Most People Have No Idea There's An Underwater Ghost Town Hiding In Kentucky
Jenn Shockley
Author
Whether you enjoy sport fishing, kayaking, swimming, or hiking the most, you’ve probably spent quite a bit of time in the Land Between the Lakes region and Kentucky Lake in particular. But did you know Kentucky Lake is hiding a secret? Several towns once existed in that very spot. The largest of which was known as Birmingham, Kentucky back in the 1800s. The area that once flourished as a community is now an underwater ghost town in Kentucky.
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Can you still see Birmingham?
Locals will tell you, when Kentucky Lake is low, the streets of some foundations of Birmingham are still visible. Birmingham Point is the most likely spot to see remnants of the community, though you may not be able to tell exactly what is what.
Kentucky Lake is beautiful.
This is a beautiful spot to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of the city. It is sad that a community had to disappear to create such a serene spot in our state. The water sports, fishing, and activities that happen here overshadow the loss of the town for most.
The realization that this lake is actually an underwater ghost town in Kentucky can come as quite a surprise. Most people don’t realize that this gorgeous lake was once a collection of thriving communities. Birmingham, Kentucky may be gone, but its stories still remain. And its memory still flourishes beneath the calm waters of Kentucky Lake.
Birmingham, KY isn’t the only town with a unique story. You can read more about some of Kentucky’s ghost towns in this article.
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More to Explore
More underwater towns in Kentucky lakes
Is there a town under cave run lake?
No, there is not a town under Cave Run Lake. The Cave Run Lake project began in 1965 by damming the Licking River in Eastern Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest. The land that was flooded was primarily owned by the U.S. Forest Service at the time, and the remaining land was acquired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before the lake project began. The city beneath Lake Kennedy in Western Kentucky is often confused with Cave Run Lake, but the two lake projects were in completely different parts of the state and completed over a decade apart.
What happened to the Lake Cumberland underwater town?
The Lake Cumberland underwater town still sits beneath the bottom of the lake. If you thought mysterious ghost towns were only something you could find in classic horror films, think again! A real-life ghost town lies beneath Kentucky's Lake Cumberland – a stunning 65,530-acre body of water created by damming the river in 1952. Although the small mining community was abandoned shortly after the region was flooded, its rustic remnants found resting peacefully beneath the lake offer a unique glimpse into early pioneer life. It’s difficult to imagine that once bustling streets full of people now lay hidden under the placid surface above. Hidden from view though it may be, the communities of Long Bottom, Lula, Horse Shoe Bottom, and Stokes are sure to remain an unforgettable and permanent reminder of this area’s rich historical past.
Are there actual ghost towns in Kentucky?
Yes, there are many Kentucky ghost towns, including:
- Golden Pond
- Bells Mine
- L&N at Rocky Hill
- Barthell
- Packard
- Blue Heron
- Calloway Town
- Lawton Mushroom Mine
- Blandville