[♪♪] >> IT'S A MONTH LONG SEVERAL MONTH LONG INVESTIGATION.

IT'S BEEN ONGOING SINCE BEFORE THE MEDIA REPORTS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

>> NEW DETAILS ABOUT AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION INTO FRAUD WITHIN KENTUCKY'S DRIVER'S LICENSING SYSTEM.

>> BOWLING GREEN IT IS A TREMENDOUSLY HUGE INVESTMENT.

WE SAW A SHIFT IN CONSTRUCTION PATTERNS AFTER THAT.

>> AS BOWLING GREEN KEEPS GROWING, WHERE ARE ALL THE NEW ARRIVALS LIVING?

WE PAID A VISIT TO THE LARGEST APARTMENT NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT ONLY IN THE CITY, BUT IN THE STATE.

>> WE PACK EVERY HOTEL IN THE TOWN WILL BE FULL.

EVERY CAMPGROUND WILL BE FULL.

EVERY PARKING LOT WILL BE FULL.

>> TOURISM IS BIG BUSINESS IN BOWLING GREEN.

WE'LL TAKE YOU TO ONE OF THE AREA'S TOP REVENUE-MAKERS•THAT'S A REAL THRILL.

>> PRODUCTION OF "KENTUCKY EDITION" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE KET MILLENNIUM FUND.

[♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO KENTUCKY EDITION FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 14TH.

I'M LAURA ROGERS FILLING IN FOR RENEE SHAW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WE CONTINUE OUR ON THE ROAD COVERAGE TODAY FROM BOWLING GREEN.

COMING UP...

THE STATE'S LARGEST MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY IS RIGHT HERE IN WARREN COUNTY.

YOU'LL SEE HOW IT'S SERVING A HOUSING NEED THAT'S BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING.

PLUS... WE'LL EXPLORE HOW ONE FAMILY HAS REVIVED A LOCAL AMUSEMENT PARK AND RACE TRACK...

TURNING IT INTO A TOP TOURIST DESTINATION FOR THE REGION.

BUT FIRST... MORE REACTION TODAY REGARDING ALLEGED FRAUD INVOLVING KENTUCKY DRIVER'S LICENSES.

AUDITOR ALLISON BALL SAYS HER OFFICE IS REQUESTING A FORMAL EXPLANATION FROM GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR AND TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY JIM GRAY.

THIS COMES FOLLOWING A REPORT THIS WEEK FROM WDRB NEWS CLAIMING UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS WERE ALLOWED TO PAY CASH TO ILLEGALLY GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE.

YESTERDAY...

GOVERNOR BESHEAR ACKNOWLEDGED AN INVESTIGATION WAS ONGOING.

SO TOO DID KENTUCKY'S TOP PROSECUTOR.

OUR JUNE LEFFLER EXPLAINS.

>> WHISTLE BLOWER LAWSUIT CLAIMS KENTUCKY TRANSPORTATION CLERKS SOLD ID'S UNDER THE TABLE TO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN COMMENTED ON THE CASE WEDNESDAY.

>> THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS BEEN COLLABORATING WITH THE KENTUCKY STATE POLICE AND OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS FOR SOMETIME ON THAT INVESTIGATION, IN FACT.

IT'S A MONTH LONG SEVERAL MONTH LONG INVESTIGATION.

IT'S BEEN ONGOING SINCE LONG BEFORE THE MEDIA REPORTS OF THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

THAT IS A VERY ONGOING ROBUST INVESTIGATION AT PRESENT.

>> COLEMAN SPOKE TO REPORTER FOLLOWING A DISCUSSION WITH KENTUCKY SHERIFFS AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER WAS THERE, TOO.

>> A THEME TODAY ACROSS ALL OF THE SPEAKERS, WAS HOW THE NATURE OF CRIME THAT WE'RE SEEING IS BECOMING MORE INTERNATIONAL.

IT'S BECOMING MORE TECHNOLOGICALLY BASED.

THE NATURE OF THE THREATS ARE MA METASTASIZING.

ALL OF THE POISON IS INTERNATIONAL BY ITS NATURE FROM THE MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS MANY YOU ARE SEEING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TRY TO DO MORE WITH LESS.

