KENTUCKY STATE DANCE IS AS OLD
AS AMERICA, AND NATIVE TO
APPALACHIA.
EBONITE INTERNATIONAL KEEPS THE
GOOD TIMES ROLLING IN
HOPKINSVILLE.
AND EARTH, AIR AND WATER GIVE
RUN RIVER DAM AND THE FALLS OF
RUN AN ELEMENTAL APPEAL.
STAY RIGHT HERE WHERE YOU ARE
BECAUSE."KENTUCKY LIFE" STARTS
RIGHT NOW.
♪
♪
>> HELLO, I'M DOUG FLYNN AND
WELCOME TO THE BEAUMONT INN.
I KNEW THE TULIP POPLAR IS THE
STATE TREE AND THE KENTUCKY
SPOTTED BASS IS OUR STATE FISH?
WELL, I DID NOT KNOW THAT
KENTUCKY HAD A STATE DANCE.
AND IN OWENSBORO, BARRY LAB
TEACHING THAT DANCE AND SHARING
HIS LOVE FOR IT FOR DECADES.
♪
HANDS UP, HANDS UP.
>> I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR 30
YEARS.
>> I STARTED WHEN I WAS 7.
>> TWO, THREE.
>> I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR OVER A
YEAR NOW.
>> I HAVE BEEN CLOGGING FOR
THREE YEARS.
>> I HAVE BEEN CLOGGING LESS
THAN TWO YEARS.
>> I WAS A FRESHMAN IN COLLEGE
WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE DANCE.
AND I THOUGHT IT SOUNDED LIKE
SOMETHING FUN TO DO, OUT OF THE
ORDINARY, A LITTLE UNIQUE.
AND I GAVE IT A SHOT, AND I TOOK
A COUPLE OF CLASSES, FELL IN
LOVE WITH IT AND THEN TWO YEARS
LATER, I STARTED TEACHING.
AND THIS IS MY 30TH YEAR OF
BEING IN CLOGGING.
MY DEGREE IS IN EDUCATION.
AND SO I LOVE TEACHING THE NEXT
GENERATION ABOUT THE DANCE,
SHARING THE DANCE, AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, TO KEEP IT GROWING
AND TO KEEP IT ALIVE IN THE
AREA.
CLOGGING IS A VERY OLD DANCE.
ORIGINATED IN APPALACHIAN
MOUNTAINS.
AND IT IS THE OFFICIAL STATE
DANCE OF KENTUCKY.
IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR HUNDREDS
OF YEARS BUT IT IS A MIXTURE OF
AFRICAN, IRISH, GERMAN, STEP
DANCING.
♪
♪
>> THERE ARE TAPS ON THE SHOES.
ON THE TOES AND THE HEELS AND I
LOVE THE ASPECT OF USING YOUR
FEET AS AN INSTRUMENT.
THE DANCE ITSELF ACTUALLY HAS 8
BASIC MOVES OR STEPS TO THAT.
AND SO WHEN WE'RE DOING A
BEGINNER CLASS, WE TEACH THEM
ALL THE 8 BASIC MOVEMENTS OR
STEPS TO THE DANCE.
AND THEN, IT IS THE ENDLESS
COMBINATION REALLY OF HOW YOU
PUT THE STEPS AND MOVEMENTS
TOGETHER THAT MAKES UP THE
CLOGGING.
AS FAR AS THE MUSIC, I USE
ANYTHING WITH A GOOD, FAST,
LIVELY BEAT AND WE DANCE TO THE
BASSDOWN OF THE MUSIC.
WE HAVE ALL DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
DANCERS, ALL DIFFERENT
ABILITIES.
MY TEACHING STYLE IS VERY
ENCOURAGING.
I WANT TO SEE PEOPLE SMILING.
I WANT TO SEE THEM HAVING FUN.
THEY ARE CONSTANTLY BEING
ENCOURAGED TO KEEP GOING, TO
KEEP TRYING, TO TRY TO GET A
LITTLE FASTER AS THEY GO.
AND SO, THROUGH THAT
ENCOURAGEMENT AND THROUGH THE
REPETITION OF STEPS, THEY ARE
ABLE TO MASTER THAT STEP AND
MASTER A ROUTINE.
>> NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, HE
MAKES YOU FEEL SUCCESSFUL.
HE'S REALLY GOOD AT WHAT HE
DOES.
