The Ultimate Terrifying Kentucky Road Trip Is Right Here —And It’ll Haunt Your Dreams
By Jenn Shockley|Updated on May 22, 2019(Originally published May 07, 2019)
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Jenn Shockley
Author
I am somewhat a cliche'. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky.
I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side.
We all need a little excitement every now and then, and taking a spooky Kentucky road trip can provide it. We have a barrage of strange abandoned places, old cemeteries, and haunted houses that can send a shiver down the spine. You can stay the night in a beautiful, but haunted, inn, stroll through a civil war graveyard, or take a tour of an old asylum. Each of these haunted places in Kentucky comes with its own ghost story and the only way to know if they are true is to visit them for yourself. Take a weekend and pay a visit to a few of the creepiest places in Kentucky.
This Kentucky road trip obviously cannot be completed in one day with any real satisfaction, but over a weekend, it can be a lot of fun. The map is available here for your convenience, in case you want to plan your own route.
This hotel is authentic antebellum style, built in 1951. It has an elegant environment, but during its decades of service, two women were murdered there. One was shot on the third floor and another stabbed on the steps. The murders were unrelated, but the victims' spirits are said to be attached to the place of death. Footsteps can be heard at night when no one is there and doors supposedly open and close on their own.
This Federal style estate was built by the very first millionaire west of the Alleghenies, John Wesley Hunt in 1814. Many a person lived in the home over the years, and many died as well. Today, the home is included in the Gratz Park Historic District. Part of the ongoing history is said to be residents never seem to actually move on… and are occasionally seen roaming the halls.
This is not a place to go and play in the halls, but a stroll around the grounds is not unheard of. Power goes on and off in the oldest buildings, footsteps are heard where no one walks, and figures are said to stroll about inside and out and then vanish into thin air.
This is an old cemetery, containing some famed individuals like Jim Varney, Henry Clay, and John Hunt Morgan. There is a particular tomb in this cemetery that gives an ominous feeling to those who walk near it. You either feel it or you don’t. Some people also see a dark blob or cloud in the rear of the mausoleum.
This Gothic Revival architectural masterpiece was built in 1851. It was once a home to Francis Key Hunt and William Cassius Goodloe back in its hay day. In modern times, a Victorian woman is said to wander the western area of the home, along with a black cat. Another Victorian female prefers the comforts of the former dining area. Different areas of the house are said to suddenly have an antique floral perfume scent with no visible cause.
This beautiful 150-year-old mansion is now part of a resort and spa, but it was once home to a teen girl named Gretta. Gretta was stood up and heartbroken, and she hung herself. Now, people who visit this establishment feel that what is now known as the blue room, is a bit odd. Candles flicker for no reason, a cool breeze is felt without a source and occasionally, the chandeliers sway.
This old cemetery had graves dating back to the 18th century. There has been much turmoil here from bodies buried atop one another to horrible upkeep and maintenance. Mists can be seen floating about, along with cold spots on warm summer days and orbs in images.
This is a Victorian era National Cemetery and arboretum that is almost 300 acres. It is on the National registry of Historic Places and is the absolute largest cemetery in Louisville in size and burials. Green lights are said to float about at night. The air is cooler near some of the graves and unexplained noises are common. Stones can be heard falling at times as well.
Waverly Hills is renowned on multiple levels from the death count to the disturbing history. It began life in the early 1900s as a tuberculosis hospital and ended life as a geriatric center. Now tours are available and it will potentially be turned into a hotel. It has been featured in a variety of television specials, that feature the unavoidable presence of something strange. Very few of the photographs taken here appear without orbs or some sort of distortion.
This is just a Lexington and Louisville adventure, but there are plenty more scary places in Kentucky. This time we covered a creepy Kentucky road trip through the central region of the state, but there will be others in the future. Which of the creepiest places in Kentucky do you think should be included on a road trip through the state? Have you ever went on a road trip to the most haunted places in Kentucky? Share with us in the comments!
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More to Explore
Creepiest Places In Kentucky
Andrea Limke|May 21, 2019
What is the most haunted place in Kentucky? With a history like Kentucky's, it is not surprising that there are many places that are considered haunted throughout the Bluegrass State. But of all of the cemeteries, hotels, old homes, and battlefields, one place does tend to reign above the others as scariest of the haunted places in Kentucky. Waverly Hills Sanatorium has a creepy past as a hospital and institution and is one of the few haunted places in Kentucky where they welcome in ghost hunters. You can spend the night in a designated area of the property and even visit in the fall for a "real" haunted house experience.
What is the creepiest abandoned place in Kentucky? There are many old homes, buildings, and even entire towns that have been abandoned over the years in Kentucky. Perhaps the creepiest of these places is the former Hayswood Hospital in Maysville. This small hospital is now completely run down, but you can still tell that sick people were once treated here. You can see photos of the inside in our previous article here.
What is the most haunted town in Kentucky? There are several small towns throughout Kentucky that have haunted tales and the most convincing of them all is Perryville. It is in this town that a bloody Civil War battle took place, and there are countless stories of ghostly figures throughout the field, homes, and the town itself. You can read more about this haunted town here.