Blue Bridge Homes is one of Owensboro’s popular residential accommodations for anyone wanting to take some time away from their current homes. Booking through Airbnb, Shanna McGinnis said she is trying to help Owensboro as it turns into a destination city.
McGinnis now has two homes open for rental for trips and extended stays. Her first house dubbed “The 1985 Home” has been open since September, but her second one called “Retro Revival House” opened in March.
McGinnis tries to give each home its own theme and overall vibe. The Retro Revival Home has the original bathroom from the 1950s and a kitchen with a few updates.
“I just thought that I want to give all these houses a theme and a personality, so let’s just keep this whole retro feel … and let’s let it inspire the theme of the house,” McGinnis said.
The house has been open for 6 weeks and has been busy with guests, each giving great responses according to McGinnis.
When the summer comes, McGinnis is excited for the prospects of both locations, which are fairly centrally located. She said when Porchfest kicks off, both locations can provide great access, especially the 1985 House.
Looking ahead, she hopes to have a home that can accommodate longer stays of around 60 to 90 days, as well as a home decorated with local products and art that can be purchased while a guest is staying.
“I would love to have a house someday that is shoppable, where the artwork is done by local artists and the guests can literally buy it off the walls,” she said.
She currently partners with Big Turkeyfoot Coffee, allowing guests to scan a QR code to purchase more coffee to take with them or use during their stay.
When McGinnis started Blue Bridge Homes, she said she noticed that the city was — and still is — on an upward trend and wants to help offer places to stay as Owensboro becomes a destination city.
For now, she said that most guests are staying less than 7 days, but she has had some stay upward of a month. She said reasons for stays have ranged from short-term getaways to hospital visits to work ventures and more.
Nonetheless, she said, they are all coming to Owensboro and experiencing the culture.
“I really think that Owensboro is going be a place that people actually come to visit for the sake of coming to visit, not just because they came to be here for something else,” McGinnis said.