>> COMER SUPPORTS NEWS AND DEPLOY THE NATIONAL GUARD TO THE CAPITAL.

>> ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES I HAVE IN WASHINGTON D.C.

THEY ARE SPATTERED OUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

THEY HAVE BEEN TELLING ME FOR WEEKS THEY LOOK OUT THE WINDOWS AND TEENAGE BOYS ARE RUNNING AROUND.

THEY'VE BEEN TELLING ME FOR WEEKS THEY LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT.

THERE ARE ALL THESE TEENAGE BOYS RUNNING AROUND SPRAY PAINTING AND STEALING.

BREAKING THINGS, JUST CREATING HAVOC AND NOTHING IS DONE ABOUT IT.

LAST NIGHT THERE WAS NONE OF THAT FROM ALL ACCOUNTS FROM OUR EMPLOYEES IN WASHINGTON, DC.

THEY HAD A MILITARY PRESENCE ALL OVER THE CITY.

>> BUT COMER HOPES THIS EPISODE DOES NOT LAST LONG, OR HAPPEN ELSEWHERE.

>> WE HAVE TO PROSECUTE CRIMINALS AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR BAD BEHAVIOR.

I THINK THAT SENDS A MESSAGE AND THAT SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON REPLICATED TO OTHER CITIES.

BUT IF THESE OTHER CITIES DON'T GET SERIOUS ABOUT IT, THEN IT THEN IT PROBABLY WILL BE.

AND THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT.

>> COMER, WHO LEADS THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, SAYS HE WILL HOLD A HEARING WITH DC'S POLICE CHIEF AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEXT MONTH.

FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" I'M JUNE LEFFLER.

>> DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR WEIGHED IN ON TRUMP'S DC TAKEOVER YESTERDAY DURING HIS REGULAR PRESS CONFERENCE.

HE SAID THE NATIONAL GUARD IS NOT TRAINED TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ASKING IT TO DO SO QUOTE PUTS AN AMERICAN WITH A FAMILY IN A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

>> KENTUCKY'S JOBLESS NUMBERS STAYED THE SAME FROM JUNE TO JULY.... AND IMPROVED FROM A YEAR AGO.

THE STATE SAYS UNEMPLOYMENT IN JULY WAS FOUR-POINT-NINE PERCENT.

IN JULY OF 2024...

IT WAS FIVE-POINT-ONE PERCENT.

KENTUCKY UNEMPLOYMENT IS A LITTLE HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL NUMBER OF FOUR-POINT-TWO PERCENT IN JULY.

ABOUT TWO-POINT-ONE MILLION KENTUCKIANS HAVE JOBS.

>> AFTER DEADLY, DESTRUCTIVE FLOODS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY IN RECENT YEARS, MORE KENTUCKIANS ARE MOVING TO SAFER AREAS.

IT'S PART OF THE STATE'S "HIGHER GROUND COMMUNITIES" PROGRAM.

YESTERDAY, GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR DESCRIBED NEW EFFORTS IN KNOTT COUNTY, AND OTHER PLACES.

>> Gov.

Andy Beshear: WE JUST AWARDED $7.5 MILLION FOR A CONTRACT TO FOR A PROJECT TO EXTEND AN ACCESS ROAD AND DEVELOP ADDITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AT THE CHESTNUT RIDGE PROPERTY IN KNOTT COUNTY.

OUR PLANS ARE FOR CHESTNUT RIDGE TO HAVE OVER 175 HOMES JUST ON THE STATE'S PORTION.

THIS CONTRACT MEANS WE'RE ONE STEP CLOSER TO THAT REALITY.

THESE NEW ROADS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED LATE NEXT YEAR.

ALREADY, IN THE WESTERN PART OF CHESTNUT RIDGE SEWER AND WATERLINE WORK ARE COMPLETE.

PAVING WORK SHOULD BE COMPLETE THIS OCTOBER.

WE'RE ONE STEP CLOSER TO MAKING OUR KENTUCKY HOME STRONGER AND OUR FAMILIES SAFER.

WE ARE FULFILLING THE COMMITMENT WE MADE TO HELP EASTERN KENTUCKY REBUILD AND RECOVER.