>> BARRY, YOU KNOW, HE GREETS
YOU WHEN YOU COME THROUGH THE
DOOR AND MAKES YOU FEEL WELCOME.
>> ONCE YOU GET IN THAT CLASS,
PEOPLE START LAUGHING AND
SMILING, HAVING A GOOD TIME,
YOU'RE MOVING.
BY THE TIME THAT CLASS IS OVER,
MY STRESS IS GONE.
AND THEIR STRESS IS GONE FROM
THEIR DAY.
SO WE HAVE ALL HAD A GREAT TIME.
>> I HAVE JUST RECENTLY RETURNED
FROM THE AIR FORCE.
I WAS STATIONED IN ARIZONA.
SO I HAVEN'T BEEN DANCING FOR
FOUR YEARS.
SO, LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK HAS
BEEN MY FIRST TWO CLASSES BACK.
>> IT WAS MY AUNT.
SHE TOLD US ONE NIGHT AT A
FAMILY DINNER THAT SHE WAS GOING
CLOGGING AND SHE INVITED ME AND
MY GRANDMOTHER.
>> I ACTUALLY ATTENDED A LANHAM
BROTHERS JAMBOREE AND I WAS WITH
MY FRIEND AND SHE LADY OVER AND
SAID THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO, DO
I WANT TO BE A CLOGGER.
AND I SAID, LET'S DO IT!
♪
>> ME AND MY BROTHER PUT
TOGETHER WHAT IS CALLED THE
LANHAM BROTHERS JAM BORY.
IT IS BASED -- JAMBOREE.
WE PUT THE SHOW TOGETHER ABOUT
ELEVEN YEARS AGO.
HE DOES THE MUSIC PART OF IT AND
I DO THE DANCE PART OF IT AND WE
BRING DIFFERENT PARTS BUT ONE
THING THAT'S ALWAYS A SIGNATURE
PART OF THE SHOW, IS THE MUSIC
AND THE DANCE.
THE DANCE TROOP NAME IS FOOT
STOMPING EXPRESS CLOGGERS.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I TOOK
THE DANCE TROUPE, A FEW OF THE
MEMBERS AND WENT TO SHANGHAI
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL.
IT WAS PART OF THE PE PROGRAM
AND I SPENT A WEEK RESIDENCY
THERE TEACHING THE DANCE.
AND ALSO, WE PERFORMED AT
KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKENS IN
SHANGHAI.
SO IT WAS A VERY WONDERFUL
OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE THE
DANCE TO A DIFFERENT CULTURE, TO
A DIFFERENT COUNTRY.
AND IT JUST SHOWS YOU WHAT YOU
CAN DO WITH A DANCE.
SEVERAL STUDENTS THAT COME
THROUGH HAVE GOALS IN MIND ON
WHAT THEY WANT TO ACHIEVE FROM
THE DANCE.
SO I HAD ONE STUDENT WHO CALLED
ME UP A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
HER NAME WAS KATIE AND SHE SAID,
BARRY, I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO
CLOG BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BE
MISS KENTUCKY.
I SAID, OKAY.
THAT SOUNDS -- THAT'S
INTERESTING.
SHE ENTERED THE CLASSES AND DONE
VERY WELL.
AND THEN WE WENT ON TO SOME
PRIVATE CLASSES.
I DID ALL OF THE CHOREOGRAPHY
FOR KATIE.
WE WORKED HARD THROUGH THE
YEARS.
IN 2018, THE JUDGES LOVED IT.
SHE WON THE MISS KENTUCKY TITLE.
WE'RE SO PROUD OF HER TO BE
REPRESENTING OWENSBORO AND
KENTUCKY AND THE FOOT STOMPING
EXPRESS DANCE TROUPE.
>> I STARTED IN IT, AND THEN MY
CHILDREN JOINED ME.
AND AS I TELL PEOPLE, THEY GREW
UP AND I DIDN'T.
SO I'M STILL HERE DOING.
>> GOT INTO IT AND IT WAS A LOT
OF FUN AND I ENJOYED IT.
AND I STUCK WITH IT, AND STUCK
WITH BARRY.
>> THERE IS ALWAYS ANOTHER STEP
TO LEARN AND A DANCE TO LEARN
AND THERE IS ANOTHER ROUTINE
THAT YOU CAN LEARN.
