World as part of their music adventure? This is an economic game changer.”
The article further noted that Owensboro also hosts the annual ROMP Fest, with workshops on songwriting, instruments, clogging, jamming and more. Performances range from nationally acclaimed artists to more casual jam sessions.
“Bluegrass fans should schedule their trip accordingly and plan on staying a few days to take it all in,” the article reads.
Joslin said while the recognition is nice, it’s only the first step. After limiting visitors during the pandemic, Joslin said it’s important to get back into the full swing of things.
“Exposure is one thing, but what we want is momentum,” he said. “There are so many great reasons to visit Owensboro, and the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum works to be the driver and the differentiator. When it comes to a world-class destination for an original American genre of music, we literally have no competition. Owensboro simply needs to take the reins to ensure the recognition and the declarations all translate into a great visitor experience.”
Joslin noted that Visit Owensboro is a kety business partner to make that happen. Visit Owensboro President and CEO Mark Calitri echoed Joslin’s desire to keep pressing forward.
“This is a part of a bigger vision in promoting this community,” Calitri said. “Travel and tourism has been vulnerable during this COVID-19 crisis. I’ve been preaching to our team over the last year that hustle and effort are going to win in this new normal. The crisis forced me to slash our marketing budget and I have to give a big shout out to Dave Kirk for his efforts in generating earned media for this community. We anticipate a lot more positive coverage throughout the rest of this year because of his efforts.”
Hank Phillips, president of the Kentucky Travel Industry Association, also noted how Owensboro is a leader in bringing in visitors to the state.
“As Kentucky tourism now is on a long road to recovery, Owensboro will be one of the leaders in getting us back to where we were,” Phillips said.
Calitri said while the article is something that generates interest in bringing people to Owensboro, the end result is also a big benefit for local residents.
“Remember that as more money flows into Owensboro from outside visitors, it helps reduce the taxes our local citizens pay,” he said. “It’s a winning strategy for Daviess County residents.”
Joslin said he hopes to help Owensboro live up to the “must-visit” designation.
“This all feels like fuel for the economic engine of cultural tourism,” he said. “If I could use only one word to describe the Hall of Fame & Owensboro currently, it would be ‘momentum.’ The time has come to capitalize on that momentum.”
