Kentucky's Weirdest County

Located along the Ohio River is a little county that is anything but ordinary.  Meade County, Kentucky, is so interesting that it's often referred to as "Weird Meade County," and there's even an entire website dedicated to the county's weirdness. Most notoriously, Meade County is known to be the home of Leah Smock, but you may know her better as the Battletown Witch.

The Tragic Story of Leah Smock - The Notorious Battletown Witch

Meade County is home to many notable residents over the years, but one has had a lasting impact on the county.  Leah Smock has been nicknamed the Battletown Witch because legend has it that Leah came from a long line of powerful witches. Unfortunately, back during that time, an accusation of witchcraft had the potential to be a death sentence and Leah's life was tragically cut short when she was murdered by being burned alive.

According to Weird Meade County, Leah was known for being intelligent, and highly intuitive.

She was reputedly the daughter of another powerful Kentucky witch. First hand accounts of people who actually encountered the young woman known as Leah Smock portrayed her as an intelligent and beautiful woman. It has been suggested that she had powerful intuition and possibly second sight, through natural or supernatural reasoning. She was attributed with healing properties, either from herbal remedies or powers of her own. She was also a “seer”. She predicted the deaths of critically ill people.

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Ever since her death in 1840, legends of her haunting Meade County have been passed down, and some believe she still walks around the county to this day.

Until 2024 there was even a festival celebrating the life and legacy of Leah, The Battletown Witch Festival.  This year, the festival is back, but with a different name.

The Kentucky Folklore Festival

Like the story of the Battletown Witch, Kentucky is full of folklore, from the Hopkinsville goblins to the Pope Lick Monster.

To celebrate Kentucky's interesting and at times downright strange folklore, the folks at Hearth and Hallows Creative are bringing you a festival that will be a fun and safe place to "celebrate being uniquely Kentucky weird, share our legends, and keep our tall tales alive."

Join us in haunted West Point, KY, for a day steeped in storytelling, mystery, and magic! The Kentucky Folklore Festival returns bigger and eerier than ever, featuring live podcast recordings, paranormal investigations, cryptid lore, folklore panels, local artisans, and immersive experiences that celebrate the supernatural side of the BOOgrass State