>> IT IS JUST FUN.
I WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD GET
INVOLVED IN IT.
CLOGGING HAS BEEN THE STATE
DANCE OF KENTUCKY SINCE 2006.
IT IS A WONDERFUL PROMOTIONAL
TOOL.
TO BRING RECOGNITION TO
KENTUCKY.
AND IT BRINGS ATTENTION NOT ONLY
TO THE DANCE, BUT ALSO TO THE
STATE.
>> THE REASON IT IS SO IMPORTANT
TO ME IS BECAUSE I THINK THE
DANCE IS SO FASCINATING.
I LOVE SEEING THE PEOPLE HAVE
FUN WITH THE DANCE.
IT IS THE WAY THAT I'M SHARING
MY TIME AND MY TALENTS.
I WILL KEEP TEACHING THE DANCE
AND I DON'T PLAN ON SLOWING DOWN
ANY TIME SOON AND I WANT TO KEEP
IT GROWING AND GOING.
>> 67 MILLION OF US BOWL AT
LEAST ONCE A YEAR.
IF THAT NUMBER INCLUDES YOU,
THIS STORY IS RIGHT UP YOUR
ALLEY.
THE LARGEST PRODUCER OF BOWLING
BALLS IN THE WORLD IS LOCATED
RIGHT NEAR KENTUCKY.
FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, SOME
2500 BOWLING BALLS A DAY HAVE
BEEN POURED, HARDENED, MOLDED,
PAINTED, AND GROUND, POLISHED
AND BOXED AT EBONITE
INTERNATIONAL IN HOPKINSVILLE.
IS ♪
♪
♪
>> THE FEEL OF THROWING THAT
PERFECT SHOT WHEN YOU RELEASE
AND IT THE BALL GOES TO THE PINS
HARD AND THE PINS JUST CRUSH AND
BLOW OFF THE RACK, IT IS REALLY
EXCITING.
EBONITE INTERNATIONAL IS THE
LARGEST MANUFACTURER OF BOWLING
BALLS IN THE WORLD AND WE HAVE
THE CAPACITY TO MAKE UP 203,000
BALL AS DAY.
>> BOWLING IS A SPORT THAT YOU
CAN JOIN AT ANY AGE.
YOU CAN JOIN AT 40, 50, OR 5
YEARS OLD AND YOU HAVE THE
ABILITY TO BECOME A GOOD BOWLER.
>> WHEN I FIRST STARTED BOWLING,
JUST TO GET A STRIKE WAS AMAZING
BECAUSE YOU FIRST START, YOU'RE
NOT VERY GOOD.
SO MY FIRST SUMMER LEAGUE, 120,
I WAS VERY GOOD.
ABOUT 95% OF THE TIME, I KNOW IF
I HAVE STRUCK OR NOT.
AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, YOU
THROW A PERFECT BALL AND IT
DOESN'T STRIKE, AND YOU'RE LIKE,
OH,.
NO BECAUSE, IT FELT SO GOOD,
THEN IT DOESN'T GET THE STRIKE
SO YOU'RE NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.
>>
>> ONE OF THE ASPECTS ABOUT
BOWLING IS IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
TO HAVE YOUR OWN BOWLING BALL.
YOU CAN GO BOWLING RECREATIONAL
AND PICK A HOUSE BALL OFF THE
RACK BUT IT IS NOT CUSTOM FIT TO
YOUR HAND.
IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO HAVE ANY
PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS.
HAVING ONE THAT FITS YOUR BALL
PROPERLY MAKES THE GAME EASIER.
NOW YOU HAVE CONTROL.
THE BALL DOESN'T FIT YOUR HAND,
IT ALWAYS FEELS HEAVY BECAUSE
THE HOLES ARE TOO BIC OR SMALL.
CUSTOM FIT MAKES THE GAME SO
MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE.
AND HERE AT EBONITE
INTERNATIONAL, WE DESIGN BOWLING
BALLS THAT HELP BOWLERS GET
BETTER.
AT EBONITE, HERE IN HOPKINS
BILEVILLE, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR 50 YEARS
NOW.
WE CAME FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
I THINK THEY CAME THIS WAY
BECAUSE OF -- IT WAS CLOSE TO
RAILROAD, AND, I THINK THAT FOR
SHIPPING THE PRODUCT, OR GETTING
PROIC DID IN THAT THEY NEEDED TO
USE IN MANUFACTURING.
