As a Kentucky Library Associate and Local Historian These days,
it is not uncommon for me to be in the Archives or on the net researching some
strange place or scanning old news clippings. However the existence of The Old abandoned Mushroom
mines was brought to my attention by a fan that is also into haunted and
abandoned places. I was intrigued and put the Mushroom Mines on the back burner,
but a definite must look into status item. As it turns out ,One recent weekend I
found myself hankering for a quick Sunday trip, just me ,my files and the road .The Mines came into my mind and
doing a GPS search I discovered they
were just down the road from me. Camera in hand I headed off to Carter County
in search of the mines.
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| The Rabourn & Sons Country Store is Fading away with each passing second |
Now it is not every day I get two for the price of one but
the Mines are located in Lawton, KY a now completely abandoned creepy town. I
am not sure how long it has been vacant but there are some sagging electric
lines in some places indicating someone lived in the area at some recent point.
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| Stairs to nowhere |
A still used back road passes right through the downtown which makes it even stranger. People pass through but rarely stop [Unless they are like me and an enthusiast for the strange, the macabre and the unusual]. So if the Ghost town of Lawton was not enough to get my fill of weirdness, I soon headed up the nearby hills to the Mines.
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| This was a scouting mission and I did not take a lot of exploring equipment |
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| Digging for limestone was the Original cause of the Maze of Tunnels and then up until the 70's a Mushroom farm |
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| Explorers have posted on there Blogs that the mines are extensive and that a huge underground lake is deep within |
It was once a big teen hangout
and rite of passage and So far local gossip goes ,Occult Groups perhaps Satanists
,gather there on Solstices and equinoxes of the year to conduct rituals. If true this may
have been a few years ago since my basic understanding is Satan worship and an
interest in magick ritual has not been in vogue in Eastern Kentucky for quite a
few years now. Drug deals are also reported to take place at the site, and The Place is reported to be extremely haunted by strange sounds to boot.Even
with all that in the background I was completely alone there and really
determined to come back when I had more people and some lights and gear. Even
on a bright sunny day it was a chilling place to visit, when I stepped into the
darkest areas I felt as being watched and it was with that ‘’gateway to the Abyss ‘’sensation.
VIDEO OF THE MINES
Click above to start Video
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| Mine Entrances and rugged cliffs are all along the mountain |
Stone Mountain Data Complex
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| One of Several half-built structures that were part of a recent failed scheme to utilize the property for commercial purposes |
I use to work in the mines and have been up there years later and heard what sounds like a woman screaming
ReplyDeleteI'm headed to Cave Run this weekend and would love to shoot this place. I shoot abandones on a regular basis, so of which you can see here: http://chrisstegner.zenfolio.com/?q=abandonded
ReplyDeleteWould you be willing to share the actual location of this little town left behind?And tell me, are you able to get into any of the structures to shoot?
Chris Stegner... cstegner@mac.com
Chris It is not far from Olive Hill,KY just as you go in.
DeleteMy mother grew up directly across from the return general state and she also worked in the mines as a teenager and into her early twenties. As a teenager we would explore the mines and alot of times the cops would show up and tell us that the mines was not a safe place to be. We have also road four wheelers through the mines coming in from the side of the mine. We would always park deep inside and it was much like a dare to just turn them off, lights and all, and just listen. It is a creepy place and many things have gone on in the mines; such as hundreds of vehicles being hidden in a large cavern to one young man and his girlfriend disposing of his parents after murdering them. Never really thought much about doing an investigation there, but ut would be pretty awesome to say the least.
ReplyDeleteI would like to go there one day. E.D.
ReplyDeleteIt's been about two years since I was last visited but there was a small group of people living in mines. They claimed they were spelunkers and that they weren't homeless but I'm not so sure. I didn't go all the way back to the lake but the aforementioned group said it was more of a pond that wasn't very deep. You could hear the water running to it, though. As far as drugs or Satanic rituals going on--I doubt it. There's an entire neighborhood above the mines and there were people driving up and down the hill all the time I was there.