WITH ALL EIGHT OF OUR HIGH GROUND SITES COMBINED WE'RE LOOKING AT OVER 500 NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES IN EASTERN KENTUCKY OUT OF THE FLOOD PLAIN AND HOME TO KENTUCKIANS THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH.

LAST MONTH WE BROKE GROUND ON THE FIRST THREE HOME IN FLOYD COUNTY THAT WILL BE THE SITE FOR 34 HOMES.

THIS YEAR, WE CELEBRATED THE COMPLETION OF A THOMPSON BRANCH HIGH GROUND COMMUNITY THAT IS 10 HOMES IN LECHTER COUNTY.

WE FRAMED THE FIRST HOMES IN SKY VIEW IN BERRY COUNTY THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THERE HAVE 100 HOMES.

AND OF COURSE, WE FINISHED THE WAYLAND PROJECT WITH OVER A DOZEN HOMES FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN DISPLACED.

>> THE GOVERNOR ALSO SAID THE STATE WAS CONVERTING AN OLD MEDICAL BUILDING INTO APARTMENTS IN JACKSON....

USING SIX MILLION DOLLARS IN DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDS.

>> EACH YEAR, MORE THAN FOUR THOUSAND KENTUCKIANS ARE DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG CANCER.

THOSE WHO RECEIVE A DIAGNOSIS OFTEN HAVE TO WAIT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THEY CAN UNDERGO SURGERY.

BUT A NEW TREATMENT APPROACH BEING USED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY MARKEY CANCER CENTER IS SPARING PATIENTS THE WAIT, AND THE ANXIETY THAT COMES WITH IT.

DETAILS IN TODAY'S MEDICAL NEWS.

>> EVERYONE AS SOON AS YOU HEAR YOU HAVE A LUNG NODULE, THE FEAR IS I'M GOING TO HAVE LUNG CANCER AND I'M GOING TO DIE.

SO THAT FIRST PHASE WHERE YOU ARE NOT SURE WHAT IT IS AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, THAT IS REALLY DISTRESSING FOR FOLKS THEY DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA ARE THEY GOING TO MAKE IT TO THEIR KID'S GRADUATION, WHAT ABOUT THE VACATION THEY HAVE PLANNED.

SO IF WE CAN GET THEM TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE A DIAGNOSIS THAT'S GREAT.

BUT THEN THAT WAIT BETWEEN DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT KNOWING THAT THERE IS A CANCER IN YOUR BODY AND YOU'VE GOT LIKE THIS TICKING TIME BOMB IN THERE, THAT'S HORRIBLE FOR PATIENTS.

>> MY NURSE PRACTITIONER TOLD ME SINCE I WAS A LONGTIME SMOKER THAT THEY OFFERED A FREE LUNG SCAN AND I HAD THE I TOOK THEM UP ON IT AND HAD THE FREE LUNG SCAN DONE AND IT CAME BACK AND SHOWED SOMETHING BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT.

I WENT BACK THREE MONTHS LATER AND IT LOOKED A LITTLE MORE SUSPICIOUS.

SO THERE WERE NO SYMPTOMS.

AND A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WAIT FOR SYMPTOMS TO GO TO THE DOCTOR.

>> LUNG CANCER IS EVERYWHERE IN KENTUCKY.

EVERYONE KNOWS SOMEONE WHO DIED OF LUNG CANCER.

AND PART OF THE REASON THAT WE SEE SO MUCH OF IT AND THAT IT'S SO DEADLY WE DON'T CATCH IT EARLY.

SO FOR A PATIENT WITH AN EARLY STAGE LUNG CANCER THAT CAN MEAN MONTHS FROM THE TIME THEY GET A SCAN TO WHEN IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN TREATED.

AND WHAT HAPPENS DURING THAT TIME, IS THE CANCER CAN SPREAD.

WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS GET TO IT FASTER.

ONCE WE KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING THERE HOW CAN WE FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS AND TREAT IT AT THE SAME TIME.

AND WE DO THAT BY COMBINING TWO TECHNOLOGIES AND WE CAN GET ONE TO LOOK DOWN THE AIRWAYS FROM THE INSIDE, GET A PIECE OF IT AND TELL US WHAT IT IS.

AND THEN IF IT'S CANCER AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN USE THE OTHER ONE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF SMALL INCISIONS IN THE SIDE AND GO IN AND TAKE OUT THAT PART OF THE LUNG WHERE THE CANCER IS.

