An urban legend is basically a creepy ghost or monster story that has been passed down for generations. Often this Kentucky lore is used during youth to test our bravery, and likely, stupidity. Many involve places that can be dangerous without safety precautions, and some are just based on the occasional apparition and one goes back to the days of Daniel Boone. Here are 12 of the creepiest Kentucky urban legends.

11. The Hillbilly Beast dates back to Daniel Boone’s day.
Jonathan Cutrer/ Flickr
The tales describe it as a hairy, smelly Bigfoot-like being that howls. This legend was featured in the fourth season of History Channel's Monsters. Don't believe us, check out this History Channel video about the creature:


10. The Legend of Hot Rod Haven dates back to the 50s.
Stathis Stavrianos/ Flickr
A young couple was on their way to a dance and speeding down Mitchell Hill Road, as common both back then and now. Their car crashed and the couple was killed. The cemetery at the top of the hill is home to the Mitchell and Griffen families. It is here the couple’s bodies were laid to rest together. The young girl is said to walk the roads in search of something. Perhaps a trinket she lost during the accident.
9. The Kentucky legends of Sleepy Hollow don’t involve a headless horseman, but instead a creepy hearse and ghostly cries.
Jeannie Harrison
The lore tells us that in Prospect a hearse appears from thin air, and runs drivers off the road. They also say sounds of crying can be heard from what was once the “Crybaby “ bridge. It is said that decades ago, women would throw their unwanted or sickly children off the sides to their death. Time warps have also been experienced. Drivers claim to enter the road at one time and exit several hours later according to the time. Talk about terrifying Kentucky urban legends!
8. In Northern Kentucky stands the Cody Road Railroad Bridge.
David Brossard/ Wikimedia
Unfortunately, there is severe flooding there, and decades ago a woman is rumored to either have drowned or committed suicide during a flood. Now iron gates are attached at either side that automatically closes with a stop sign during flooding. They came too late though, as supposedly, a woman’s voice can be heard crying and calling out during floods.
7. A ghostly police officer supposedly likes to patrol Narrows Road in Erlanger KY.
Inverness-shire Constabulary car BST36 and 2 PCs circa 1948/ Wikicommons
In the 1950s, an officer was hit by another vehicle during a routine traffic stop. Now he pulls people over in the same vehicle but disappears as he walks to the person’s car, or away from it. He is said to sometimes talk to people he pulls over.

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6. In Fisherville the Norfolk Southern Railway Trestle runs over Floyds Fork River.
Adam Cox/ Google
It has been said that Goatman lives underneath the trestle and calls out in a child-like voice for help. Those who go to help are found dead, or not heard from again, (so the legend says). Could this be one of the creepiest Kentucky urban legends out there? The Goatman also goes by the Pope Lick Monster check out this video from MosierWorks:


