"Tony" wrote in message

Here's the story: we were flying American Airlines from St louis to RDU

Sounds like you were looking at a prison complex. I used to instruct years
ago here in Mass in an area with two distinct prison complexes fairly close
to one another,and your description fits the bill.. Based on a quick bit of
research, I'd guess you were looking at the Green River Correctional Complex
in Central City, KY, about 45 miles NW of Bowling Green.