AND THAT GIVES FOLKS THE BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVING AND BY DOING THAT ALL IN ONE ANESTHESIA, ONE HOSPITAL STAY, WE GET YOU FROM DIAGNOSIS TO TREATMENT MUCH FASTER.

>> YOU STAND LONGER AT THE GROCERY STORE THAN YOU DO TO HAVE THIS LUNG SCAN.

IT IS A SIMPLE TEST.

AND IT SAVED MY LIFE.

>> THE MARKEY CANCER CENTER BEGAN SAME-DAY LUNG CANCER PROCEDURES IN FEBRUARY.

THE CENTER HAS TREATED SIX PATIENTS SO FAR AND EXPECTS TO TREAT THREE TO FOUR PATIENTS EACH MONTH.

>> THE KENTUCKY STATE FAIR KICKED OFF AT THE EXPO CENTER IN LOUISVILLE WITH THE FIRST OFFICIAL EVENT OF THE FAIR, THE COMMODITIES BREAKFAST.

IT IS AN ANNUAL TRADITION HIGHLIGHTING THE STATE'S AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY.

LOCAL FARMERS AND PRODUCER SUPPLY THE FOOD THAT STATE LEADERS SERVE UP.

>> THE FARMERS THAT WE HAVE, THE BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE EVERY SINGLE WHAT WE HAVE IN KENTUCKY AGRICULTURE CULTURE OUR CHAIN OF SUPPLY IS SECOND TO NONE.

THE BUSINESSES AND THE JOBS AND THE INVESTMENTS POURED INTO KENTUCKY EVERYDAY BY MEN AND WOMEN IN THIS ROOM AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE HAVE IS THE YOUTH OF THIS STATE.

WE'VE GOT 4H AND FFA KIDS RUNNING AROUND SHOWING OFF WHAT IS THE BEST OF THE BEST IN KENTUCKY THEY'VE WON AT THEIR FAIR AND REGIONAL SHOWS AND THEY'VE COME HERE TO TAKE HOME THE BLUE RIBBONSISM ALL OF US IN EVERY 120 COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY HAVE SO MUCH IN COMMON AND THE FAIR IS THE BEST EXAMPLE BRINGING TOGETHER OUR STATE.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR BREAKFAST, ENJOY THE STATE FAIR.

ENJOY YOUR TIME IN LOUISVILLE.

AND IF THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES WE CAN WORK ON TOGETHER WITH YOU, REACH OUT BECAUSE WE WANT TO PARTNER.

>> THE KENTUCKY STATE FAIR RUNS THROUGH AUGUST 24TH.

WE'LL HAVE MORE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FAIR TOMORROW ON "KENTUCKY EDITION."

[♪♪] >> IT WAS CALLED THE "MOST ANTICIPATED NEIGHBORHOOD" IN BOWLING GREEN.

THE HUB IS HOME TO THE LARGEST MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY IN THE STATE.

IT HOUSES MORE RESIDENTS THAN SOME KENTUCKY TOWNS.

OUR EMILY SISK PAID A VISIT TO THE HIGH-END RENTAL PROPERTY AND LEARNED HOW THEY'RE FULFILLING THE CITY'S BIGGEST HOUSING NEED.

>> WE'RE ALMOST A SMALL TOWN WITHIN A TOWN ITSELF.

>> 2,000 BOWLING GREEN RESIDENTS FIND THEIR HOME AT THE HUB AN APARTMENT NEIGHBORHOOD MINUTES FROM I-65.

THE HUB FIRST OPENED IN 2020 AND AFTER SEEING HIGH DEMAND, DEVELOPERS BUILT MORE APARTMENT UNITS.

>> OUR FINAL APARTMENT COUNT IS 936 APARTMENTS.

SO WE'RE ALMOST COMPLETE WITH THOSE.

>> THE HUB'S COMMUNITY MANAGER EXPLAINED HOW THEY FOUND THE RIGHT LOCATION AFOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> THIS WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PIECES OF LAND THAT WAS STILL WITHIN THE CITY CENTER OF BOWLING GREEN THAT HAD NOT BEEN DEVELOPED AND IT WAS A FARM PREVIOUSLY.

