With so many backroads throughout the beautiful state of Kentucky, you’ve very likely come across an old home or maybe a barn or even a business that was once filled with life but now stands lifeless and abandoned. These abandoned houses in Kentucky can be eyesores and even sad, but they are also incredibly intriguing and uniquely beautiful. Local Kentucky photographer, Brad Barker, knows not only how to track down these abandoned places, but also how to capture their spirit in a photo. For more of his work, you can check out his Instagram account, but for starters, let’s travel to eight of Kentucky’s mysteriously abandoned places and learn a bit about their incredible stories.

1. Located in historic Stanford, Baughman Mill was completed in 1881 and is a prominent building in this small community.
Stanford, KY 40484, USA
Photo Courtesy of Brad Barker/@southern_pirate
This large historical site stopped the production of grain in 1969 and has sat mostly untouched since. The mill contains logs from Buffalo Mill, Kentucky’s first steam mill, which dates to 1848. Thankfully, this abandoned mill is being maintained and restored and will hopefully be around for generations to come.
2. This old home was sadly abandoned in the hills of Pike County.
Pike County, KY, USA
Photo Courtesy of Brad Barker/@southern_pirate
This grand stone home was built in 1916 and still struggles to stand, deep in the hills of Pike County. The home was used by the local coal company and you can imagine it was once one of the most stately homes in the region. There are now many haunted tales surrounding this home, as you can imagine, but you can also imagine what a gorgeous house this could be once again.
3. This old grist mill can be found in Lancaster, Kentucky.
Lancaster, KY 40444, USA
Photo Courtesy of Brad Barker/@southern_pirate
Built in 1901, this mill was once a bustling operation that now stands somewhat abandoned. Known as Garrard Mills, this large building has actually been repurposed as a rustic event space and will hopefully continue to be used and appreciated as time goes on.
4. This old antique store can be found in the tiny town of Gravel Switch.
Gravel Switch, KY 40328, USA
Photo Courtesy of Brad Barker/@southern_pirate
This beautiful old building is a bit of a mystery. It was obviously open as an antique and novelty store at one point, but it is typically closed and appears to be frozen in time. Locals have said that the store will open from time to time, but generally speaking, this stunning historic building stands as a relic of the past.

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5. A former Kentucky grocery store in Preston, Blevins Grocery sadly closed for good after more than 80 years of business.... or did it?
Preston, KY 40360, USA
Photo Courtesy of Brad Barker/@southern_pirate
6825 Preston Rd, Owingsville, KY 40360, USA
Photo Courtesy of Brad Barker/@southern_pirate
This small-town grocery and general store was the heart of Preston, Kentucky for years. The family that owned the store sadly could no longer manage it due to age, so the store served its last customers this past year. But time can be a fickle -- and fantastic! -- thing. A few years ago, Blevins Grocery was sold to Mike and Renee Cassidy. It's now open and called THE STORE! Find it at 6825 Preston Rd, Owingsville, KY, 40360.
6. This school is located in McKee and is another intriguing abandoned place in Kentucky.
McKee, KY 40447, USA
Photo Courtesy of Brad Barker/@southern_pirate
McKee High School was built by the Works Progress Administration in 1938, and today remains as a skeleton of its former self. The masonry work is incredible and unlike the school architecture you'd find today. A new high school was constructed in McKee, while this building was left to be taken over by nature.
7. This abandoned mansion in Kentucky mysteriously stands outside of Georgetown.
Georgetown, KY 40324, USA
Photo Courtesy of Brad Barker/@southern_pirate
We don't know much about this beautiful mansion, hidden in the outskirts of Georgetown. We can make assumptions that the family that once lived here abandoned it, or that it's now home to Casper the Ghost, but no matter what the truth is, it will hopefully come back to life again someday.
8. Paris, Kentucky, is home to this abandoned train station.
Paris, KY 40361, USA
Photo Courtesy of Brad Barker/@southern_pirate
This beautiful abandoned train station thankfully has a happy ending. After its days as an active train station ended, the location was a popular restaurant in the 1980s and 90s. The structure was then left to ruin. This past year, the train station was purchased and there are plans to restore it and hopefully use both the structure and the adjacent park land as a venue and event space with plenty of historic character.

We can only hope these abandoned houses in Kentucky will once again be filled with life (as a few actually have!) but for now, we can look at these beautifully mysterious photos. Are you intrigued by abandoned spots in Kentucky? Have you been researching “abandoned places near me”? Do you have a favorite with an interesting story? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!

And for another mysteriously abandoned place in Kentucky, check out our previous article covering one of the creepiest cemeteries in Kentucky. And if you’re planning to drive around the state, don’t forget to check out our list of road trip essentials.

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Abandoned houses in Kentucky

Sarah M. | September 08, 2022

Are there any abandoned places in Kentucky I can tour?

Some abandoned places in Kentucky that are open for touring include:

  • Waverly Hills Sanatorium
  • Old Capital Building in Frankfort

 

Absolutely! In Louisville, Kentucky, Waverly Hills Sanatorium is a historic former hospital in Louisville that came close to being demolished. A historical society saved it and has offered tours, ghost hunts, and other events for several years. The building (and its ghostly residents) has gained much notoriety over the years thanks to famous ghost hunters, television shows, and word of mouth from visitors. If you enjoy history, haunting tales, and meeting ghosts, a tour should be on your bucket list.

Another haunted place to tour in Kentucky is, of course, the Old Capitol Building in Frankfort. Hailed as one of the most haunted places in Kentucky, this stunning building is the stuff legends are made of. When you step inside, the air is thick with the weight of a ghostly history, something brave folks can explore during a nighttime tour of the building. During the one-hour tour, guests will explore this iconic Greek Revival edifice, hearing spooky stories from the Kentucky Historical Society Collections. Because this building's tenure happened during one of the most contentious times in Kentucky history (the violence surrounding the 1900 gubernatorial election and subsequent death of William Goebel left the state on the brink of a civil war, in fact), ghost stories abound about the Old Capitol Building ... what a place to explore during the spooky season!

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