SO KENTUCKY JUST SEEMED LIKE A
GOOD LOCATION.
A LOT OF TIMES, I'LL BE OUT IN
THE COMMUNITY AND SAY, THEY WORK
AT EBONITE OR THEIR GRAND FATHER
WORKED AT EBONITE, OR THEY KNOW
SOMEONE.
SO EBONITE IS A NAME NEAR
HOPKINSVILLE.
>> WE HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT
BRANDS.
WE HAVE EBONITE, HAMMER,
COLOMBIA AND TRACK.
AND, TWO BRANDS ARE MORE OF A
HIGHER END BRAND THAT ONLY MAKES
HIGH PERFORMANCE AND DUCTS AND
THAT'S HAMMER AND TRACK.
SO THEY MAKE JUST BALLS THAT ARE
DESIGNED FOR THE UPPER ECHELON
BOWLERS.
CASUAL USE THEM BUT THEY ARE
MORE DESIGNED FOR HIGH
PERFORMANCE.
EBONITE HAS A WIDE VARIETY.
WE MAKE THE POLYEASTER THAT ARE
MORE FOR BEGINNER BOWLERS AND,
THE TIERED PRODUCT LINE THAT
GOES FROM HOW MUCH PERFORMANCE
THAT YOU WANT.
>> YOU HAVE TO EVOLVE WITH THE
SPORT.
I WAS IN THE AIR FORCE IN
GERMANY AND THAT'S WHERE I
LEARNED TO BOWL.
IT WAS WITH URATHAYNE.
THEY WERE A HUGE ADVANCEMENT
COMPARED TO RUBBER AND PLASTIC
BEFORE THEM.
SO, I HAD BEEN BOWLING ABOUT
FOUR YEARS WHEN REACTIVE RESIN
BALLS CAME OUT AND THAT TOTALLY
CHANGED THE GAME BECAUSE, THEIR
PERFORMANCE WAS SO MUCH HIGHER
THAN YOU'RE THAT THAT INURATHAN.
AND YOU LEARNED THAT YOU COULD
MAKE IT HEAVIER IN THE MIDDLE
AND DIFFERENT SHAPES INSIDE THE
BALL.
THEY PERFORMED MORE.
AND THEN YOU STARTED PUTTING
PIECES ON THE SIDE OF THE CORES
AND STARTED GETTING MORE
PERFORMANCE.
SO EBONITE EVOLVED CONSTANTLY AS
FAR AS PERFORMANCE AND
TECHNOLOGY.
♪
♪
>> TO BE GOOD AT BOWLING, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO START AT 5 OR 6
YEARS OLD.
IT DOESN'T REQUIRE -- YOU DON'T
HAVE TO BE THE MOST PHYSICALLY
FIT PERSON BUT YOU HAVE TO BE
SMART.
YOU HAVE TO LEARN, YOU KNOW, THE
LANES CHANGE AS YOU BOWL.
WHICH BOWLING BALL DO I USE
BECAUSE I WANT IT TO HOOK THIS
OR THAT AMOUNT.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT PATTERNS
THAT CHALLENGE YOU BECAUSE WHEN
YOU GO TO BOWL, THE LANE
CONDITIONS ARE NEVER THE SAME
THEY CHANGE, AND SO YOU HAVE TO
BE SMART TO FIGURE OUT WHICH
TYPE OF BALL TO USE.
HOW MUCH HOOK OF DO I WANT TO
USE THAT DAY AND ADJUST THOSE
THINGS AND BECOME THE BEST
BOWLERS IN THE WORLD.
THEY DO THAT CONSTANTLY.
>> RIGHT NOW BOWLING IS ON THE
UPSWING.
WE I HAVE A LOFT OF YOUTH
BOWLERS AND HIGH SCHOOLS,
COLLEGIATE BOWLING.
IT HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER TO HAVE
COLLEGEIATE FULL RIDE
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR BOWLING.
THIS IS THE BEST TIME EVER
ESPECIALLY FOR FEMALES.
IF YOU'RE A GOOD FEMALE BOWLER
COMING UP OUT OF THE JUNIOR AND
HIGH HIGH SCHOOL RANKS, THE FULL
RIDE SCHOLARSHIP IS AMAZING
RIGHT NOW.
