Calloway County, Kentucky
Calloway County, KY offers plenty of everything that makes the Tennessee RiverLine special. Its proximity to the spectacular Kentucky Lake and all the outdoor fun that comes along with it, as well as Murray State University and the charming city it calls home, make Calloway County a fun, engaging place to stop on your RiverLine journey.
From Murray’s restaurants, coffee shops, and performing arts to Kentucky Lake’s world-class natural, outdoor sport, and historic attractions, there is plenty to keep you and your fellow travelers busy (or relaxed!) in and around the “Friendliest Small Town in America,” according to U.S. News and World Report and Rand McNally.
Visit Murray!
Outdoor Adventures
Calloway County’s eastern border is formed by Kentucky Lake, meaning it is a great place to stay during a trip to “The Great Lake of the South.”
A sizable inlet of Kentucky Lake pushes through Calloway County, and it is surrounded by resorts, campsites, boat storage facilities, and even Kentucky Lake Glamping if you prefer a more curated spot to spend the night. The inlet has tons of biodiverse backwaters, which serve as hotspots for fishing and wildlife-observation enthusiasts.
Just across the lake from Calloway County is the massive, 170,000-acre Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. LBL – as locals call it – is home to many attractions that visitors love, including the 1850s Homeplace Working Farm, the Elk & Bison Prairie, and Fort Henry Walking Trails.
Calloway County experienced a great deal of activity during the Civil War, from divided loyalties, to unusual hanging incidents, to key strategic processions and battles at nearby forts.
Shortly after the war broke out, Confederate engineers and surveyors determined Fort Henry was inadequate for controlling the Tennessee River on the state border, and constructed Fort Heiman in Calloway County despite Kentucky officially being neutral territory. After getting word of an incoming Union attack ordered by Ulysses S. Grant, Confederates fled Fort Heiman overnight and left it for the taking. Federal forces captured Fort Henry in an explosive battle the next day, awarding the North control over the Tennessee River. The forts are memorialized where they stood on both sides of Kentucky Lake, though some sections of the actual battlefields are submerged in the water.
Fishing on Kentucky Lake is the signature attraction of the region, as anglers come from around the world to try and reel in large and smallmouth bass, catfish, crappie, bluegill, and much more. National and professional tournaments are hosted regularly on Kentucky Lake, and stories of legendary days on the water are not uncommon.
Of course, all of the wildlife and open space make hunting another major attraction to Calloway County. Deer, ducks, turkeys, and other small game are popular wildlife to target around Kentucky Lake, and there are plenty of public and private grounds where you can fill your bag.
Meandering through Murray
Murray State University is the cultural and educational center of Calloway County, which means the city of Murray has tons of opportunities if you're looking for food, fun, and fine arts.
Diverse Dining
Visitors of Murray have no need to worry about finding a good meal, as there are a wide variety of cuisines available in town. In fact, it offers more restaurants than any other town in the Kentucky Lake region. Several Mexican and Italian restaurants dot the landscape, and Thai food, as well as a Japanese steakhouse, ensure plenty of cultural variety can be found on the local dining scene. If your mind is open and you want to try some unique options you can check out Willow Bistro, a classy-but-humble local favorite that offers a surprising mix of ethnic foods from Japanese to Italian dishes, as well as simple American fare and salads.
You don’t have to search hard if you’re in the mood for homestyle country cooking, of course, and some of Murray’s signature spots include seafood restaurants and steakhouses. Sirloin Stockade is a respected place for fulfilling steak cravings, and its hot, cold, soup, and dessert bars are this restaurant’s claim to Calloway County fame. The Keg is another local favorite, a casual American spot with meat-and-threes from turkey, to catfish, to burnt ends, and beyond. Martha’s Restaurant is another hometown staple that offers American home-cooking three meals a day.
Pizza is easy to find around Murray, whether it’s Chicago-style from Muggsy’s Hideout or other local joints like Matt B’s, Mr. B’s, and Gofor Pizza. Muggsy’s Hideout isn’t the only place to get a Chicago-style Italian beef sandwich in Murray, however, as Chi-Town Dogs is another great spot for between-the-bun favorites from the largest city in the Midwest.
Plenty of bars offer great food and cold drinks around Murray, and its signature microbrewery is Hop Hound Brewhouse, known for using local ingredients in its signature beers. Los Portales offers authentic Mexican food made with family recipes, and also boasts a full bar. Tom’s Grille offers some slightly-upscaled pasta, pizza and steaks, which pair great with its in-depth drink menu.
For dessert, you may want to check out some of the beautiful cakes at Dumplin’s or donuts at Sammons’ Bakery.
Arts, Acting, Entertainment
The talented students and faculty at Murray State University ensure a steady stream of art comes through Calloway County, including both performing and visual arts.
Robert E. Johnson Theatre on campus hosts a plethora of University events, from musicals that get kids dancing out of their seats to more solemn offerings such as Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Tickets typically range from $3-15.
If visual art is more your thing, Murray State has multiple free, public galleries across its campus, with each showcasing unique exhibits, historic or contemporary.
Murray’s other venues include the 16,800-seat Roy Stewart Stadium for football, 8,600-seat NCAA basketball icon CFSB Center, and the historic 1,700-seat Lovett Auditorium, which has hosted legends such as David Letterman, Conway Twitty, and Dave Matthews.
Sports are popular entertainment for students and locals, as Murray State is an NCAA competitor in various games from football, to soccer, softball, and much more. The basketball program is the Racers’ most recognized sport, and it has produced its share of NBA talent through the years, including Popeye Jones, Cameron Payne, and superstar Ja Morant.