Holiday World opens today

Keith Lawrence, Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.
·2 min read

Holiday World opens for its 79th season today.

New this year is Good Gravy!, a family roller coaster where riders board a train shaped like a giant gravy boat and travel at speeds of up to 37 mph on a 1,500-foot journey through a giant cranberry sauce can and up a seven-story-tall spike before repeating the path backwards.

The new ride is part of a larger Stuffing Springs addition to the theme park’s Thanksgiving section, which includes a Cranberry Corner playground and giant kitchen accessories.

There’s also a new coffee and boba shop called the Perky Turkey and Sam’s Smokehouse with brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork and chicken.

• Western Kentucky Distilling Co. of Beaver Dam is unveiling a seven-year-old single barrel bourbon at barrel proof at BBQ & Barrels inside the Owensboro Convention Center today.

It was crafted by master distiller Jacob Call.

• Janet May opened A Day In Time, a boutique at 103A W. Third St., in June of 2021.

But the store is closing soon.

May said on Facebook that she is relocating to Preservation Station, 9661 Kentucky 56.

“I’ve had a shop out there since 2016 maybe,” the announcement said. “I’m consolidating the two.”

• Stephen Lawrence Limited, an upscale consignment boutique, opened a store in Wesleyan Park Plaza last spring.

The owners announced on Facebook that it will close on June 28.

“Despite our best efforts, there was no other way forward,” the announcement said.

• Kohl’s announced this week that it is opening in-store Babies ”R” Us shops in 33 states.

But neither Owensboro nor Evansville are on the list.

• USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards ranks the Owensboro Air Show at 10th best in North America.

London, Ontario, Canada, was No. 1.

• Site Selection magazine ranks Kentucky at No. 2 in the South Central region of its 2024 Prosperity Cup rankings.

The state was No. 8 nationally.

• A recent survey by Latenode.com found that 43% of small business owners in Kentucky “expressed a desire to leave their businesses, but felt unable to do so due to various constraints.”

• A new study from B2B Reviews ranks Kentucky at No. 44 among the best states for working moms in 2024.

• And Consumer Affairs ranks Kentucky at No. 45 for eco-friendliness.