Is Rosine Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

If you love bluegrass music or aren’t sure if you love bluegrass music, you need to visit Rosine, Kentucky.

This is where the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, is from, and his musical stylings still hang in the air today.

Rosine isn’t just a tourist destination.

It’s the pilgrimage of bluegrass lovers from far and wide.

Jody Flener, the Executive Director of Ohio County’s Tourism Commission, told Lexington station FOX56, “I have actually seen people get out and kiss the ground.

It’s sort of the Memphis of Bluegrass.”

The population of this city is only 100 people, but that explodes tenfold just about every Friday night when the Rosine Barn has bands play free concerts to a house so packed that some people listen from lawn chairs in the parking lot.

You won’t find a police department or city hall here.

All the leadership comes from either nearby Beaven Dam (commonly referred to as “The Dam”) or Ohio County, Kentucky.

While Rosine is a very small town near other bigger small towns, it is still less than an hour from Owensboro.

It’s also close to some of the best hunting and hunting tourism groups you can find in the bluegrass state.

Now, don’t go thinking this isn’t a place worth visiting.

Even the New York Times called it “one of the best places to go” in 2016.

If that’s not validation, I don’t know what is!

Warnings & Dangers in Rosine

OVERALL RISK: LOW

You literally have a better chance of a deer jumping in front of your car than being a victim of a crime here. The crime rates are low throughout Ohio County as well.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

You'll need a car to visit Rosine, although some people opt to get a charter bus when traveling in large groups from bigger cities. There's a low risk you'll find a ride other than your own rental car. Once you're in the city, it's pretty walkable.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

When the Rosine Barn gets going, you want to make sure your valuables are locked away so you can tap and clap and dance. However, the theft risk is low, even in the entire county with no pickpockets reported in 2020.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

This is one heck of medium risk, especially since Rosine is in the middle of the wilderness. Tornados, severe thunderstorms, and winter storms can isolate the city and the surrounding roads unpassable.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

You've got a low risk here too. Just two robberies were reported in the whole county in 2020.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

While I doubt terror groups are big fans of bluegrass music, they aren't going to target this small town. You're far away from any major city too, so the risk is very low.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

You don't have to worry about scams here. This is a town where everyone knows everyone, and nobody is trying to scam the tourists that keep the city alive.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women can experience Rosine with low risk, but there's really nothing to do here if you don't love bluegrass music, hunting, or fishing.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The overall risk is low, but there was a water quality violation in early 2021. The water utility addressed it and fixed the problem. A warning was sent out to residents once the issue was identified, and there hasn't been a violation since.

Safest Places to Visit in Rosine

The Bil Monroe Museum is a long time overdue, and many bluegrass fans never got to experience this since it just opened in 2018.

It’s filled with artifacts, memorabilia, and several photo ops set up.

Nearby, you visit Uncle Pen’s Cabin, which is a museum in its own right, albeit smaller than the main museum.

This is a replica of the cabin where Monroe lived with his uncle just before he turned 18.

The Rose Barn Jamboree is a restaurant, souvenir shop, and lively music joint.

On Friday evenings from April through December, you can listen to the best bluegrass you’ll ever hear and meet people from all over the world who come to hear this sacred Kentucky sound.

A little outside of town, people pay homage to the Monroe Homeplace at Jerusalem Ridge.

This is where the Monroe family started. Monroe even paid tribute to this site in his song “I’m On My Way Back to the Old Home.”

A bluegrass festival is held here each year.

The home sits on 800 acres once used for Monroe family hunting adventures.

The Rosine Cemetery is where Monroe and several family members, including Uncle Pen, are laid to rest.

There are large tributes to the family, and this is another popular, though somber, tour of the Bluegrass founder’s hometown.

Kentucky Trophy Deer and Racknine Outdoors are two nearby hunting experiences that can last up to five days.

These hunting packages are all-inclusive, but they’re going to set you back a couple of thousand dollars on average.

(NOTE: I am not a hunter, so I have no idea if that’s a good deal or not.)

The hunting properties promise a unique experience with trophy deer.

Places to Avoid in Rosine

There isn’t a place in Rosine you should, or can, avoid.

It’s a very small town with just the above-listed handful of things to see and do.

If it wasn’t for Monroe’s musical legend, I’m not sure the world would even know Rosine existed.

The people here are very friendly and will go out of their way to tell you stories about the Monroe family.

Kentuckians speak in their own form of a Southern drawl.

Remember, while you are visiting here, you are the one who “talks funny”, not them.

A few sayings to know before you go include:

• “I reckon you should go” = I think you should go
• “Jerusalem Ridge is over yonder.” = Look at a map because there isn’t a place called “Yonder” to go over.
• “Were you raised in a barn?” = Not a serious question. They want you to close the door because you’re letting the heat/AC out.
• “Full as a tick on a coon hound’s back.” = This means you’ve eaten a lot and can’t eat anymore.
• “You look high falutin!” = You are way too dressed up.
• “Yun’to to go see the museum?” = Contraction of “Do You Want To” as in “Do you want to go see the museum?”

Safety Tips for Traveling to Rosine

So... How Safe Is Rosine Really?

Rosine is so small there aren’t crime statistics for it, but even reviewing the past few years of news articles about it shows very little crime activity outside of drug crimes or car accidents.

While there were just a handful of car break-ins in 2020 across Ohio County, there were 35 car thefts.

You should never leave a car unlocked or with the windows rolled down.

Don’t create a crime of opportunity.

Practice the same safety techniques as if you were in a big, dangerous city.

The biggest risk in this area is the weather.

Tornadoes can happen any time of year, and a notable series of tornadoes can through this region in December of 2021.

Spring is the most likely time for tornadoes.

Winter storms with ice create all kinds of problems, and not just on the roads.

When ice or heavy snow accumulates on branches, it can cause the branches to fall onto power lines.

This can leave people in the dark and cold for days on end.

Overall, if you’re following safety steps related to criminal risks and weather risks, you will have a great time dancing to bluegrass music and walking in the footsteps of a legend.

How Does Rosine Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

You'll need a work or travel visa to enter the United States. The process can take several months and cost you about $160. You only need to show your visa at the airport and can travel freely throughout Kentucky without having to show proof.

Currency

You can only use the U.S. Dollar here, and while many of the attractions are free, you'll want some spending cash for places that don't accept credit cards. Be sure to exchange currency at the airport because you won't be able to in Rosine.

Weather

Winter visitors should bring warm outerwear, especially if they are hunting. While snow storms aren't all that common, there are generally 2-3 per year. Spring and fall can be a mixed bag of temperatures. Different layers of clothing will help with the temperature swings. Summer is going to be hot and very humid. Bring bug spray and sunscreen. You don't have to dress up here, so bring casual clothes and comfortable walking shoes.

Airports

The Owensboro Daviess County Regional Airport is about 45 minutes northwest. Louisville International Airport is about two hours northeast. Nashville's airport is about two hours south.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance will cover a wide array of things that go wrong, from weather delays at the airport to an accident on the roads to injuries in the wilderness.

Rosine Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Kentucky - Safety by City