Posted in Kentucky
June 27, 2015
Visit These 12 Creepy Ghost Towns In Kentucky At Your Own Risk
When people think about ghost towns, the west usually comes to mind, but Kentucky has a few creepy ghost towns of its own. These areas were all once filled with the hustle and bustle of human life. Now the only thing that’s bustling is the leaves when the wind blows, some ripples on the water, or a few lonely people. For the most part, the towns themselves are either gone, or almost abandoned completely.
These 12 Kentucky Ghost towns get a lot less attention then they deserve:
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
This coal mining town in McCreary County was first inhabited in early 1902 by mining camps. The town of coal miners began to dismantle after a coal mine fire that toppled several mines. In 1984 Kogar bought the remaining homes and renovated them for over night stays.
This Carter County town was once the home of a thriving mushroom mine and an old brick yard. The community’s founding date is unknown, but a few families still call the rural area home. Most families moved to Morehead decades ago. What remains now is the creepy, abandoned mushroom mines, aka Limestone mines, some old railroad tracks, and the old General Store. It can be found beyond Hadleman and past Deharts Bible and Tire Store on #174.
This 18th Century Crittenden County town once housed miners of the nearby Bells Mining, and farmers. During the Civil War there was a huge battle and the town became partially abandoned. The old church stood until 2002, but was torn down. The cemetery still stands, holding generations of previous family residents.
This tiny area in Ballard County has been a town since 1842 and is named after Captain Bland Ballard. It has 30 residents. One of the most interesting parts of town is its historical graveyard.
Aka Mine 18 was established in 1937 and abandoned in 1962. During the 1980s the town was recreated with “ghost buildings” and turned into a mining museum town.
Isham Charles Wells and a few friends established this quaint town in northeast Calloway County around 1837. The town started shrinking and by 1870 had diminished. The TVA Kentucky Lake project of the 1930 flooded the land, covering the decaying remnants of the small town.
Russell County, formally Cumberland County still has a few buildings and a rock house standing along Route 379. That is all that remains of the town that thrived before the Cumberland Dam was built.
This Leslie County town was a trapping, mining, farming town with over 500 members of the Whitehead family, including children. Now all that remains is the Dryfork Cemetery and a little place called Redbird.
This Edmondson County town began in the 1800s, and was a coal drop off for L&N Railroad. It was a thriving community with thousands of residents, sporting two hotels and a railroad station. There was a terrible fire in 1930 that destroyed over half the town. Rebuilding began, but the families that left never returned… and the population dwindled. It is now home to five houses, a volunteer fire department, general store, bed and breakfast, church, and a post office. This Rocky Hill is not to be confused with the town of the same name in Barren County, which is thriving.
This 19th Century Trigg County town was known for moonshiners during the prohibition. It was abandoned in 1969 and taken over by Parks and Recreation.
This coal town in Whitley County was the birth place of actress, Patricia O’Neal. It was established in 1908 and abandoned in the mid 1900s.
This famed Henderson County Civil War town got its first home in 1800 with a Cherokee and Shawnee family. In the late 1800s General Johnson led a group of Cherokee refugees there to be reunited with their families. The flood of 1913 took most the homes, and the flood of 1937 took the rest.
Each of these ghost towns was once an important part of Kentucky’s history. Some can still be visited, especially those turned into historic museums or over night stays. These towns, or the remnants thereof, make an interesting stop on a bucket list. Each is nestled in some beautiful country. If you have visited a Bluegrass State Ghost Town, please share what it was like in the comments below.