>> CHILDERS IS THE CITY'S NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR.

EVERY FIVE YEARS, THE CITY COMPLETES A HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT.

JUST OVER FIVE YEARS AGO, THE DATA SHOWED A NEW DEMAND.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS IDENTIFIED AS PART OF THAT WAS WHAT WE WOULD CALL HIGH-END RENTAL.

HAD TO HAVE THE LOCATION AND AMENITIES NOT JUST EXPENSIVE BUT IT HAD TO HAVE VALUE.

>> THE DATA SHOWED A NEED FOR 1,000 OF THOSE APARTMENT UNITS.

>> AND THEN THE NEXT YEAR, IS WHEN THE HUB DEVELOPMENT STARTED UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

>> CHILDERS SAID THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HUB SPARKED A CHANGE IN THE CITY OF BOWLING GREEN INSPIRING MORE HIGH-END MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES.

>> REALLY FOR BOWLING GREEN IT IS A TREMENDOUSLY HUGE INVESTMENT.

WE SAW A SHIFT IN CONSTRUCTION PATTERNS AFTER THAT.

>> AT THE HUB RESIDENTS CAN CHOOSE FROM MULTIPLE FLOOR PLANS.

PRICES BEGIN AT AROUND $1200 PER MONTH.

>> THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE VARIETY IN DIFFERENT APARTMENTS THAT WE HAVE AT THE HUB IS THAT WE HAVE PRICE POINTS AVAILABLE FOR A BROAD VARIETY OF RANGES.

>> THE AMENITIES ARE OFTEN A BIG SELLING POINT FOR RENTERS.

BUCKLES EXPLAINED WHAT IS OFFERED AT THE HUB.

>> OUR COMMUNITY POOL, WE HAVE PICKLEBALL COURTS, FITNESS CENTERS THERE IS A DOG PARK FOR ALL OF OUR DOGS HERE AT THE HUB.

INTERNET AND CABLE IS PROVIDED IN THE RENT.

>> WHILE THE APARTMENT COSTS ARE HIGH-END FOR BOWLING GREEN, BUCKLES SAID RESIDENTS COME TO THE HUB SEEKING AFFORDABILITY FROM NEIGHBORING CITIES IN THE SOUTH.

>> WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT COME HERE FROM NASHVILLE THAT ARE JUST BEING DRIVEN FROM THERE AND LOOKING IN THE OUTSKIRTS WHERE THEY SAY, HEY BOWLING GREEN IS WAY MORE AFFORDABLE AND WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL BRAND NEW COMMUNITY.

>> CHILDERS SAID WHILE DEVELOPMENTS BRING A NEW FEEL TO THE CITY THEY WANT TO STAY TRUE TO THEIR ROOTS.

>> WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BE THE BIGGEST CITY IN THE SOUTHEAST.

WE'LL LET NASHVILLE AND ATLANTA FIGHT THOSE OUT.

WE ARE TRYING TO BE THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY.

AS LONG AS WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE THAT TYPE OF COMMUNITY I THINK WE WILL BE ATTRACTIVE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" I'M EMILY SISK.

>> CHILDERS SAID THE CITY IS IN THE PROCESS OF DETERMINING HOUSING NEEDS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

HE ANTICIPATES A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTIES, BUT POSSIBLY CONDO-STYLE, WHERE RESIDENTS WILL OWN A UNIT INSTEAD OF RENTING.

>> THE BOWLING GREEN AND WARREN COUNTY AREA HAVE BROKEN THEIR OWN RECORDS FOR TOURISM IN THE PAST TWO YEARS• CONTRIBUTING CLOSE TO 500-MILLION DOLLARS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE STATE LAST YEAR ALONE.

MORE THAN 40-MILLION OF THAT COMES FROM A 100-YEAR-OLD RECREATION AREA THAT NOW HOUSES A RACETRACK, CAMPGROUND AND AMUSEMENT PARK.

KELSEY STARKS GOES ON THE ROAD TO BEECH BEND.

>> THE EMPLOYEES EMPLOY 400 PEOPLE AND ATTRACTS CLOSE TO A MILLION VISITORS TO THIS AREA EVERY YEAR.