ReplyDeleteIv been there very late at night. We drove a car deep into the mine. It was quite eerir. We rolled !own the windows, stopped the car and turned offthe lights. We sat and listens. There was a sound that came from deeper in the mines that scared us so we left.
ReplyDeleteDang and here I sit in Texas😡
ReplyDeleteI camped in there for three days in 03 with my now husband and two of our friends.there is a pond. Not sure how deep it is .But we through a rock in and it dont sound too shallow our first nite we camped back by the pond. We had a bonfire lit and was sleeping out in the open.with sleeping bags the two guys made us two girls sleep in the middle of the two of them. And after the guys started to dose off and the fire started to die down. My friend and i heard rocks being trown behind us coming from one of many dark passages. Not to long after we heard somthing directly behind her boyfriend who was laying on his side facing twards us snoring away. It was a loud cackle. We were afraid to completely look in his direction all we know is it woke him up. We all dipped and they told us ladys to sleep in the car with the doors locked smh! The next day we all explored a good chunk of the mines some spots were well lit others where still very dark. We came to what appeared to be the center of the mine. To our horrific supprise there was an old concrete platform that had a large wooden cross that had been placed in the middle of it the cross had a upside down hook sticking out of the top of it. There was pentagrams and other symbols graffitied all around the location of the cross. At this point we all very uneasy. But being the thrill seekers we all were at that time and also adding the fact we drove a good distance and spent alot of money in supplies and such for the trip we had decided to stay yet again another nite. We moved our camping location twarards the front of the mine that way wed have fast access to an opening should something go horribly wrong the guys left briefly to get a 12 pk for the nite and we planned to relax and enjoy the nite ahead. Dark came the guys where gathering up old pallets to burn and any wood they could find to last through the nite. Everything seemed more peacefull a false sense of security fell upon us all and just as the guys where getting the fire going good and we had our sleeping bags out we all where silenced by the sound of a near vehicle in the mines approaching. We heard the vehicle driving through near passaged and we saw the glow of distant lights to our suprise a small white buick emerges in our camping area and stop next to us. The guys go over and scope the situation out. It was two other guys one driving the other hanging his arm out the window resting his hand on the car door. They asked us the obvious were we camping there the guys replied yes. Then the guy on the passanger side commented with a slight grin we dident think anyone came up here after what was found back by that pond in the back. At that point we all grew very uneasy we had just camped there the nite before.Our guy's looked at each other pretending to laugh the situation off to lessen our imediate fear. They told the guy's in the car that we were gonna be crashing soon and calling it a nite and they dident inquire anything about what had taken place back by the pond. They guys in the car waved and honked as there car dipped and splashed its way through puddles and pot holes and things grew earily quite for a few mins. My guys friend shook his head who in the hell where they? He said to my guy. They both gave each other that we got to get out of here look. And instructed that we all get everything as quickly as we can into the car and that we were leaving. We packed up put the fire out got in the car my husband was driving me and my friend was in the back watching up ahead through the lights and also gazing at the darkness behind us. As soon as we emerged through the front opening. We where all greated with a horrifying supprise the white buick was parked on the side of the path leading twards the entrance and about 10-12 other people stood behind them in black cloaks where all facing us as we made a speedy exit blazing past them. As we sped past them they where trying to motion us to stop. We continued my husbands friend hysterically screaming Go!Go!Go!
ReplyDelete! Afraid that we where gonna be shortly followed. We never stopped or slowed down until we made it to a farmilliar back road in fleming county we hung out there for a while until we could be sure no one followed us. Then we headed home to mason county where we drove past the house a couple times and felt safe enough to stop.
ReplyDeleteMy advise if your planning to camp bring plenty of food and water. Bring plenty of batteries and flash lights, lighters, matches. A method of protection. Plan an escape route make sure you at least park your vehicle close to the exit. We were fortunate enough to drive ours in. Beware of collapsing spots in the mine as we also ran into a few spots that were falling in while we camped. Look out for suspicious activity leave if approached by white buick.
