Buckle up ghouls! We're hitting the forgotten roads of the Bluegrass State, where history haunts every turn.

The Journey is The Destination

There is something uniquely "American" about a long road trip. Sometimes they are just a means to an end, a way to get you to your destination. But sometimes people set out on a road trip as the destination. Many enjoy hitting the open road and going where the roads take them. If you're in the mood for a road trip experience that will be like no other, this abandoned places road trip is one you'll want to save for later.

Photo by Hannah Janssen on Unsplash

Urban Exploring and the Fascination with Abandoned Places

There is something so eerie about abandoned places. I think it's because seeing a place that was once full of life being slowly reclaimed by nature is unsettling. Some people have even created a hobby out of finding abandoned places called "urban exploring."

Photo by Cédric Dhaenens on Unsplash

With the popularity of social media and people's fascination with abandoned places, urban exploration has become a popular activity for thrill-seekers and photographers. If you search any social media site for "urban exploring" or "urbex" you will see thousands of photos and videos of folks exploring abandoned places.

The Kentucky Road Trip for Urban Explorers

When scrolling Facebook, I saw a post from Hidden Gems USA Travel. This website creates unique road trip adventures for people to enjoy.

This road trip stood out to me because it winds you across the Bluegrass State to 9 popular abandoned locations. The locations are:

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Ghost Ship (USS Sachem)
Waverly Hills Sanitorium (though, not "abandoned", it was once, and now it is open for tours)
Fort Knox Tank Graveyard*
Old Stone Jail (Bullitt County)
Boone Tunnel
Chinn’s Cave House*
Camp Nelson Bridge
Mullins Station Limestone Mine
Portal 31 Coal Mine

Please note, not all of these locations welcome guests, so you need to check all proper permissions to make sure you don't trespass. If this road trip sounds like your cup of tea, you can find the road trip map and more information on these locations from Hidden Gems USA Travel, here.