Beech Bend in Bowling Green Provides Family Fun for All

On July 22, 2007 my family and I spent the day at Beech Bend Amusement Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky. We found it to be an enjoyable way to spend a day, and the prices were quite reasonable for this type of venue. They offered a diversified blend of rides so that there was something to suit everyone in our group from the youngest (7 years old) to the oldest (61 years old).

The lengthy lines for admission to the park were indicative of the lines we would face throughout the day, however the admission line moved along smoothly and quickly. The employee who greeted us at the ticket booth was both friendly and efficient, although a reminder that we would need tickets to ride the go-carts just inside the door even with our armbands would have been nice.

Once inside our first stop was the Go Carts. Once I went back and purchased tickets for our group to ride ($5.00 per person), we got in line. There is a 60" height restriction for driving a cart, which is taller than anywhere else I had been, but it worked out well. There were two-seater carts available for the younger kids to ride along. The man running this attraction was very safety conscious, and told us of all the safety precautions and guidelines. All of the go-carts were in good running order, and allowed us to start our day off right!

We then went on to ride the carnival rides available the first was the Tornado. Which was a giant steel contraption with cages holding 4 people in each. Once going the ride continuously spins while swinging you through the air at amazing speeds. Hold on to your hats for this one! It will provide anyone with enough guts to get on it with all the spinning and speed that you could hope for from an amusement park ride.

From there we went to the Looping Star Coaster. The Looping Star is your classic steel roller coaster with a complete loop in the middle. While this ride was enjoyable for the younger ones in our group, us old folks found the seats a little too short, causing us to be cramped down.

The ride was also jerked you around a lot, as I said the younger ones didn't seem to notice or mind at all, but all of us over 25 knew we would pay for this one the next day. All in all, it was an okay coaster, but nothing to write home about.

The Wild Mouse was a great spinning roller coaster like ride that we all enjoyed immensely. The seating allowed for us to ride together in groups of four, and put the younger ones in the middle. The seats had pads between the riders to prevent the typical squish that is experienced by the riders on the outside. I definitely give this ride a thumbs up, as me, my husband, our son and his friend all got off the ride laughing.

After that we rode the Shock Drop, which is exactly what it sounds like. Each group is lifted into the air and then dropped free fall style to the bottom. The Starship 3000 is your classic gravitron type ride, which is always a hit with the kids. The Super slide and the Jitter Bug Swings provide some milder fun that can be shared by all. They had bumper cars for kids and adults, which we had to ride repeatedly just so us old farts could take out our frustrations in a manner that was fun for everyone.

Another great ride for the ones in your group not afraid of heights is the Moby Dick. It is similar to the pirate ship that you see at many local fairs, and just good clean fun. If you are looking to get wet you can always ride the White Water Express. This log ride promises fun for all, complete with a marked "Soak Zone" so that the kids can be sure to leave this area dripping. Water Wars is a water balloon fight zone that can provide some relief from the heat at the cost of a few tickets.

The main attraction for the park is the Kentucky Rumbler Wooden Roller Coaster. This coaster definitely meets all your expectations! With its hairpin turns and extreme speeds it is one for the roller coaster aficionado in every group! This was my son's first time on a "big" roller coaster, and I think we now have a bona fide fan for life.

They also have a huge water park. The water park features a leisure pool, water slides, and even a water playground for the little ones. However, on the Saturday we were there the water park was so crowded that we did not even attempt to join the masses. We found plenty of opportunity for getting wet with the water balloon wars and the White Water Express.

The cost for snacks and drinks was about average for an amusement park, as was the diversity of what was being served. We did find one deal in the park that was in the Rumbler Café right beside the Kentucky Rumbler. If you purchase a drink in a souvenir cup for $5.00 you can get the cup refilled all day for $2.00 per refill. This saved us tremendously on the cost of drinks.

All in all we had a great day at the park when we went to Beech Bend. The prices were reasonable, the food was good and the rides were exciting. However, you should be forewarned if you go on a Saturday expect long lines and waits similar to those you would experience at any amusement park. The park is well maintained and cleaner than most. If you are in the area and looking for a great way to spend a day for the entire family, Beech Bend should definitely be on your list.