A Guide to Real Haunted Houses in Kentucky

Before you make plans to head off to one of those fake haunted houses this Halloween, why not try visiting one of the real haunted houses in Kentucky? These houses are guaranteed to scare you and cost less than one of those cheesy funhouse attractions!

In Bardstown the Smith Mansion is rumored to be haunted by, of all things, a ghostly dog. People driving down the road have seen a German Shepherd roaming through the deserted yard.

Brafordsville has several haunted houses including the home of the founding father. People hear the sounds of piano music and a baby crying, even though the house is empty. There's also the George Edelen Home Place. Weird sounds including things falling, people clearing their throat and someone knocking on the walls have all been heard here. There's also the Pendergraft Place where one door refuses to stay locked and the Willard Rakes' Home where things move and weird noises are heard.

Campbellsville is another Kentucky town with several haunted houses such as the Hiestand House haunted by the former owners. There's also the M&R Estates, which is haunted by those executed there during the Civil War. Cold spots and loud screams are all experienced on the property and some even claim the old barn drips blood.

Greenup boasts a house haunted by the ghost of a girl killed by her parents during the 1940s after years of abuse. Legend says that the house looks identical to how it did back then, complete with her toys still laying around. Guests claim to hear someone walking around upstairs and feel someone watching them. There's also stories told of an old Victorian house in downtown Brandenburg. The sound of people talking and moving around are heard here.

The Caldwell House in Lebanon is also haunted. Past owners have felt cold spots in the house and seen things move on their own. Cold spots and the ghosts of old Civil War soldiers are spotted at the Octagon House in Franklin, Kentucky though no one knows why.

The Noctor Plantation House in Jackson is haunted by the former owner. Legend claims that the owners were killed one night when the slaves revolted and rose up against their masters. The Wilson House in Owensboro is haunted by ghostly laughs and screams, which some claim were caused when the youngest son killed his whole family there.

You also have the real haunted houses in Lexington. The Don Young Farm House is haunted by a man who died there a century ago. People experience doors and windows opening and closing on their own, as well as the sound of a phantom car pulling up the driveway. The Hunt-Morgan House and Loudoun House are also haunted in the city.

Paintsville is home to the haunted Mayo Mansion. People claim to see the former owner walking around the property. Over in Morehead, a haunted cabin has weird noises and ghostly apparitions.

The Sexton House in Russellville is also haunted. The ghost of a girl is often spotted in a window on the house and many believe it's the ghost of a girl who was killed in the nearby cemetery. If you're visiting Richmond, you can visit the haunted White Hall Mansion. The former owner, two of his children and a servant all haunt the building and property.

A house in Shepherdsville that looks like a castle is rumored to be haunted. Local legend claims that you can hear screaming coming from the house: the sounds of a husband killing his wife and kids. Or visit a house in Southgate that's caught fire 3-4 times, each time the owners blamed a former owner who died in the house.

You also have the story of Granny's Farm House or Old Farm House in Whitley City. According to legend, two outlaws were killed in a house that once sat on the spot and their ghosts now haunt the new house there. There's also stories told about an abandoned house in Walton. Legend claims that a Civil War General resides in the house.

Of course you also have to deal with haunted apartments such as the Cliffside Apartments in Prestonsburg. Legend states the apartments were constructed on an old Native American burial spot. Footsteps are heard, electrical appliances turn on and off and an apparition of an old man has been spotted in the building.

Sources:

www.angelfire.com/ky3/myoldkentuckyghosts/

http://theshadowlands.net/places/kentucky.htm