Am I wrong about Owensboro (Louisville, Bowling Green: hotels, houses, employment)

[mooney8]

I am from atlanta georgia and I recently had to spend a week in owensboro for buisness. Knowing that I was going to be there a while I looked at some things about the town and was happy to hear it was the third largest city in kentucky. I thought there will be plenty to do then. Needless to say I was a bit disapointed. First off the hotel I stayed in was the executive inn...(owensboro's claim to fame I hear) and was not impressed. The place looked like it was out of the 70's and the decor seemed the same. The people in Owensboro are wonderful kind people, very hospitable. That being said the city needs some work in my opinion. I wanted to get some things at the mall just to find out the mall is an hour away in evansville indiana. The mall in town has about two stores. I couldn't believe it. There was also a lacking of resteraunts to eat at other than the typical applebees or olive garden. I am not trying to bash this town I just don't know how people live there...it just felt isolated. I don't know what kids do there to stay out of trouble. No mall, no real entertainment at all. I can't believe that a town with that population doesn't have more to offer people. From asking around it seems the thing to do is drive around walmart in your car and "cruise". Or go to evansville. If anyone needs anything or wants to do anything close to a cultural experience they have to go to Louisville. Like I said the people are very friendly...just the city itself isn't as advertised in my opinion. It didn't have that Kentucky southern feeling to it you get in a place like lexington...it was very inustrial based and seemed more midwestern than anything else...especially being right on the Indiana Border. I have to go back in a month...can anyone give me another impression. Thank you

[missymomof3]

I have only been to Owensboro once and that was to go to the children's museum. I hope you find out what you want, though.

[tomocox]

You got Owensboro right on. It is a miserable town in so many ways. It got left behind many years ago. At one time, using the Executive Inn as a leader, Owensboro could have been instead of Branson, Mo. When Bob Green, the builder of the Executive Inn, retired and subsequently passed on, his mess of a building (made with scraps like some famous hotels in Louisville) showed its stripes. The business began to fade and away went Owensboro down the drain. Being from a small town near Owensboro, we long ago recognized that living in Daviess County was good if you had children to raise, but otherwise, unless you could afford to fly away in your own personal jet, life could be quite simple.

[missymomof3]

that is such a shame that a town would be allowed to go by the wayside like that.

[mooney8]

It is a shame. Like I said...I will be there for another week next month. Anyone that is from the area have some ideas or hidden gems to go see. I have already been to Moonlight and I am scared in doing so I have already peaked out.

[missymomof3]

well, maybe you can visit us in Louisville on your way out of town?

[Sundance]

I lived in Owensboro several years ago, and didn't care for it. There's a vibe there that I didn't like...hard to explain.

[snowdogx1]

I'm from Owensboro, having lived there 32 years before moving to Louisville, where I've lived for the past 11 years. Pretty much everything that's been said so far is true, unfortunately. Until Owensboro gets true progressive leadership, willing to take some chances and, most of all, who realise that to make money you have to spend money, then the city will stay pretty much like it is. Bowling Green will soon take over as the state's third largest city, and the citizens of Owensboro just don't seem to care. Their loss. However, having said all this, I'd move back there in a heartbeat if the right employment opportunity came along. I pretty much hate living in Louisville now. The "big city" lifestyle" is just not for me. Simpler and quieter is not necessarily a bad thing. All in all, Owensboro has tremendous potential, if those in charge would just realise it.

[tomocox]

btw... if you must go to Owensboro, although Moonlite is a destination, there are several local BBQ places that many locals like better. If you are a Democrat... Moonlite. If you are a Republican it's Old Hickory, and if you just like great food, try one of the area's Catholic Church festivals. There's bound to be one as each church tries to avoid competing with another church on a given weekend all summer long.

[owensboroky]

Owensboro is not a bad town. I'm not a native -- I lived there three years after moving with my work.

The people in Owensboro is the friendliest city I've ever lived in. I am surprised at the snooty comments -- people in Owensboro are down to earth, normal, decent people. We had neighbors who helped each other with yardwork (seeding, edging, etc.), watched each others kids, and freely invited other neighbors to their houses for snacks, holiday celebrations, etc.

Service in Owensboro is outstanding. Kids working in retail stores are polite and efficient -- much different from most other cities. People working in trades are polite, professional, and well-spoken -- we had great luck finding good people to do work on our house.

Restaurants are not great, but they are decent. Moonlite and Old Hickory serve excellent country cooking. American Bounty is a decent independent restaurant. Niko's is good, but expensive. There was another place downtown (forget the name) that served good food with a nice atmosphere. Pizza by the Guy is a decent local pizza place (no atmosphere, but good pizza). It's not New York or Chicago, but it's not terrible for a small city.

The mall is not great, but it is similar to other small towns. There is a Macys and a Sears, and a few specialty shops. Owensboro has a few good local shops -- like a decent higher-end men's clothing, a very good candy store downtown, and a reasonable furniture shop.

The only downside -- as I see it -- is the lack of jobs growth in the area. Being far from an interstate really hurts Owensboro -- manufacturers and distributors don't have a great reason to pick Owensboro versus any number of other cities, and the white collar population isn't big enough to convince big companies to have headquarters there. The boom in Chinese manufacturing must be hurting Owensboro too -- it really is the most industrial major city in Kentucky.

I can see that someone would not enjoy visiting Owensboro -- there isn't much there as a visitor. As a place to live, it's better than most small cities in the midwest.