ReplyDeleteI've lived in the area my whole life. Went up to the mushroom mines one night with a bunch of friends this was before the bodies were hid there so I had nothing to be that scared about I mean we never saw anyone up there doing rituals or anything. I just knew it was a well known place around here due to its creep factor. I just wanted to go exploring and thought it would be a neat place to check out. You have to keep in mind when you're a teenager something like that place just peaks your curiosity rather than frightening you. Had this been a couple of years later after the bodies were found it might have been different. Anyway we had been in the area all night, I believe there was a pond up there too. If my memory serves me correctly we went and grabbed some ATVs bc one of our friends lived closed by and went to the mine entrance and as soon as I saw the place I was caught off guard by a overwhelming sense of fear. I remember feeling like the breath had been sucked out of my lungs. I've always been kind of sensitive to picking up on certain feelings or vibes that other ppl miss. I physically could not go any closer to this place as if every fiber of my being was telling me to get away immediately. I've never felt anything that powerful sense. I know I was sensing something terrifying. Not sure what it was but it was a hell of alot more than just my immagination!
ReplyDeleteI've also lived near here most of my life. Spent a lot of time hanging out there as a teenager and then a few times as an adult. The place def has the creepy vibe. The usable entrances are covered in graffiti. (One entrance is completely collapsed and has been so as long as I can remember.) Upon entering, it does start to get cold fast but that's any cave. There is a lake inside the cave but its pretty littered and you can def hear water draining. A few years back we were riding rzr's through it and came across a weed grow site. I've never actually experienced anything paranormal here but it is a place that is very easy to let the imagination take over. I'm not saying its not haunted, just I haven't experienced anything here apart from coming out to find someone waiting to tell me to leave the area and it's not safe. There is a big gate up now and a bunch of no tresspassing signs.
ReplyDeleteSo you are unable to get in now?
DeleteYou can get in, just dont go by yourself lol
Deletewent to the mines out of pure curiosity. i lived in grayson at one point as a child and heard of the place but never visited. 2 years ago i decided on a whim to go and driving up to the place was just as intense as standing in the huge mouth of what seemed to have lead to nothingness.i wasn't prepared at the time but investigated what i could before.... the unwelcoming chill that crept up my spine stopped me in my tracks. every corner you couldn't see around and every shadow into the dark felt like it was being occupied. like that all eyes on you feeling. it makes me cringe to think about now. it served as an extremely powerful energy.. im still so interested!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMe and hubby have got to GO!! Our anniversary is coming up.... :D thanks for the info guys!
ReplyDeleteThere's a similar quarry in Louisville under the zoo called the mega caverns. They have ziplines in it and do vehicle and records storage.
ReplyDeleteIn high school in the eighties it was still an abandoned quarry, and just as spooky as the stories about this one.
But ultimately it's an old mine. It's not haunted, holes in the ground are just creepy.
I went to the mine today I saw a lot of rocks on the ground I want to see where killer place the bodys on the ground going to go real deep in the back to the very back as far as you can and for any ghost ill keep you all posted Bronson wrote this I aint scared of no ghost or killers
ReplyDeleteI'm actually going to be going and exploring this place does anybody want to come with me
DeleteDoes anyone know of the urban legend about the guy being sealed in the wall of concrete in one of the tunnels?
ReplyDeleteHeard about this but have no idea if true or not.
My father's family is from this town, I still have an uncle that's lives on the mountain close to the mines. I used to visit my family every summer , and the mines are pretty creepy, there is also a hollar that is truly creepy had a really creepy bridge, not been there in many years, but my father told me about some really crazy things that happened to them growing up
ReplyDeleteI'm from Kentucky & A former CIA operative & The CIA was using a former CIA officer as a front company to use the mushroom mines for something completely different , However they stopped funding him ! I can't say why !
ReplyDeleteIf you live near the mushroom mines its a good place to go for a nuclear fallout bunker or if a astroid hits etc. 2.6 million square feet underground is going to be in great demand now !! I think it should be used for building doomsday bunkers its in prime location its within one days drive from 66% of American States . 🖐🇺🇸
ReplyDeleteEMP will fry America ,On or around September 23 rd . Nothing Electrical will work ( vehicles built before 1980 will run. No internet no cell phone service complete blackout 👦
ReplyDelete