SO BOWLING IS DEFINITELY BACK ON
THE UPSWING.
SO IT IS GREAT THING FOR THE
INDUSTRY, AND FOR US.
>> EBONITE MEANS A LOT TO THE
COMMUNITY.
WE CREATE A LOT OF JOBS AND
THERE ARE GENERATIONS THAT THE
KIDS HAVE WORKED HERE AND THAT
KID'S GRAND PARENTS WORKED HERE
AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
SO FOR THE COMMUNITY, IT MEANS A
LOT TO HAVE A COMPANY THAT'S
BEEN HERE FOR THIS MANY YEARS.
AND, THAT HAS THE TENURE OF
EMPLOYEES.
THEY HAVE SECURITY AND THEY KNOW
THE COMPANY IS GOING TO BE HERE
FOR A LONG TIME.
>> ARE THERE REALLY GIANTS IN
BURNHEIM FOREST?
YES, THERE ARE.
DANISH ARTIST THOMAS DANEBOW
WHOSE ART HAS BEEN FUTURED IN
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD
CREATED AN INSTALLEDTION THAT HE
CALLS FOREST GIANTS IN A GIANT
FOREST.
MADE FROM RECYCLED WOOD.
IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE WORK,
WE GOT TO WATCH THE BIRTH OF
GIANTS IN THIS KENTUCKY LIFE
MOMENT.
♪
>> 90 YEARS AGO WHEN ISAAC
BERNHEIM GIFTED THIS HAND TO THE
PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY, HE WANTED IT
TO BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COULD
COME AND RESIDE IN NATURE WITH
ART.
FOR OUR 90TH ANNIVERSARY, WE
WANTED TO CELEBRATE THAT AND SO,
WE COMMISSIONED ARTISTS THOMAS
DANBOW, INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED
RECYCLING ARTIST TO COME TO
BERNHEIM AND TO BUILD THREE
GIANT SCULPTURES INSPIRED BY
THIS LANDSCAPE.
>> DID IT WALK OUT OF THE FOREST
AND COME THIS WAY?
>> MY NAME IS THOMAS DANBOW AND
I'M AN ARTIST, RECYCLED ARTIST
AND I COME FROM COPENHAGEN AND
DENMARK AND I TRAVEL AROUND THE
WORLD AND BUILT A FAIRY TALE,
ONE SCULPTURE AT A TIME.
I HAVE DONE 43 OF THESE
CREATURES SO FAR AND NOW I'M
HERE IN THE BERNHEIM OPERATION
MAKING ANOTHER TREE.
IT IS A -- AND IT IS A MOTHER
AND A BABY GIRL AND A LITTLE
BABY BOY.
WHAT I HAVE TO DECIDE NOW AND I
TRY TO IMAGINE THAT I WAS A
TROLL.
WHAT BY DOING THAT THEY ALSO
SEEM MORE ALIVE ON THE OTHER
HAND YOU COULD ALSO PUT A TROLL
INSIDE OF A MUSEUM OR ON TOP OF
THE PEDESTAL AND THAT WOULD MAKE
IT LOOK MORE.
AND I'M AIMING FOR HAVING A LIVE
SCULPTURE, I THINK THAT'S NICE.
>> THE MISSION BEHIND HIS WORK,
IS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY.
IT ASKS US TO EXAMINE OUR
LIFESTYLE CHOICES, AND HOW THAT
AFFECTS THE ENVIRONMENT.
TO BE LARGELY IN NATURE.
HE DOESN'T NECESSARILY WANT
PEOPLE TO DRIVE BY HIS
SCULPTURE.
>> I COME HERE AND FIND A LOT OF
DID TRASH AROUND AND I TRY TO BE
A TRASH SUPERSTAR THAT WILL SHOW
PEOPLE THAT, TRASH CAN BE
POSITIVE.
PEOPLE GET THESE EXPERIENCES, SO
HERE WE ARE BUILDING FROM THE
WHISKEY BARRELS AND PALETTES AND
FROM OLDER -- THE HORN OF MY
DRAGON IS MADE FROM THE OLD
DISCARDED, AND ALSO BUILDING
FROM TREES THAT FELL IN THE ICE
STORM LAST YEAR.
>> I'M IMPRESSED THAT, THOMAS
AND HIS TEAM HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
WORK RELENTLESSLY THROUGH SOME
PRETTY WILD WEATHER, FOR
KENTUCKY IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH.
