JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — In the first Monday of the week leading up to Kentucky Derby 150 and the impact is already being felt across Kentuckiana.
This year's celebration is expected to bring in a milestone economic boom, and several businesses in southern Indiana are ready for their piece of the Derby pie.
Market Street Inn is showing subtle signs they are ready to welcome their guests for the Kentucky Derby. The bed and breakfast lodge said so far they have five our of their seven rooms booked. The owner, Carol Stenbro, said the yearly event always kicks off their busiest season.
"Throw in the PGA as well and we got more people coming into the area," Stenbro said. "So it's nice to be able to be busy and serve the community."
Stenbro said they are prepared to welcome guests from Alaska who will be staying with them for a week.
Another popular spot for an overnight stay is the Sheraton Louisville Riverside Hotel. The general manager Trish Etherton said they should be fully booked starting Thursday.
"We are typically a three night stay with check-in on Thursday departing on that Sunday," Etherton said. "We have a few rooms that opened up so (we're) wanting to get those last few booked."
Communications manager for SoIN Toursim Anna Rosales-Crone said every year around this time that 90% of their hotel rooms in the area are book for Derby weekend. They are keeping track of the financial gain and said the their home has continued thriving since the COVID-19 Pandemic.
"The recovery took place in 2022," Rosales-Crone said. "Even 2023 numbers broke records in terms of rooms stays, in terms of the people we were seeing coming over for Derby."
The tourism boom is also attractive to newly open businesses like La Catrina Tacos & Tequila. Employee Vanessa Octavo said they've been serving customers from various places like California and Chicago.
"The environment feels good," Octavo said. "I mean we're having a lot of people hanging out around here at the local restaurants. Plus the bridge, it brings in a lot of customers."
The influx of visitors shows the wave of tourism and money is washing ashore in Southern Indiana.
SoIN Tourism encourages visitors check out other attractions in Clarksville and New Albany as well. For more details you can check out their website.
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