The thriving town of Calvert City is located in the north end of Marshall County, Kentucky, between Benton and Paducah and The Land Between the Lakes (LBL). It sits on the Tennessee River, and is immediately off of I-24 and I-69 for easy access to wherever you need to go.
While the railroad station is how Calvert City was initially established, it was the manufacturing industries that were built after the construction of Kentucky Dam in 1940 that helped this town to flourish. Currently, Calvert has more than a dozen factories on the river, which is an instrumental source of employment to the town and the whole region.
When taking a drive through the residential areas, you’ll notice the lush canopy of large trees over streets and yards. Calvert has beautiful subdivisions with newly built homes. There are also established homes on streets that interconnect and weave throughout the town, making it an easy place to take a bike ride around the neighborhoods or to one of the parks.
Let’s talk parks and recreation, because Calvert City packs a punch with their parks and incredible trails! There are three parks around town and they all have paved, lighted trails around them. Memorial Park is right in the heart of town and has a ½ mile trail around it that goes all the way to the Greenway Trail. This park has an amphitheater and a splash pad, which makes a fun way to cool off in the hot months.
Old Park is an established place with a landscape of shade trees. This is a good spot to have family reunions and gatherings, because there’s not only a great playground for the kids but also a 9-hole Disc Golf Course for the “big kids” who want to play, too! If you or your family members are athletic, more than likely you’ll find yourself at Doctors Park Sports Complex, formerly known as North Park.
Their one mile walking/bike trail also goes all the way to the Greenway Trail. You may ask what the Greenway Trail is, since all the trails seem to lead there. The Greenway Trail is a large project that’s been in the works since 2016. It is a nicely paved bicycle trail that began as a way to connect all the city parks, and now it’s almost completed to span from 5th Street in Calvert City all the way to the Kentucky Dam Village Resort Park! You can essentially bike to the lake area from Calvert City! This is an outstanding addition for Calvert locals to enjoy and the incoming visitors that frequent this lake area town in the warmer months.
If you want to enjoy the great outdoors in it’s fullness, head over to the Kentucky Lake, Barkley Lake, or Lands Between the Lakes (LBL), which is just down the road. Going into LBL from the north-end isn’t far from the serene Hematite Lake, where you can kayak on quiet waters or hike on the trail that circles the lake.
If you’re an animal lover, Woodlands Nature Station is an environmental education attraction that showcases wild animals native to the area, and offers special shows each season. Hillman Ferry Campground isn’t far from this northern entrance of LBL and is arguably one of the best campgrounds around! At this large campground, there are several trails for hiking or biking, and they have their own beach, as well. For the outdoorsman, there’s nothing quite like setting up camp with a water view! As many activities as there are around, being on a boat in the wide open waters of the lake is the best place to be!
Whether you’re tubing, fishing, or just taking in the scenery, Kentucky and Barkley Lake are some of the best lakes in the state. You could spend a whole week on the water and still find places you haven’t seen. Some of the locals can tell you their favorite places to anchor down and swim, or throw a line in the water and relish in the natural beauty around.
Calvert City offers a variety of tasty dining options. One favorite is Mama D’s Italian Restaurant. Opened up by a native Long Island couple, they created a menu of deliciously authentic Italian food that is hard to come by in the South. Known for their decadent “stuffed pizza” and pastas served with fresh sauces and warm bread, this casual place in an unexpected delight! Many people drive from out town just to eat their hearty Italian food. J. Mack BBQ is another stand out in Calvert! In a county that’s not lacking in BBQ options, J. Mack brought their A-game when they opened up just a couple of years ago and has developed a loyal following. Their beef brisket is some of the very best in the area.
The most well-known and popular spot in Calvert City, has to be the Calvert Drive-In! This drive-in movie theater opened in 1955, and is the only one remaining in Western Kentucky, so it’s full most weekends in the spring /summer. Friends and families enjoy getting there early to hang out on their blankets and lawn chairs or spread out in the back of their vehicles before the “1st run” double-feature begins.
Part of the appeal comes from the amazing grille they have. The drive-in is famous for their delicious cheeseburgers which are dressed in a thick layer of cheese, pickles, mustard and thinly sliced onion & are always hot and fresh! They also serve freshly made pizzas and of course popcorn — and their Coca-cola with cherry syrup is a perfect accompaniment. The lines forming for food are usually long before the movie begins, but the anticipation is part of the full experience. This drive-in theater is a treasure to the area!
From it’s incredible location to the beautiful neighborhoods and delicious food, it’s clear why Calvert is a nice place to live. There’s really no need to look for fun outside of it’s city limits, yet a short bike ride or drive away, even more adventures await! It’s easy to see why Calvert City residents take pride in their charming community which has so much to offer!
The Jeter Group