IT HAS SNOWED.
IT HAS RAINED RELENTLESSLY.
THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH A LOT IN THAT TIME.
>> SO THOMAS WORKS WITH A LOT OF
PEOPLE TO PULL OFF OF THESE
MONUMENTALLY SIZED SCULPTURES,
HE NEEDS TO HAVE PEOPLE HELPING.
HE HAS A CREW IN DENMARK.
THERE IS A STUDIO THERE.
I THINK THAT THERE IS A TEAM OF
MAYBE 15 PEOPLE, AND SO,
DEPENDING ON WHO IS AVAILABLE,
FOR WHAT PROJECT, CERTAIN
MEMBERS WILL GO.
AND THIS WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE
WITHOUT VOLUNTEER HELP
AS WELL.
>> WITH GIANT FOREST, PEOPLE ARE
COMING TO BERNHEIM FOR THE ART.
AND OUR DISCOVERING ALL OF THESE
WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT BERNHEIM
AS A RESULT AND WE FEEL LIKE,
THAT IS GOING TO HAVE GREAT
POTENTIAL TO MOTIVATE OUR
COMMUNITY TO SEE THE IMPORTANCE
OF ART IN A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
>> I HOPE FAMILY OR YOUNG COUPLE
OR WHOEVER COMES AND SEES THE
PROJECT, I HOPE THEY'LL TAKE
AWAY FROM IT THAT IT IS WORTH TO
LEAVE YOUR HOUSE AND GO OUT AND
EXPERIENCE NATURE.
AND I HOPE THEY REMEMBER THAT
NATURE IS SACRED AND BEAUTIFUL
AND THAT YOU CAN BUILD BIG AND
AMAZING THINGS FROM TRASH AND
ULTIMATELY, REMEMBER TO TAKE
CARE OF THE WORLD REALL SHARING.
>> THAT WE ARE ALL SHARING.
>>
>> IF YOU ENJOY BOATING, HIKING,
CAMPING, MAYBE A LITTLE FISHING,
THEN YOU'LL ENJOY RUPP RIVER DAM
STATE RESORT.
IT IS A POPULAR YEAR-ROUND
DESTINATION FOR RECREATION AND
RELAXATION IN THE GREAT
OUTDOORS.
AND A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR THE
COMMUNITY.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT IT IS THE
IDEAL LAKE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT
TO BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO HOME,
WHERE IT IS NOT INCONVENIENT BUT
FAR ENOUGH AWAY THAT IF YOU FEEL
LIKE YOU'RE GETTING AWAY.
WE'RE AN HOUR TO BOWLING GREEN.
AND AN HOUR TO OWENSBORO.
SO WE'RE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF
NOWHERE BUT WE'RE CLOSE.
AND WHEN YOU GET HERE, IT IS A
DIFFERENT WORLD.
>> THE ROUGH RIVER DAM RESERVOIR
TOUCHES THREE WESTERN KENTUCKY
COUNTIES ORIGINALLY BUILT FOR
FLOOD CONTROL IN THE 1950s,
THE AREA HAS GROWN SINCE THEN,
AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY HAS
FOUND THE TOURISM SIDE EFFECTS
TO BE DRIVING.
THEY WELCOME AN AVERAGE OF 1.7
MILLION VISITORS EACH YEAR.
>> WHEN YOU'RE COMING, BE SURE
THAT YOU'RE READY TO REST AND
KIND OF KICK BACK.
BECAUSE, THAT IS THE WHOLE IDEA
ABOUT THE PARK SYSTEM YOU KNOW,
COME IN WITH THE ATTITUDE THAT
YOU'RE HERE TO FIND A WAY TO
KIND OF BE AT PEACE WITH
YOURSELF.
AND, FIND OUT ABOUT MAYBE THE
HISTORY OF THIS AREA.
THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT
THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO,
NOT JUST, THE HISTORY LOCALLY,
BUT, TO THE STATE AND ON THE
NATIONAL LEVEL AS WELL.
>> LAND WASS ONCE OWNED BY
GEORGE WASHINGTON WHO HAD
ACQUIRED TWO TRACKS FROM LIGHT
HORSE HARRY LEE, A REVOLUTIONARY
WAR GENERAL AND FATHER OF ROBERT
E LEE.
