Kentucky is a place with a long and interesting history, and was a part of Virginia before it was granted statehood in 1792. Known for holding dear their racehorses, tobacco and whiskey, Kentuckians are rambunctious, and the ghosts they leave behind are pretty much the same. Kentucky is said to contain numerous haunted areas, many considered hot spots. Casey County, in the middle of the state, isn’t one of them. The county supposedly contains a ghost town, but it isn’t known to be haunted. In his book, “Haunted Houses," author William Montell writes of a Casey County mansion called the McKinney House that was supposedly very haunted until it burned down in 1988. But while Casey County itself may be considered “clean,” the areas within 30 miles of the county line tell very different tales.
Just Waiting for the Little Woman
- Across the border, about 18 miles from Casey County in the town of Adair, in neighboring Adair County, is the Free Union Baptist Church. Behind this red-brick, A-frame country church is an old, picturesque cemetery complete with standing tombstones and above-ground monuments that can be viewed from the road. Everyone buried there, however, isn’t necessarily at peace. The graveyard is said to be haunted by the ghosts of a man and the baby he's holding. Those who have seen the man claim that he’s waiting for his wife to join him and reunite the family. You’ll find the church and its cemetery on State Road 1729.
Spirits of the Unburied Old South
- In Boyle County, just over 24 miles from Casey County, is the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site. One of the Civil War’s more savage and bloody battles was fought here on October 8, 1862. When the fighting was over, the field was strewn with at least 7,600 dead or wounded soldiers. The corpses of the Confederate soldiers were left on the battlefield, unburied, to rot. It’s probably for this reason the battlefield is said today to be alive with apparitions. Glowing balls of light are often seen there, as are the restless spirits of soldiers, many of them on horseback. You’ll find the battlefield 2 miles outside of Perryville on the Dixville Crossroads, and haunted tours can be arranged.
- Bed, Breakfast and Spooks
- The Maple Hill Manor Bed and Breakfast in Springfield, 27 1/2 miles from Casey County, is a two-story, Greek Revival inn built in 1851 by the slaves of a plantation owner hoping to please his new bride. For those seeking a luxurious Old South B & B experience, the manor seems perfect. Often, though, guests get a little more than just Southern charm. Maple Hill Manor is haunted by either the ghosts of the original owners, or by the spirits of soldiers who fought in the battle of Perryville. While the true identity of these pesky spirits isn’t known, their behavior is: Guests have heard knocking at their doors and footsteps through empty rooms, felt cold spots and smelled phantom perfume. Strange spots of light show up in photos, and guests of the inn’s seven rooms also report having odd dreams. The manor can be found on Perryville Road.
Tomb of the Unknown Dancer
- There’s a single grave marker still standing in Young Park in Mercer City, 30 miles from Casey County, that reads, “Unknown. Hallowed and Hushed be the place of the dead. Step softly bow head.” This is the tombstone marking the grave of a beautiful young woman, so the story goes, who checked into a hotel that once stood in the park under a false name. She attended a ball at the hotel thrown in the late 1800s and literally danced the night away. In fact, she danced herself to death, falling dead in the arms of her last dancing partner. Without knowing her name or where she had come from, the hotel staff and guests buried her on the hotel grounds. While the hotel burned to the ground, the grave remains. And her ghost can still be seen, dancing in the moonlight. You’ll find the park and her grave on Lindon Avenue. Pleasant dreams.
