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News: Beech Bend owner recognized by Kentucky with award

By Alex W

May. 20th, 2007 -- Frankfort, Ky. – In celebration of National Tourism Week, state and local tourism officials gathered at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort to honor one individual from each of the Commonwealth’s nine tourism regions with an award in recognition of his or her contributions to Kentucky’s travel and tourism industry. Warren County resident and businessman Dallas Jones was honored as the Cave Region recipient of the “Unbridled Spirit Hospitality” award.

Tourism Commissioner Randy Fiveash served as master of ceremonies for the event.

“These recipients exemplify the unbridled spirit of Kentucky,” Fiveash said.

Gary West, former executive director of the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and a representative of the Cave Region, was called upon to introduce Jones at the ceremony.

“Dallas Jones has truly created one of the largest tourist attractions in Kentucky, “ West said. “We refer to it as our Disney World. His events fill up hotel rooms from Elizabethtown to Nashville.”

Jones is an entrepreneur who was born in 1940 in the small rural community of Cleaton, Ky. He developed a love for cars at an early age and became a racer. Jones married Alfreda, his high school sweetheart, and was blessed with three children, Charlotte, Dana and Clay. Jones held many odd jobs and managed several raceways before purchasing Beech Bend Raceway in 1984. Three years later he purchased the adjacent campgrounds and amusement park. Jones knew the property was in dire need of repair and began rebuilding it one piece at a time.

Beech Bend Raceway and Amusement Park has flourished under Jones’ watchful eye. His most recent large-scale addition was the Kentucky Rumbler. This $6 million coaster made its debut in the 2006 season and has been heralded as the most twisted wooden coaster in a seven-state region. It was recently named a “Golden Ticket” award-winner by Amusement Today.

In 2006 Beech Bend Amusement Park and Raceway had over 400,000 visitors and brought in over $26.5 million in economic impact to the Bowling Green area.

“We’ve come a long way, but we’re not done yet,” Jones said. “We hope to reach 1 million visitors within the next two or three years.”