Corvette Museum to Close Up Sinkhole

Sinkhole in Corvette Museum (Credit: © National Corvette Museum)

Once the initial shock of the sinkhole at the National Corvette Museum people have debated endlessly about what should be done with the hole and the damage it has caused. Certainly individuals think that the sinkhole is a defining moment in the museum’s history and should be preserved, while others wholeheartedly disagree. The museum’s board has made a final decision to fill up the sinkhole and repair all damage done to the Skydome.

Initially, the board voted to preserve a portion of the sinkhole, believing that it would be a draw for visitors. Apparently after receiving price quotes that involved keeping a portion of the hole exposed, the cost was far too much to justify. When measures for vapor barriers that would control the humidity level in the Skydome, as well different safety systems were figured into the project, the cost rose from the initial $500,000 price tag to a cost of $1,000,000.

There were also concerns that the engineering that would have been required for the sinkhole would have taken away its natural look, which was kind of the point of keep it in the first place. Also a consideration that the sinkhole would require expensive maintenance, otherwise the structure of the Skydome could have suffered even more damage.
If you haven’t had a chance to go out to Bowling Green, Kentucky and see the sinkhole for yourself, there’s still time to witness it before the hole is repaired. In the early part of November of this year, the repair work for the sinkhole and then the Skydome itself will begin, returning everything to the way it was before.

In addition, three of the sinkhole Corvettes will be restored by the National Corvette Museum and Chevrolet. The Blue Devil, a 2009 ZR1 prototype is one car that will be fully reworked. The 1992 convertible that is the one millionth Corvette to have been made will also be restored. The third car is a 1962 model. The other five Corvettes that were recovered from the hole will be kept as-is.