Snowy Range Pass

Snowy Range Pass

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Bluegrass













We managed to extract ourselves from our campground in Salvisa, KY, only meeting two small vehicles in the process, without the complete road blockage we feared. We then headed the short distance south to check out The Renfro Valley Entertainment Center in Mount Vernon, KY. The music center has been in business since 1939 and is primarily into country, gospel and bluegrass music.

We pulled into the nearly empty Renfro Valley campground on Monday. There is an older 30 AMP section and a newer 50 AMP section. Both have level sites and full hookups. There is more room in the 50 AMP area with views of the open fields that I assume are for big outdoor events.

We walked over to the complex and found it nearly deserted, as well. There were not going to be any big concerts until the weekend. It appears that the place is winding down for the season with just a few big events left. There was a small restaurant open and the visitor center of a very small Appalachian village on the grounds. The village was not much and while the doors were open there was nothing going on. We talked to the lady in the center about her basket weaving and he history of the music center. It seems that an older couple bought the place in 2005 to try and get it back on its feet and make it better. Unfortunately, they both died shortly thereafter within a few weeks of each other. One of their children is continuing to try and run the place.

There was a gospel group in the small red barn on Monday, but we passed on that preferring to get settled in to our site. Tuesday night, it was a blue grass group , so we walked over to the barn and enjoyed a great concert from the All American Blue Grass Band from Indiana. They have been coming here for years, as often as three times a week. It was a great performance and the small crowd did not seem to bother them at all. We had a brief chat with one of them during intermission and he mentioned that this was the last Tuesday concert of the season, but that they would be back for a big Dance Barn event in Nov.

We just wanted to see what the place looked like, so a good concert was a bonus. If you enjoy this type of music, it could be a good place to enjoy it, with the campground in walking distance of all the buildings.

14 comments:

Sue and Doug said...

nothing like a little Blue Grass music in the hills of Kentucky!..enjoy..looks like a good campsite!!

Gail Houle said...

Looks like a nice place to stay. The Fall colors are a bonus this time of year.

Al and Karen said...

I saw signs for this on our way down to Campbellsville and wondered what it was. Thanks for visiting it and telling us about it!

Jerry and Suzy said...

You had that lovely place nearly to yourselves! That's often a plus, and the music was good, the fall color great, and you are enjoying yourselves. Who could ask for anything more!

Jim and Sandie said...

Sounds like someplace I would really like. Love Blue Grass.

Bob and Jo said...

Another place to add to our list, which is growing quite large. We like gospel and bluegrass and both kinds of music, country and western.

Nan said...

we just might stay there on our way home. we left asheville, n.c. for the second time yesterday and now spending a rainy friday in townsend, tennessee. (they call this the quiet side of the mountain) - across the mtn from gatlinburg and it's bumper to bumper traffic and madness.

Sherry said...

Me too. It would be great during their "season" to have all kinds of music going on that you could walk to from your campground.

On to the list it goes. Thanks!

Kevin Read said...

Always nice to have a big campground all to yourselves. Sounds like fun place to listen to the music.

Kevin and Ruth
www.travelwithkevinandruth.com

Rick said...

Looks like you hit another great place to stay. Nice pics too of all the fall colors.

Paul and Marsha Weaver OCT. 17, 2009 said...

We enjoy going to the local places. Usually you meet the nicest people, who take their time and explain the details of the area. Glad you made the stop.

Sweet Meanderings said...

I'm jealous! Looks like a great place to visit and enjoy some music.
Candy

Happytrails said...

Nice campground!! Blue Grass is awesome....thanks for the information!!

Rick and Orinda said...

We had heard of this place and while we have never been there, I was glad to learn about it. Looked like a neat spot, although a challenge it keep in operation.