Over the past couple of weeks, I have been increasingly interested in the subject of Ghost Towns in Kentucky. It is weird to think that towns / communities that were once vibrant areas are no longer existent today. According to Wikipedia, ghost towns are defined as "an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, or war. The term is sometimes used to refer to cities, towns, and neighborhoods which are still populated, but significantly less so than in years past." One of the more famous ghost towns in the United States is Tombstone, AZ.
In Kentucky, there are a handful of communities that meet this definition. Since reading about the various ghost towns in Kentucky, I have been interested in visiting these once flourishing communities. Wikipedia lists the following as ghost towns: Barthell, Blue Heron, Burgess Station, Creelsboro, Fudge, Golden Pond, Neal, Packard, Paradise, and Scuffletown. Other towns from different sites include the communities of Lawton, Highland Park, Rocky Hill, and Columbus. I would also throw into the mix the community of Birmingham and Neon (from what I have been told). The history of these communities have fascinated me. What is even better...many of these communities are located within hours drive of most places in Kentucky. :). Tonight, I am sharing a few that I have came upon during my travels. I am not going to dive into the history of each place, but hopefully my pictures will create an interest for you to look into ghost towns.
Barthell, located in McCreary County, was an old coal mining town. There is a charge to take a tour of the area due to it being owned by a private family.
Blue Heron, located in McCreary County, was an old coal mining town. Free public touring is available at this site.
Lawton, located in Carter County, rose to fame with the Mushroom Mines.
(Shakertown - Logan County)
(Pleasant Hill - Mercer County)
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