By GAGE WILSON
for Glasgow News 1
From bourbon barrels to bluegrass beats, Barren County is making waves in this year’s “Best in Kentucky” lineup. Several area favorites have earned finalist nods in the annual statewide recognition by Kentucky Living magazine.
Contenders for the coveted titles include staple locations like Mammoth Cave National Park, which has been nominated in four categories: Best Hiking Trail, Best Place for Adventure, Best Road Trip, and Best Historic Attraction.
The park has been a consistent finalist in recent years, winning multiple categories in both 2023 and 2024.
The Grove in Glasgow also received a nomination, earning a spot in the Best Place for Live Music category.
Another Barren County business in the running is Ace Coffee Co. in Cave City.
Opened in March 2024 in the historic Ace Theatre building on Broadway Street, owner Leticia Cline shared her gratitude for the nomination on social media. “Ace Coffee is a place that’s needed in this area more than ever,” she wrote. “I know this honor would make our team and community proud.”
Rounding out Barren County’s finalists is WHHT’s Kellie McKay, who is nominated for Best Local Radio Host.
“I’m truly humbled and honored to be nominated,” she said. “This recognition means the world because it’s really about our community – the people we serve, uplift, and connect with every day on the air.”
Barren County–Glasgow Tourism Director Maclean Lessenberry said that residents can vote once per day through the end of May. She emphasized the value of these nominations for the region. “We are all about economic impact, so we want this to be a strong driver to the local economy,” she said. “It also ignites hometown pride and really boosts tourism while giving the local businesses and attractions a feather in their caps.”
While having so many finalists from a relatively small county is impressive, Lessenberry credited a collaborative effort among tourism organizations throughout the Barren River region.
“We’ve tried to market all of our regional tourism, because it helps us as a region overall,” she said. “Like the Lighthouse Restaurant in Sulphur Well, Kentucky Down Under, Nolin Lake State Park, and Dennison’s Roadside Market—all finalists as well.”
“We always say that tourists don’t see city and county lines. For the most part, they are here for our biggest attraction, Mammoth Cave—which sits in three different counties,” she added. “So we find it more efficient on our end, and the visitors’ end, to market the tri-county region.”
Voting continues through May 31, and individuals can cast a ballot once per day. To learn more or vote for your favorites, visit Kentucky Living.
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