In recent years, the General Motors Bowling Green Assembly plant has seen its fair share of curveballs. The factory and its personnel – whom exclusively produce the C8 Corvette – have endured a pandemic, layout changes and enhancements, union disputes, and not to mention the tornadoes and fires it dealt with just last year. And to think that this place used to have accommodation for a visitor’s tour. Well, if you’ve been patiently waiting for the National Corvette Museum to bring back in-person factory tours, that time has finally arrived.
You can now purchase and schedule a Bowling Green Assembly Plant in-person tour through the end of January 2023. The assembly plant has been home for making all of GM’s Corvettes since it opened in 1981. It has since produced well over 1-million Corvettes. Currently, the factory produces both the C8 Corvette Stingray and 2023 Z06.
The Fine Print
Per usual, however, there is some fine print. Per NCM’s website, museum members will be given first crack at buying and scheduling a tour. Members will also be given a one week head start over the rest of us which have to wait until November 1, when purchasing and scheduling tours goes public. There are blackout dates in which you will not be able to visit however and those include; November 8-18, November 24-25, December 5-9, December 26 – January 2.
In addition, you’re not allowed to bring cameras, bags, or open toe shoes (duh) inside the factory building. There are no refunds or discounts given at this time and there is no certainty to whether or not the plant will be in “normal production” during your visit. Nevertheless, a tour guide will take you through the full assembly process. A process that can include building your own Corvette Z06 engine, or taking delivery of your new 2023 Stingray at the nearby National Corvette Museum. Both of those options were considered add-ons when making a purchase.