BEECH BEND PARK AND ALTHOUGH THIS HAS BEEN A RECREATION AREA FOR OVER 100 YEARS IT IS THE FAMILY THAT OWNS IT NOW THAT TAKES CREDIT FOR REVIVING IT AND MAKING IT THE TOURIST DESTINATION IT IS TODAY.

>> WE DO EVERYTHING ON A SMALLER SCALE.

WE HAVE BEEN SLOWLY BUILDING SINCE 1987 UNTIL WE'VE GOT OVER 30 RIDES HERE NOW.

WE HAVE THE MINIATURE GOLF COURSE HERE NOW.

WE HAVE LOTS OF SLIDES IN THE WATER PARK.

WE HAVE THE LAZY RIVER AND THE WAVE POOL.

TWO CHILDREN'S STRUCTURES.

AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO KEEP YOU BUSY IF YOU WANT TO DO EVERYTHING HERE.

>> BEECH BEND PARK HAS A LONG HISTORY SITTING AT THE BEND OF THE BARON RIVER SINCE 1898 AND PEOPLE WOULD PICNIC ON THE BEACH AREA HERE.

>> SOMETIME IN THE 40s, THE GARVIN FAMILY PURCHASED THE PROPERTY AND THEY STARTED BUILDING THE PARK AS WE KNOW IT TODAY.

STARTING PUTTING IN RIDES AND THIS SWIMMING POOL BEHIND ME.

IT WAS BUILT IN THE 50s.

>> BUT IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN A STRAIGHT PATH UP.

THE PARK FELL INTO DISREPAIR IN THE LATE 70s AND 80s LEAVING ONLY THE DRAG STRIP OPEN TO VISITORS.

ENTER THE JONES FAMILY.

>> THE JONES FAMILY WE PURCHASED THE PARK IN 1987.

I GREW UP COMING HERE HONESTLY.

MY WHOLE FAMILY DID.

IT WAS A LABOR OF LOVE TO START REBUILDING.

MY FAMILY WE WEREN'T RICH AND CAME FROM A MODEST BACKGROUND MY PARENTS WERE FARMERS AND A BEAUTICIAN MY MOM.

WE STARTED BUILDING AT A PACE WE COULD AFFORD TO KEEP UP WITH.

AND NOW WE HAVE A NICE PARK HERE.

>> NOW, BEECH BEND PARK RANKS UP THERE WITH THE NATIONAL MUSEUM AND MAMMOTH CAVE AS ONE OF THE TOP TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN THE COUNTY.

>> WE HAVE TWO GATES THE AMUSEMENT PARK GATE THAT DOES A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND A YEAR AND THE RACETRACK.

WE HAVE HUGE EVENTS AT THE RACETRACK THAT BRING IN HALF A MILLION PEOPLE EVERY YEAR AND THE CAMPGROUND WITH 400 CAMPSITES.

YOU PUT IT ALTOGETHER WE'RE OVER A MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR.

>> THE BEST RIDE IS WATER WATER EXPRESS AND THE BEST WATER SLIDE IS THE BLUE TUBE SLIDE.

>> YOU SHOULD TRYOUT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN IN ONE DAY.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH IMPOSSIBLE TO DO EVERYTHING IN ONE DAY BECAUSE HOW MUCH THERE IS TO DO.

>> WE ARE 30 MINUTES FROM THE TENNESSEE LINE.

SO WE GET A LOT OF TRAFFIC FROM MIDDLE TENNESSEE AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE HERE ALL THE TIME FROM ALABAMA OR INDIANA OR OHIO OR PEOPLE ARE VISITING RELATIVES HERE AROUND THE AREA AND SO WE GET THEM HERE FROM CALIFORNIA TO THE EAST COAST.

>> BUT NO MATTER WHERE THEY COME HERE FROM, THE GOAL IS THE SAME... JUST TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN!

>> ALWAYS FOUND IT REALLY FUN TO TAKE THE KIDS AND GO PLACES.

BECAUSE YOU LAUGH AND HAVE A GOOD TIME AND NOBODY'S STUCK ON A PHONE OR COMPUTER.

YOU REALLY HAVE A GOOD TIME TOGETHER WHEN YOU GO PLACES LIKE THIS.

AND I THINK THERE IS A NEED FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.

