Car/Corvette Fans: The Jaw-Dropping Sinkhole Exhibit You Have to See to Believe!

Ten years ago, the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, made headlines around the world. But it wasn’t for a new car model or a record-breaking event. It was because a massive sinkhole opened up right under the museum’s Skydome, swallowing eight priceless Corvettes. For car enthusiasts and Corvette lovers, it was a nightmare come true. But now, the museum has turned this disaster into an educational and fascinating sinkhole exhibit, “Ground to Sky: The Sinkhole Reimagined,” open until September 15.

The Day

In 2014, the sinkhole shocked everyone when it caused a 40-foot-deep hole right in the middle of the museum. Iconic cars like the ZR-1 Spyder, a 1962 Corvette, and the 1.5 millionth Corvette ever made were among those that plummeted into the abyss. The event was a devastating blow to the Corvette community, but the museum saw it as a chance to educate and inspire. This portion of the sinkhole exhibit explores what happened on February 12, 2014. While the story made international headlines and many remember seeing security footage of the Corvettes falling into the sinkhole, some may not be as familiar with the story. A panel briefly gets visitors up to speed, with one screen looping the security footage and another playing media clips from the day.

News and Pop Culture

Corvettes are eye-catching, even when they lay mangled in the bottom of a 30-foot sinkhole. The story swept the nation and abroad, and the photos and video quickly went viral. An unexpected result of the sinkhole was the amount of interest on social media, from tens of thousands of shares to hilarious memes and parodies, to a growing interest in the Museum. There is a section of the sinkhole exhibit that delves into the pop culture sensation the sinkhole became.

Corvettes Affected

“Some tears were shed,” is how Museum Executive Director Wendell Strode described the news of eight Corvettes falling victim to the sinkhole. This panel provides photos, videos, and facts on each of the cars, as well as an interactive “before” model of each Corvette. An illuminated acrylic case illustrates precisely where each car fell into the hole. The new sinkhole exhibit features these damaged vehicles, preserved and displayed to tell their stories of survival and restoration. Among the highlights are the 2009 ZR-1 Blue Devil and the one-millionth Corvette, each with its own unique history. Seeing these cars up close, with their battle scars from the sinkhole, is a powerful reminder of the event’s impact.

The Recovery

The recovery of the Corvettes from the sinkhole was no easy task! At the sinkhole exhibit you can see short video clips and photos of the process within the Cars Affected section, but you can also get behind the controls of a crane at the interactive game within “The Recovery.” Guests of all ages will enjoy digitally recovering all eight cars and putting them safely in their garage bays.

Karst Landscapes

For much of the country, the idea of caves and sinkholes can be interesting and sometimes scary. For residents of South-Central Kentucky, they are a way of life. One part of the sinkhole exhibit gives a deeper look at what lies beneath our feet. What exactly is karst? How are caves formed? What kind of sinkholes are there? Am I safe? They even have a few samples of rock formations from their cave, including one that took tens of thousands of years to form!

What It Took to Fix the Sinkhole

The sinkhole exhibit features an illuminated acrylic case displaying each micropile used to fill the hole, highlighting the engineering marvel behind stabilizing the Skydome. You can watch a quick time-lapse video of the process and interact with a responder wall to explore the cave’s size and hidden Corvette parts via live webcam feed. Experience a virtual cave collapse in the mini cave for a thrilling yet safe adventure, followed by a trivia kiosk to test your knowledge before continuing your tour through the Skydome.

Look Below the Surface at the Sinkhole Exhibit

At the sinkhole exhibit display, don’t miss the 48″ manhole leading into one side of the cave. Added during the repair process, it offers a glimpse 30 feet down into the sinkhole’s floor. This passage slopes into the cave, revealing intriguing subterranean terrain. “Ground to Sky: The Sinkhole Reimagined” celebrates more than damaged cars; it honors the Corvette community’s resilience, turning a disaster into an educational and inspiring exhibit. The National Corvette Museum has transformed a dark moment into a powerful display. For gearheads and Corvette enthusiasts alike, this exhibit is a must-see.