The 8 Quirkiest Spots In Kentucky That Will Bring A Smile To Your Face

The Bluegrass State is known for its natural beauty, with its superlative caves, lakes, and waterfalls all earning national acclaim. But Kentucky has a downright weird side, too; an offbeat sense of humor you’ll find all throughout the state, and often in the most unsuspecting places. Here are eight of the quirkiest spots in Kentucky sure to bring a smile to your face:

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest/Facebook

Bernheim Arboretum is a fairytale forest complete with woodland giants. For its 90th anniversary, Bernheim Arboretum invited Thomas Dambo, a Danish artist, to build three forest giants: Mama Loumari and her children. (Mama Loumari, pictured here, is the largest of these incredible sculptures, and is posed relaxing against a tree.) These whimsical giants have become an iconic Kentucky photo op, and are fantastic to see in person!

Kentucky State Parks

Where can you find Ice Age fossils, bison, and a larger-than-life prehistoric diorama? At Kentucky's Big Bone Lick State Park, that's where! This park, which is free to visit, features an outdoor museum, which includes a 'discovery trail' where woolly mammoths and other extinct animals can be found, along with a massive mammoth diorama, too!

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Dinosaur World, Kentucky/Facebook

Dinosaur World is the very definition of a quirky attraction. Right off Hwy 65, life-size dinosaurs loom over the tree tops, beckoning visitors to this unique park. Dinosaur World features 150 different life-size dinosaurs, as well as "dinosaur dig" area where little archaeologists will find shark teeth, shells, and claws. It's quite an experience!

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Jane's Saddlebag/Google Local

Jane’s Saddlebag is definitely one of the most unique attractions in Kentucky. It’s a homestyle restaurant, whimsical children’s playland, living history museum, and family-run farm. The attraction's owners have a sense of humor that can be seen in everything from the "Whine Shoppe" to the "Big Bone Jail." Simply put, Jane's Saddlebag is an underrated treasure that makes for a fun and memorable day trip in Kentucky!

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BowlingGreen VisitorsBureau/Google Local

Did you know Duncan Hines was an actual person? And that he was from Kentucky? At the Kentucky Museum, "Recommended by Duncan Hines" is an eight-section exhibit celebrating the life and work of the boxed cake king. The exhibit is a look into Hines's own Kentucky kitchen, complete with retro appliances, mid-century decor, and a rather uncanny wax figure of Mr. Hines himself.

Marty Brockman/Google Local

In Kentucky, there's a real-life flying saucer that's caused quite a stir. Dubbed the "Spaceship House," this portable, prefabricated home design from 1968 is by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen. These "futuro" houses were a fad in the early 1960s, and roughly 100 were built across the world. Only a few still exist, including this gem in Kentucky. The house is said to accommodate eight people, but it's quite small, so we're wondering if it actually fits eight tiny martians instead. This quirky spaceship house is located on Wright Street in Covington.

Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory/Facebook

Louisville's Big Bat is the world's largest baseball bat, and an iconic Kentucky photo op. Made of steel, it weighs 68,000 pounds and towers 120 feet into the sky. The Big Bat is an exact-scale replica of Babe Ruth's 34-inch Louisville Slugger bat. It's truly a sight to behold!

Stephen Cho/Google Local

Kentucky is home to the world's only museum dedicated to the art of ventriloquism: Vent Haven Museum. Highly regarded among the ventriloquist community, this museum is the site of an annual ventriloquist convention. Those who enjoy seeing exhibitions of uncanny little wooden people will love Vent Haven, as there are 900 dummies (that's what the dolls are called -- we aren't name-calling!) used by ventriloquists from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. Borderline creepy? Yes. Absolutely awesome? Yes and yes!

How many of these unique little gems in Kentucky have you been to? Which, in your opinion, is the quirkiest spot in Kentucky? (We might have to go with the dummy museum…) If you have any other bizarre places you’d like to see featured, be sure to nominate them here!