THE DEED STATED A CONSIDERATION
OF 600 POUNDS CURRENT MONEY OF
VIRGINIA, AND THE TRANSFER OF
WASHINGTON'S PRIZE FORCE
MAGNOLIA.
>> IT WAS NEAR THE FALLS.
HE HAD BOUGHT ABOUT 5,000 AGO,S
THINKING THERE WAS IRON ORE ON
THE PROPERTY, AND COME TO FIND
OUT, THERE WAS NO ORE ON THAT
LAND.
>> MANY YEARS LATER, AFTER THE
LANDS CHANGED OWNERSHIP TO THE
GREEN FAMILY, THE AREA BECAME
PROSPEROUS, DUE TO THE TIMBER
INDUSTRY AND THE ADDITION OF A
SAW MILL AND A GRIST MILL.
>> IT WAS A THRIVING COMMUNITY
AT ONE TIME.
FIRST SUSPENSION BRIDGE IN THE
STATE OF KENTUCKY, SPANS, YOU
KNOW, THE RIVER THERE, AND, IT
IS JUST REALLY A NEAT PLACE.
>> NOW, THE GREEN MANSION SERVES
A AS BED AND BREAKFAST AND SOME
OF THE LANDS ARE UTILIZED AS A
250 ACRE PGA GOLF COURSE.
THE AREA'S BIGGEST STRAW THOUGH
IS THE LAKE.
IT WAS BUILT FOR A PURPOSE, BUT,
THE COMMUNITY AND VISITORS GET
TO ENJOY THE WATER AS WELL.
>> OUR LAKE WAS BUILT FOR FLOOD
CONTROL SO IT WAS AUTHORIZED BY
THE FLOOD CONTROL ACT OF 1938,
AND SO FDR CAME THROUGH AND SAID
WE HAVE HAD ALL OF THESE FLOODS
WE NEED TO MAKE A WAY TO KEEP
OUR PROPERTIES FROM FLOODING.
SO THE CONSTRUCTION STARTED IN
1955.
AND, IT DID NOT BECOME
OPERATIONAL UNTIL 1961.
THE RECREATIONAL USE OF THE LAKE
FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY IS REALLY
WHAT IS IMPACTFUL.
WE HAVE ABOUT TWO MILLION
VISITORS PER YEAR.
AND THERE ARE SEVERAL CAMP
GROUNDS MAINTAINED AROUND THE
LAKE BY THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS
AND THEY DO A FABULOUS JOB WITH
THAT.
THE CAMPGROUND WAS RATED THE
NUMBER ONE IN KENTUCKY.
AND, HOUSE BOATING LAKE NUMBER
FLEE THE STATE.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT MAKES LIKE
CUMBERLAND AND BARCLAY AND
CUMBERLAND, THIS IS A RELATIVELY
SMALL LAKE BUT WE HAVE FANTASTIC
FACILITIES JUST WORLD CLASS
MARINA SERVICE.
SO, IT IS A TOURISM DRAW.
>> WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF
SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY.
WE HAVE CAMPING, WE YOU CAN HUNT
AND FISH.
YOU CAN JET SKI.
YOU CAN DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING
OUTDOORS THAT YOU WANT TO DO.
>> AND OUT OF TOWN VISITORS CAN
REST ASSURED THAT THEY WON'T GET
LOST ON THE LAKE.
A PATRIOTIC FOCAL POINT SERVES
AS THE LANDMARK THAT COULD BE
USED TO STEER WATER ENTHUSIASTS
BACK.
>> PATRIOT'S POINT WAS MY WIFE
AND I'S FIRST DEVELOPMENT HERE
ON THE LAKE WHICH IS WHERE WE
LIVE.
IT IS PART OF THE LEDGES OF
PATRIOT'S POINT.
THE IDEA CAME ABOUT FOR THE FLAG
MONUMENT WHEN, CATHERINE'S
FATHER WHO WAS UP IN YEARS WAS
NOT PHYSICALLY ABLE TO COME DOWN
HERE, TO HAVE A LOOK, AND SO
CATHERINE KIND OF DESCRIBED WHAT
WE WERE DOING, AND SHE BASICALLY
TOLD HIM, NOT TO WORRY, THAT HE
COULDN'T MAKE IT HERE.
