A 19th century cemetery is in a parking lot of Hobby Lobby. | Photo by LOUtoday
Muhammad Ali, the Kentucky Derby, bourbon, and Kentucky Fried Chicken helped create the tapestry of Louisville. But the city’s lesser known, more mysterious marvels weave in stories that “keep Louisville weird.”
Here are 12 Louisville (mostly solved) mysteries, legends, and strange phenomena that give “Unsolved Mysteries” host Robert Stack a run for his money.
Parking lot cemetery | Most people never notice the row of hedges in the middle of the Springs Shopping Center in St. Matthews — but behind the tall greenery lies a 19th-century graveyard.
See the Witches’ Tree on the corner of 6th Street and Park Avenue in Old Louisville.
Photo by LOUtoday
A wicked witch tree | A knotted and gnarly tree in Old Louisville conjures up a stormy tale of witchcraft.
Creepy caves | Gravely Brewing Co. isn’t just home to music-themed beer. It also has two grass-covered tunnels lurking in its backyard.
High-speed UFO chase | During a routine helicopter patrol in 1993, two Jefferson County police officers engaged in a two-minute chase with a pear-shaped object the size of a basketball moving at 100 mph.
Lou City vs. Miami FC | 7:30 p.m. | Lynn Family Stadium | $19+ | It’s Keep Louisville Weird Night: Buy and support local, in partnership with the Louisville Independent Business Alliance, at a village of tables + booths for businesses that make our community unique.*
A portion of Jeffersontown’s Plantside Drive has collapsed due to flooding earlier this week, resulting in a complete closure between Bunsen Way and Caton Drive while the city evaluates repairs. Officials say all businesses in the area are fully accessible. (WHAS 11)
Civic
Downtown South 4th Street will soon receive some fresh landscaping, a new pet waste station, and updated irrigation systems as part of an ongoing beautification project. Work is expected to be complete by early November. (WHAS 11)
Edu
Work is officially underway to build a new Okolona Elementary School. The new school, which replaces one built in 1972, will have energy-efficient cooling and lighting, cost $30 million, and be complete by summer 2027. (WAVE)
Outdoors
Kentucky hunters have a new digital resource with the launch of the KY Deer & Elk app. The app offers offline maps, county-level hunt planning tools, and real-time support for deer and elk hunters.
The Word
Noctourism. That’s the name of one of this year’s hottest travel trends, in which people soak in experiences after dark. Think: stargazing, night markets, dinner cruises. Given that it’s October, a local ghost tour is the perfect way to join the fun. (The Traveler)
Sports
College football is really heating up. Keep track of what the Cardinals are up against with the local experts of the Big 10, who break it down with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Community
Psst…Voting is underway for Louisville Tourism’s annual ROSE Awards, now through Thursday, Oct. 16 at midnight. Take a look at the award categories before this year’s winners are announced at the event on Thursday, Nov. 13.*
Featured Deal
Hair loss deserves more than guesswork. That’s why we’ve partnered with Happy Head. Use code 6AM to get 45% off a dermatologist-developed, customizable treatment plan for hair loss.*
“Good Morning America” recently shone a national spotlight on the Kentucky Equine Adoption Center in Nicholasville, about an hour and a half’s drive from Louisville. The clip, which aired yesterday, introduced viewers to Firefly and Norma, two of the 1,000+ horses that have been saved by the Center.
Learn more about the nonprofit, which rehabilitates and retrains as many as 50 horses and ponies at a time.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
The nominees are out for this year’s National Book Awards, with some stellar books on the docket. Categories include fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and translated works.
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