5. On Lambs Ferry Road in Ryland Kentucky, in a dark, desolate area, set the Twin Train Tunnels designed by L&N Railroad, now CSX.
Charlie Peterson/ Google
Back in the 1930s a man was hit and killed. Some say he was connected to the railroad, some say he was out for an evening stroll. Now he can be seen walking through the tunnel, seemingly trying to reach the exit. Sometimes he carries a lantern, other times not.
4. Iroquois Park in Louisville Kentucky is a woodland gem in the heart of the south end.
Jessica Singleton/ Alltrails
The lush, green forest is filled with twisting trails of varying lengths where people hike, walk, and bike. Legend has it that in the 1800s, a settler and his wife lived there. The woman was home alone when, supposedly, Indians attacked. They killed the family dog first, then beheaded the women and burned down the cabin. It is said that at times a thick fog overtakes the trails filled with the stench of smoke. Afterward, a woman in 1800s clothing can be seen walking, covered in blood, and carrying her severed head.
3. Hogan’s Fountain in Louisville’s renowned Cherokee Park is home to a finely crafted statue of Pan. For decades, late-night park visitors have claimed that on the full moon, Pan goes for a stroll. These nights are told to be filled with mischief, like car damage and other annoying acts.
Alan Cannon
2. Near the child’s witch's gravesite another dark spirit looms known as the Pilot’s Knob Watcher.
Jamie Stacy/ Google
This presence encourages a quickened pace and makes the hair on the back of the neck stand up. It seems to loom around the child’s iron prison, making its presence known to those who go there after dark. Some say it guards the spirit of the girl. Others say it waits to snatch the child’s spirit, dragging it into a darker place. Local residents avoid the area and seem somewhat frightened to speak of it, unlike most keepers of urban legends.
1. People were once, and some still are a very suspicious lot. In the late 1900s, small-town folk could be the worst. In the rural county of Marion lies a small town called Pilot’s Knob.
Jamie Stacy/ Google
In the 1900s, a woman and her 6-year-old daughter were accused of witchcraft, but their trial was forgone. Instead, the townsfolk burned them both at the stake. They feared the repercussions of their judgment and took precautions to prevent the child from returning. The child lays in a steel-lined grave, but the dirt was replaced with concrete and gravel. They then put an interconnecting cross fence so that her spirit would be trapped within the borders. Today, the fence is wrought iron and has several spots that look to be pushed out from the inside by a powerful force. Small footprints can often be seen in the gravel as well, according to those who visited the site. The child witch can supposedly pull people down into her grave. Local residents seem fearful of this place.

Urban legends are a unique part of our American history all across the United States. This is just a peek into Kentucky’s colorful history of lore and legend. There have been some very convincing testimonials over the years in regard to many of these tales. Realistically, most lore is derived from some truth. It is interesting to wonder where the line is drawn between real and embellished.

Love Kentucky urban legends? Check out this Louisville ghost tour, if you dare…

Do you have your own Kentucky urban legends? If you have any unique lore to share, please do. It is always cool to get a glimpse into the past via other people’s stories.

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Kentucky Urban Legends

Marisa Roman | June 03, 2021

What are the most popular ghost stories in Kentucky?

Some of the most popular ghost stories in Kentucky involve:

  • Carl Pruitt, the chain strangler
  • The Ghosts of Camp Taylor
  • Octavia Smith being buried alive

 

All of these and more can be found in our article about 10 Kentucky ghost stories.

Urban legends in Kentucky are one thing, but what about some of the more popular ghost stories in Kentucky? It’s hard not to love a good scary story, especially when you’re cozied up to the campfire with friends. Believe it or not, Kentucky has some pretty creepy stories involving ghosts, which is why it’s been declared one of the most haunted among the southern states. From Carl Pruitt, the chain strangler to the ghosts of Camp Taylor, check out these 10 popular ghost stories from Kentucky and prepare to have goosebumps.

Can I go ghost-hunting in Kentucky?

It’s one thing to hear about all of the ghost stories in Kentucky, but what about actually being present with ghosts? With all of the various legends in Kentucky, what better way to really feel it all than by taking part in an actual ghost hunt?! For anyone who really wants to test the limits of their bravery, there is a chance to ghost hunt overnight at Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Kentucky. As one of the most haunted places in the country, Waverly Hills Sanatorium opened its doors for tours so that ghost hunters can spend the night seeing what types of spirits come out at night.

Are there any haunted hotels in Kentucky?

Here are a few haunted hotels in Kentucky:

  • Benham Schoolhouse Inn
  • Brown Hotel
  • Boone Tavern Inn

 

Maybe spending a night in Waverly Hills Sanatorium is a bit much for your first go-around. So, how about checking out a haunted hotel instead? The thing about haunted hotels is that usually, it's all just hearsay, but for anyone who still wants to test their luck, Kentucky has quite a few haunted hotels to choose from. Take the Benham Schoolhouse Inn, for example. This modern-day inn was once an elementary school back in the day. Guests of the inn say that they still hear children running up and down the hallways at night.

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