THAT, WE WOULD PUT UP A FLAG BIG
ENOUGH FOR HIM TO SEE FROM
HEAVEN.
WHEN SHE TOLD ME THE STORY, MY
MIND IMMEDIATELY WENT TO, ALL
RIGHT, AT LEAST 100 FEET TALL.
WE HAD TO GET PERMISSION FROM
THE FAA PUT UP A MONUMENT THAT
BIG THAT CLOSE TO AIRSTRIP.
IT IS 110 FEET TALL AND THE FLAG
WOULD FLY ON IT 30 BY 50.
>> IT HAS BECOME A LANDMARK.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE POINT TO IT AND
THE PEOPLE ON THE LAKE GET LOST,
THEM WILL TELL THEM, GO AND FIND
THE FLAG AND WE'LL MEET YOU
THERE.
>> I LOVE BEING OUT ON THE WATER
AND PADDLING.
WE'VE GONE AROUND THE POINT,
BACK AROUND THE ISLAND SEVERAL
TIMES, JUST PADDLING.
AND YOU SEE IT.
AND YOU JUST KIND OF, -- YOU
KNOW WHERE YOU'RE AT ON THE LAKE
THAT, YOU'RE NOT TOO FAR FROM
BEING BACK AT THE LANDING.
>> IT CAN ACTUALLY BRING TIERS
TO TEARS TO YOUR EYES.
THE WATER IS CALM AND THE FLAG
IS FLYING AND IT JUST MAKES YOU
FEEL SO THANKFUL TO BE IN
AMERICA AND MILITARY.
THEY ARE ALSO CAPABLE OF THE
WELCOMING VISITORS FROM THE SKY.
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE FLY
IN, AND FOR JUST A MEAL.
THEY JUST COME IN FOR A COUPLE
OF HOURS, AND JUST TO SEE WHAT'S
GOING ON AT THE LAKE.
WE HAVE SEVERAL FLY-INs HERE
AT THE PARK, AND THE ONE THAT WE
HAVE IN THE FALL, THAT THAT IS
THE LARGEST AND THE OLDEST
CONTINUING FLYING CLUB IN THE
UNITED STATES.
THIS IS REALLY A COOL THING AND
PEOPLE COME IN FROM ALL OVER THE
UNITED STATES FOR THAT.
>> REAL BEAUTY OF THIS AREA IS
THE COMMITMENT THAT THE
RESIDENTS HAVE TO WELCOMING
GUESTS AND ENSURING THAT EVERY
VISITOR HAS A REMARKABLE
EXPERIENCE.
>> WE'RE ALL STAKEHOLDERS.
THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS HAVE BEEN
OBVIOUSLY THE BIG STAKE HOLDER
AND THE STATE PARK SYSTEM RESORT
PARK OVER HERE, ANOTHER BIG
STAKEHOLDER.
ALL OF THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE
HERE AND BUSINESS OWNERS WHO
MAKE THIS AN ATTRACTIVE AREA FOR
PEOPLE TO COME TO.
IF YOU CAME TO THE LAKE AND YOU
DIDN'T GET GOOD SERVICE AT YOUR
MARINA OR YOU COULDN'T GET YOUR
BOAT FUELED UP AT ANY NUMBER OF
THE DISTINGUISHES STATIONS AND
CONVENIENCE STORES, IF YOU DID
NOT HAVE NICE RESTAURANTS TO EAT
AT, IT TAKES AWAY FROM THE
EXPERIENCE.
SO WE'RE LUCKY AND BLESSED TO
HAVE THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND
RIVER RIVER STATE RESORT PARK
AND ALL OF THE WONDERFUL
BUSINESS OWNERS THAT MAKE THIS
AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO SPEND
YOUR SUMMER.
>> YOU REMEMBER THAT STATE FISH
THAT I MENTIONED, THE KENTUCKY
SPOTTED BASS?
WELL, THERE IS PLENTY OF THEM IN
RIVER RIVER LAKE.
THE SMALL AND LARGE MOUTH BASS
ARE ALSO PRETTY WILDY.
SO THE FISHING IS ALWAYS
COMPETITIVE AND ALWAYS A GOOD
TIME.
WE HOPE YOU HAD A GOOD TIME.
BE SURE TO JOIN US NEXT WEEK.
I'M DOUG FLYNN ENJOYING FISHING