Who doesn’t love a good mystery? Kentucky is filled with them and many of these tales have historic roots. Louisville is filled with mysteries and urban legends and one of the most famous is that of the Witches’ Tree. Located in Old Louisville among historic homes and picturesque street corners, this knobby, twisted tree comes with a bizarre story and the history and mystery surrounding it have made it an iconic spot in the city. If you’re unfamiliar with the Witches’ Tree in Kentucky, step back in time with us to the late 1800s and learn about this mysterious place in the Bluegrass.

When we hear of witches today, it's usually close to Halloween or after someone has finished reading Harry Potter.
Facebook/Louisville Historic Tours
But back in the 1800s, talk of witches was very real and quite scary for many locals, even in the quiet, beautiful neighborhoods of Louisville. Now known as Old Louisville, there's a lot of history that is still alive on this picturesque streets.
One legend that is still told about this neighborhood is that of the Witches' Tree.
Facebook/The Witches' Tree
The story goes that in 1889, witches would gather around a beautiful, tall tree to cast their spells and make their potions. But in that year, the city decided to cut down the tree and make it the centerpiece of their May Day celebration.
The witches were not happy and as you can imagine, that's when the story takes a darker turn.
Facebook/The Witches' Tree
In March of 1890, a massive tornado hit Louisville and this area was heavily damaged. Dozens of people were killed and legend has it that lightning struck the tree stump that remained from that first witches' tree.
From then on, a new tree grew in that spot and looked much more like a "Witches' Tree" than the original version.
Facebook/The Witches' Tree
This tree still stands at Park and 6th and its appearance makes it hard to deny the truth of the legend.

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Its trunk is knobby and gnarled as it twists up into the sky.
Facebook/The Witches' Tree
Even without the story of the witches and the tornado, this tree would stand out in a neighborhood that is filled with beautiful, old trees and historic homes.
The tree is a popular tourist destination today and many locals fully believe in its bizarre and mysterious story.
Facebook/The Witches' Tree
Visitors to the tree often leave trinkets, hoping for good luck. Many even stop by before a horse race and drop off a horse shoe, hoping to bet on the winning race horse. But be careful not to take any items off of the tree, or you never know when your act of thievery may catch up with you.
The Witches' Tree is so popular that it is a stop on many of the local tours, including those offered by Louisville Historic Tours.
Facebook/Louisville Historic Tours
These tours are incredibly fascinating, so keep them in mind the next time you're looking for something unique to do in Louisville.
There are many legends and ghost stories in Kentucky, but not many have a concrete visual depicting the mysterious occurrence.
Photo Courtesy of Jake Zaepfel Photos / @jakezaepfelphotos
Believe the story or not, the Witches' Tree is a mysterious and oddly beautiful place and worth a visit when you're in the area.

Hear more about the Witches’ Tree in Kentucky in this short and informative video that takes you there:

The Bluegrass State is the setting of countless ghost stories, unsolved mysteries, and urban legends, and most of them are just fun – and a little thrilling – to learn about. Whether or not you believe in the bizarre story of the Witches’ Tree in Kentucky, you may not want to mess with it or any of the trinkets left on it, because its witch-ly ties aren’t worth the risk. Have you heard of this mysterious tree in Kentucky? Do you believe the legend? Let us know in the comments!

For more information on the Witches’ Tree, follow along with this spot on Facebook. And if you want to learn more about it and its historic neighborhood, sign up for a fun-filled Louisville Historic Tour.

And for another local legend, pay a visit to this park and bridge where a monster allegedly enjoys hanging out.

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