Location
Region: The Rivers
Latitude: 37.0076° N
Longitude: -88.22563° W
Waterway Guide: Grand Rivers
Destination: Green Turtle Bay, Grand Rivers
Grand Rivers, Kentucky, and Green Turtle Bay Resort represent a major transition point on the Great Loop. It’s the point where you enter Kentucky Lakes and the Tenn-Tom Waterway. The Green Turtle Bay Resort, at the head of Lake Barkley, is just a short cruise from either the Kentucky Lock & Dam or the Barkley Lock & Dam.
Aside from the excellent facilities at Green Turtle Bay Resort, one of the draws is Grand Rivers, the small town just outside the resort complex. It features the famous Patti’s 1880s Settlement, a large restaurant and shopping complex. Most Loopers visit in the late fall and can take in Patti’s and the Town of Grand River’s extensive Holiday Light Display.
Some of the amenities at Green Turtle Bay, aside from dockage, fuel, and pump-out service, include an excellent restaurant just off the docks and a seasonal Bar & Grill also on the property. They also offer courtesy cars you can borrow to go into town for provisioning or other errands. A Spa offering massage, skincare, and nail service. A Health Club that includes an indoor heated pool and exercise equipment. Golf cart rentals are available if you want to pop into Grand Rivers for dinner, and a shuttle service will also bring you into town. Green Turtle Bay offers condo rentals if you want to take a night or two off your boat.
Green Turtle Bay also has an excellent repair facility with a travel lift and is one of the first stops where you can get hauled out and propeller issues (from your trip down the rivers) sorted out. There is an excellent propeller repair service in Paducah.
Green Turtle Bay was one of our favorite stops on our first Loop, and we visited again on our second Loop. Because of the large facility, it is a popular starting point for mid-westerners to start their Great Loop Trip, and as a result, there are frequent Wake Crossing parties and docktails!
Where To Eat
Pier 32 is right on the docks at the Green Turtle Bay Resort. Tiki Turtle is their casual dining Bar & Grill, also just a short walk from the docks. Downtown Grand Rivers (really just a main street with one traffic light) is less than a mile from the marina and is the entertainment hub of the area with several excellent restaurant choices topped by the famous Patti’s 1880s Restaurant, a large restaurant that is a must visit if you are in the area. They feature an excellent menu featuring Southern Food, traditional steak and seafood offerings, pasta, flowerpot rolls, and mile-high meringue pies. Make reservations at least a day in advance, as even with seating for over 350, they fill up quickly, especially on the weekends.
Across the street from Patti’s is T Lawson’s Grill another excellent choice with traditional American fare. Craig’s Dairy Dream is just down the street from Patti’s if you still have room after dinner or are just looking for a treat. For a burger and a beer, we recommend Between The Lakes Tap House & Grill, just a bit farther down the street.
Shopping Therapy
Make sure you go early for your dinner reservation at Patti’s 1880s. The area around Patti’s is a large shopping village. You can walk down paved paths and explore 8 boutiques, including Calvin Swine’s Moonshine with free samples, Little Lamb’s children’s clothing boutique, Ashleigh’s Boutique, which features women’s fashion, Reflections home & garden accents, River Birch Mercantile home decor, candles, and Pandora Jewelry. Peacock Corner is a trendy boutique featuring t-shirts and clothing. The Pink Tractor boutique with looks from Vega, Dalla, and Nashville. Finally, Yesterday’s One More is the restaurant building’s huge baked goods and gift shop.
Another spot to visit is The Trendy Turtle in the marina resort area and Grand Rivers Antiques next to Patti’s. There is a small supermarket, The Village Market & Cafe, in town, or you can borrow the courtesy van for a trip into Calvert City for Food Giant or to Paducah for Kroger and Walmart.
Green Turtle Bay Resort also has a well-stocked parts and accessories shop.
Getting Around On Shore
Getting around the Green Turtle Bay Resort and into Grand Rivers for Patti’s is pretty easy. You can walk or bike into town. It’s just under a mile on side roads. There is also a shuttle service in the evenings on the weekends. If you are staying for a while, you can rent a golf cart to get into town as well.
For trips farther afield, the resort has a few courtesy vans available that you can borrow for up to 2 hours, more than enough for a Walmart run. We’ve also used them to bring our propellers to Paducah to be straightened.
There are also Enterprise, and Hertz car rental locations easily reachable with the courtesy vans.
Due to its rural nature, Uber and Lyft services, if available, are extremely limited.
Keeping Entertained
Shopping is the area’s biggest attraction. Both of the marina’s restaurants have entertainment, primarily on the weekends. Also, Between The Lakes Tap House & Grill in Grand Rivers features music, karaoke, and trivia. Check with them for schedules.
If you missed the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, it is also worth a trip back to see it. You’ll need to coordinate transportation, as it’s more than a two-hour visit with the courtesy vans. (Buddy up with one or two other couples and check with the marina office. They will sometimes allow two groups to sign out the van for back-to-back periods, allowing for longer trips.
Getting There
Most boaters are heading south from the Ohio River and Paducah. From Paducah, there are two routes. The Tennessee River and Kentucky Lock route which is 29 miles to Green Turtle Bay. After exiting Kentucky Lock, you will use the Barkley Canal to cross over to Lake Barkley, turn left, and Green Turtle Bay is just a mile north. This route tends to be more industrial with more tow boat traffic and the potential for long delays at the lock.
The other route is via the Cumberland River and the Barkley Lock. This route is about 45 miles long. It is much more scenic, has less tow traffic, and has fewer lock delays. Green Turtle Bay is only 1/2 mile from the lock. This is the preferred route for most boaters.
We’ve taken both routes and had good luck at both locks. If we go again, we’ll probably stick to the Cumberland River, as it’s a much prettier ride.
From the South, you will be motoring up Kentucky Lake. Watch for the Barkley Canal about 3 miles before the Barkley Lock. Take the canal to cut across to Lake Barkley, then turn left. Green Turtle Bay is just a mile north.
Marinas and Anchorages
- Green Turtle Bay Resort & Marina – This is the premier stop with easy access to town and great amenities. They offer Diesel, Gas, Pumpout, and Repairs with a Travel Lift. (800) 498-0428
- Lighthouse Landing Marina – This marina is on Kentucky Lake right at the entrance to the Barkley Canal. It also offers easy walking access to downtown Grand Rivers. They do not offer fuel, but do have pumpout. If you are just planning an overnight stop, especially if you come up the Tennessee River, it’s a great option. Phone: (270) 362-8201
- Kentucky Dam Marina – This marina is at a state park on the west side of Kentucky Lake, just a mile away from the dam. They have a nice restaurant on site. There is no easy access to Grand Rivers, but it’s a nice, quiet option. Gas, Diesel, Pumpout, and minor repairs are available. Phone: (270) 362-8386
Several excellent protected anchorages are also available on Lake Barkley, either just north or south of Green Turtle Bay or directly across from the Barkley Canal on Kentucky Lake.
Where To Find Out More
Have you been to Green Turtle Bay? What is your favorite spot?
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