Momentum in the Making

At the crossroads where I-24 and I-69 intersect in a seamless stretch of Western Kentucky highway, a bold new vision is beginning to take shape.

It's not a bait shop, fishing lodge or pickleball court. This time, it's the hum of machines, the rush of a winning ticket and the clink of glasses over a late-night game. It's Marshall Yards Racing & Gaming, one of the latest ventures for Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI).

Slated to open in early 2026, Marshall Yards will be CDI's eighth historical horse racing entertainment venue in Kentucky. The 4.5-acre site will offer 240 state-of-the-art historical racing machines, a vibrant sports bar, a retail sportsbook, simulcast wagering and curated food and beverage offerings. The venue will operate as an annex of Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel, but its identity will be deeply rooted in the local landscape.

For an area known for bass tournaments and barbecue joints, this is a different kind of destination. It is one designed to energize the local economy, attract new visitors and redefine what it means to spend a weekend in Western Kentucky.

"We are proud to announce this investment in Calvert City," says Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI. "In addition to delivering a premier gaming and entertainment experience, this project will deliver $45 million in annual regional economic impact and create 250 construction jobs and 90 permanent jobs." 

Those figures draw attention, especially in a region where the economy has historically leaned on industry, logistics and seasonal tourism. However, the numbers only tell part of the story. The real shift is cultural.

Calvert City has long existed in the in-between. Geographically, where the flatlands kiss the lakes and rivers of the west. Historically, between rural stillness and industrial purpose. With its roots planted in the late 1800s as a modest railroad town, Calvert City has grown, not through booms and busts, but with quiet resilience: a public library here, a new skate park there, a chemical plant pulsing along the riverbanks.

Even now, the town's skyline is less a silhouette and more a suggestion of water towers, smokestacks and church spires. Make no mistake, Calvert City is not standing still.

"This project is a testament to our city's strategic location at the crossroads of two major interstates, making us an ideal destination for economic growth and innovation," says

Mayor Gene Colburn. "Churchill Downs represents a cornerstone of Kentucky's rich heritage, and having this iconic brand invest in Calvert City is both an honor and an incredible opportunity."

Marshall Yards does not aim to overwrite Calvert City's identity. Instead, it aims to layer it. The venue takes inspiration from the city's establishment in the 1860s when Potilla Willis Calvert donated land to the Paducah and Elizabethtown Railroad for a new train station. That station, named Calvert City, served as the starting point of the town, which was later incorporated on March 18, 1871.

"This project represents a remarkable step forward for our community," says Kevin Spraggs, Marshall County Judge Executive. "The jobs created, the increased tax revenue, and the growth in local businesses will have a far-reaching impact, helping to fund vital services like education, infrastructure and public safety."

Spraggs, like many others, sees the development as something bigger than its square footage. It's a signal that the region is open for more than just business. It is open for reinvention.

There is a quiet thrill in imagining what Marshall Yards could look like on a Friday night in Marshall County: young couples sliding into leather booths for burgers and bourbon; retirees placing modest bets on simulcast races with a practiced eye; lake-goers wrapping up their sunburned day with one last toast under neon light.

Then, there's the economic ripple: small business owners extending their hours, boutique retailers opening new locations, food trucks rolling into town to park outside the venue.

"The opening of Churchill Downs' historical racing gaming venue in Calvert City is a transformative moment for our community," says Elizabeth Griffith Mudd, President of Kentucky Lake Economic Development. "Our local economy stands to benefit from increased business/tourism activity, new job opportunities and a strengthened tax base, all of which will help drive sustained growth and prosperity in our region."

As CDI puts down roots in Western Kentucky, Calvert City finds itself at a familiar crossroads-the literal kind, yes, but also the symbolic one. A place between what was and what could be. Between grit and glamor. Between heritage and evolution.

For longtime residents, this new chapter might bring questions about identity, growth and change. But one thing is clear: Calvert City has always made room for the next thing. It has always made space for progress.

And Marshall Yards marks more than progress-it's a momentum. Calvert City isn't just holding onto its roots but growing from them. With this investment, the town is stepping

confidently into the spotlight, proving that small towns can dream big-and deliver-without losing sight of where they started.