AND IT MAKES MY HEART FEEL GOOD WHEN I SEE FAMILIES HERE HAVING A GOOD TIME AND LAUGHING AND SMILING TOGETHER.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

>> FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION"...

I'M KELSEY STARKS.

>> BEECH BEND PARK'S SEASON RUNS EARLY MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21ST.

YOU HEARD KELSEY MENTION >> ONE OF THE REGION'S BIGGEST ATTRACTIONS... MAMMOTH CAVE.

THE WORLD'S LONGEST UNDERGROUND CAVE SYSTEM DRAWS IN NEARLY 600-THOUSAND PEOPLE EACH YEAR.

CAVE CITY, IN BARREN COUNTY, IS HOME TO MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK.

OVER THE YEARS THE CITY HAS GONE FROM A PLACE TO PASS THROUGH ON THE WAY TO THE CAVE, TO A PLACE TO STOP AND EXPLORE, AS OUR KENTUCKY EDITION CREW DISCOVERED WHEN THEY WENT ON THE ROAD.

CAVE CITY SAY ROADSIDE ATTRACTION.

IT IS A PLACE THAT PEOPLE CAME AND BUILT UP TO DRAW PEOPLE OFF THE INTERSTATE ON THEIR WAY TO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THAT MENTALITY.

WE HAVE THE NATIONAL PARK A TOURIST DRAW AND HAS BEEN FOR MANY, MANY YEARS FOR US.

BUT IT'S ALSO STILL GOT THAT QUIRKINESS ABOUT IT.

AND THEN IT'S GOT THAT SMALL TOWN FEEL.

ON YOUR WAY FROM THE INTERSTATE DOWN TO BROADWAY, YOU'RE PASSING A CORNFIELD.

RIGHT NEXT TO DOWNTOWN.

>> WE USED TO HAVE GUN TAIL MOUNTAIN AND IT WAS HUGE IT USED TO BE HUGE WITH TOURISM EVERYBODY CAME.

AND WHEN THE MOUNTAIN WENT OUT IT KIND OF DIED OFF A LITTLE.

AND WE'RE WANTING PEOPLE TO SEE WE HAVE GREAT THINGS HERE AND NEW THINGS COMING HERE.

>> OUR BUSINESSES HAVE GROWN.

WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE THINGS GOING ON HERE.

BUT THE BIGGEST INCREASE THAT I'VE NOTICED IS MOVIES WE HAVE BEEN DOING HERE.

I'M ALSO ON THE SOUTHERN KENTUCKY FILM COMMISSION AND THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THAT.

AND WE HAVE WORKED REALLY, REALLY HARD TO BRING IN A LOT OF MOVIES FROM HOLLYWOOD.

AND WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT RECENTLY.

AND THAT HAS INCREASED TOURISM TREMENDOUSLY IT'S BEEN A HUGE ECONOMIC INCREASE FOR US.

THOSE PEOPLE THAT COME IN AND FILM HERE THEY STAY HERE AND THEY EAT HERE.

>> WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS THIS IS IT.

>> THE LONGEST TIME WE HAD BEEN MENTALLY TRAINED THAT MAMMOTH CAVE IS WHAT BRINGS PEOPLE HERE WE DIDN'T INVEST INTO KEEPING PEOPLE HERE THEY ARE COMING ANYWAY.

BUT THEN THEY WERE NOT STAYING.

THEY ARE LIKE STAYING ONE NIGHT IF THAT.

HOW DO YOU TURN THAT INTO TWO OR THREE NIGHTS?

YOU NEED MORE THINGS TO DO.

FINALLY THE PEOPLE IN OFFICE STARTING TO NOTICE THAT DOWNTOWN IS ALSO A DESTINATION AND A DRAW.

SOMETHING WE DID HERE TO GET PEOPLE TO BE DOWNTOWN AND INVEST DOWNTOWN IS WE STARTED CARS AND COFFEE.

WE DID THAT FIVE YEARS AGO.

WE WERE LIKE HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE DOWNTOWN AND HOW DO WE PEOPLE TO BUY THE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE THE MONEY.

PEOPLE THAT COLLECT OLD CARS THEY GOT A COUPLE CARS THEY GOT MONEY AND THEY LEVELED THINGS.

