8 Owensboro Landmarks We Never Thought We’d Lose

Here's where I officially age myself, but I'm sure I'm not alone. If you've lived in Owensboro all your life or for a really long time, you can relate. How many times have you been driving through the city and thought, "I remember when (fill in the blank) used to be on that corner." Or this one, which seems very popular, "That (street, area, neighborhood) has changed so much, I can't even remember how it used to look." Highway 54 gets that one a lot.

Defunct Owensboro Landmarks

Off the top of my head, I've come up with eight Owensboro landmarks that, if you are a long-timer, you probably thought would never disappear. It's how I feel about the following, and I still miss some of them.

Gabe's Tower

It's hard to pick what might be considered number one, so these are in no particular order. But I had to start with Gabe's Tower. This unique luxury hotel opened in the early 1960s and immediately became a destination. The swimming pool was on the top floor, and a swank restaurant occupied the floor below.

Unfortunately, time took its toll, and it no longer was even safe to be in the building. (My last visit was in 2002 when that restaurant near the top of the hotel became a nightclub.)

After years of not knowing exactly what to do with it, Gabe's Tower was demolished in 2020.

Executive Inn

Here's another iconic hotel and a serious entertainment complex. The open-air lobby in the seven-story structure was a first for Owensboro, and the Showroom Lounge (part of which you can still see behind the Convention Center) drew some of the biggest names in entertainment. George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, and Merle Haggard were just a few of the icons who graced its stage. Future superstars like Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, and Brad Paisley also made early appearances in the 2000s.

Sadly, the hotel that most everyone who remembers it still misses today got the wrecking ball in 2008.

Frederica Street Boat Ramp

We've had the "all-new" Smothers Park and playground since 2012, so some of you might not remember that Frederica Street once ended with a huge boat ramp. But if you do, you also remember all the houseboats that were docked along the river starting at that ramp. Demolition on the old boat ramp, as part of the $40 million riverfront project, began in 2008.

Martin's Bar

If ever there was a bar that would've made countless appearances in Facebook posts, it was Martin's Bar. It was an old-school hangout, and there are few Owensboroans who remember it who can't share fond memories. Unfortunately, the tornado that ripped through downtown in 2007 took it out never to return.

Cornell's Restaurant

The Cornell family operated a motel on New Hartford Road between 25th and 27th Streets. The restaurant was the motel restaurant; back in the day, every motel had one. It was right around the corner from my house growing up, so we ate there a lot, and it was always amazing. For me, Cornell's will always be remembered for the best chocolate milk I have ever tasted. I've never tasted any like it since.

This History of Owensboro Facebook post from 2017 is packed with some cool history about the Cornell family business.

Ferrell's Diner

That horseshoe bar (but they served no liquor). That chili. Those hamburgers. And then there's everything else. Ferrell's was required dining when you were downtown, unless you ate at another entry on this list. My grandfather used to take me to Ferrell's when he'd watch me during the day. I don't remember when Ferrell's disappeared; it was so long ago. But it was in the block where the Owensboro Judicial Center is now.

Several years ago, we visited Ferrell's in Madisonville; they were/are all part of the same regional chain. The food was exactly how I remembered it from the Owensboro location.

Kresge's

This classic five-and-dime store (or was it department store?) was also in the same block where the Judicial Center is now, and its in-store diner rivaled Ferrell's. It was always a coin flip. FUN FACT...Kresge was the "K" in what would become K-Mart.

Here's a little Kresge's history.

Baynham's Shoe Store Monkeys

This building (or unit) is still down there, but I have no idea which one housed Baynham's. Now here's what's funny...I never owned a pair of shoes purchased at Baynham's. My mother might have because we went there a lot, but not me. My sister and I were too busy being mesmerized by the monkeys in the window display as you walked into the store.

Why were there monkeys welcoming patrons to a shoe store? We didn't know, it didn't make sense, and we certainly didn't care.