What better way to start Day 3 of the Rally North America Scavenger Hunt and Road Rally than beginning in downtown, small town America defined as Richmond, Kentucky. It was a beautiful July Summer morning. The cars and participants lined up between Second and Third Streets with Richmond Police handling the blockade. With blue lights flashing, Rally North America squealed down Second Street on their way to French Lick Resort in Indiana traveling through Danville, Springfield, Bardstown, and Louisville before entering Indiana.
Their first checkpoint was finding a 3-acre park in Danville called Constitution Square. Fifty additional points were awarded to participants who took team photos in front of three-replica buildings at the park.
The second checkpoint was another 50 points if teams could find the marriage certificate of Nancy and Thomas Lincoln in Springfield, Kentucky at Lincoln Homestead Park. By the way, Nancy and Thomas Lincoln were the parents of Honest Abe Lincoln adding to the educational value of the Rally.
Next, the third checkpoint was the “Most Beautiful Small Town in America” named by Randy McNally. Rally teams were to find the Welcome Center in the “Bourbon Capital of the World,” or Bardstown. Teams were encouraged to take pictures in Bardstown that contain the word “Bourbon” in them and received 25 points each with a maximum of three signs.
The fourth checkpoint was Waverly Hills Sanatorium and Geriatric Center in Louisville. Opened in 1910, today the old tuberculosis hospital is believed to be one of the most haunted places on earth. Private tours were arranged for Rally teams. Team photos were required inside the facility to clear the eerie checkpoint.
The Finish Line for Day 3 was the French Lick Spring Hotel in Indiana. The resort was built in 1845 by Thomas Taggart who hotel staff reports still occupies the grounds. In addition, voices are heard throughout the hotel as well as receiving mysterious phone calls from empty guestrooms. Participants needed to be at the Finish Line by 5.m. for their points to count.
Finally, teams were award points for raising charitable donations for C.O.P.S. or Concerns of Police Survivors. Jeff “Santa” Russ won the pole position for Day 3 by raising $15,000 for C.O.P.S. Also, this journalist and a friend followed the Rally today and enjoyed taking pictures at Constitution Square in Danville, viewing the marriage certificate of Nancy and Thomas Lincoln in Springfield, having lunch at Hurst Discount Drug soda fountain in Bardstown, touring the morgue at Waverly Hills Sanatorium, and ending the day at French Lick Resort after visiting the West Baden Springs Hotel.