YOU STARTED DOING THAT AND IT BECOME WILDLY SUCCESSFUL AND WE ARE BRINGING DOWNTOWN IT WAS HELPING OUR CITIZENS TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO TO GATHER.

IT WAS BRINGING IN PEOPLE FROM OTHER PLACES TO COME AND LOOK.

AND THEN IT BOOSTED MORALE.

>> WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE DOWNTOWN WITH NEW BENCHES NEW PLANTERS, NEW FLOWERS, ALL OF THAT TYPE OF THING.

YES, DOWNTOWN IS REALLY BEGINNING TO COME ALIVE.

I THINK IN THE LAST YEAR WE'VE OPENED 12 NEW SMALL BUSINESSES HERE IN CAVE CITY.

>> AND WANTED TO OPEN CAVE CITY MY HOMETOWN.

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND BRING SOMETHING TO MY AREA.

AND WHEN WE FOUND THIS LOCATION, IT'S RIGHT ON THE PATHWAY TO MAMMOTH CAVE.

1.2 MILLION VISITORS COME EVERY YEAR TO OUR AREA AND THERE SOME THINGS THAT CANNOT BE BOUGHT LOCATION IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

>> MY MOM, SISTER AND I BOUGHT A BUILDING AND OPENED A BAR AND WE USE THAT AS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER TO DO OTHER THINGS.

IF YOU CREATED NIGHT LIFE AND BROUGHT PEOPLE HERE, IT COULD BRING IN MORE TAX DOLLARS AND WE COULD USE THAT MONEY TO HELP INFRASTRUCTURE ELSEWHERE.

THE BUILDING BESIDE IT THE ACE THEATER WAS AVAILABLE SO I RENOVATED IT.

IT STARTED WITH THE DIVE AND THEN ACROSS THE STREET CAVE CITY PIZZA CAME IN AND NOW WE HAVE FOOD WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

AND THEN WE HAVE A YOGA STUDIO THAT HAS A RETAIL SPACE AND TWO DISTILLERIES AND NOW WE HAVE A RESTAURANT QUARTERS THAT OPENED UP.

ACE COFFEE OUR MOTTO IS CULTIVATE, CURATE, ELEVATE AND EDUCATE.

I WANTED TO MAKE THIS A CULTURAL HUB AND CENTER IT WAS A THIRD PLACE.

SO THE THING THAT SAVES SMALL TOWN AMERICA, AND THE THINGS THAT HELPS ALL OF US IS A THIRD PLACE A PLACE BETWEEN WORK AND HOME WHERE WE GATHER AND TALK WITH PEOPLE WE MEET NEW FRIENDS LIKE MINDED PEOPLE.

NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.

IT CREATES IDEAS.

IT GETS US OFF OF OUR CELLPHONES AND WE DON'T HE HAVE THAT IN CAVE CITY.

I WANT TO COME BACK.

I WANT TO GO BACK THERE.

NEXT TIME I WANT TO TRY THIS PLACE OR TRY THAT PLACE.

I WANT THEM TO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY WANTED TO DO.

>> I WANT MY KIDS TO SEE OPPORTUNITY HERE AND WANT TO COME BACK AND CALL THIS HOME.

WE KNOW THE POTENTIAL.

WE SEE IT.

WE SEE THE DAYS GONE BY AND WE SEE WHAT IT CAN BE.

WE JUST HAVE TO GET EVERYBODY ELSE ONBOARD WITH THIS.

>> EACH YEAR IT HOLDS THE WATERMELON FESTIVAL CELEBRATING THE TOWN'S REPUTATION FOR PRODUCING THE SWEETEST WATERMELONS AROUND.

>> ANOTHER WAY TO KEEP TOURISTS ENGAGE SECOND THROUGH THE ARTS.

TOMORROW WE WILL SHOW YOU HOW ONE VENUE IS BRINGING BROADWAY TO BOWLING GREEN.

AND WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 EASTERN 5:30 CENTRAL FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" WHERE WE INFORM, CONNECT AND INSPIRE.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR "KENTUCKY EDITION" E-MAIL NEWSLETTERS AND WATCH EPISODES AND CLIPS AT KET.ORG.

YOU CAN FIND US ON THE PBS VIDEO APP ON YOUR SMART TV.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FROM THE CAMPUS OF WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY IN BOWLING GREEN.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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