10 Of The Most Bizarre Landmarks In Kentucky
Known for doing things a little differently, Kentucky is one of only four U.S. states (along with Virginia, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania) that call itself a commonwealth rather than a state. It’s mostly symbolic, a decision taken when it officially became the 15th U.S. state on June 1, 1792, separating itself from Virginia. Still, it may have been a bellwether for the Bluegrass State’s penchant for doing things just a little bit differently.
Kentucky is known for bluegrass music, bourbon, and horse racing, but beyond its rich heritage lies a veritable treasure trove of the most bizarre landmarks and quirky roadside oddities. From an abandoned half-built castle in the middle of horse country, a mysterious and massive moonbow at Cumberland Falls, to the world's largest replica of Noah's Ark in Williamstown, Kentucky, it is still full of surprises.
The National Corvette Museum Sinkhole, Bowling Green
On February 12, 2014, a massive sinkhole unexpectedly opened up and swallowed eight classic collector-edition Corvettes inside the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green. This bizarre natural disaster captured worldwide attention and later became a symbol of resilience and restoration. The sinkhole opened up beneath the iconic Corvette Museum’s Skydome, and measured 40 feet wide, 60 feet long, and 30 feet deep.
The museum also sponsors the Corvette Hall of Fame, honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to the Corvette's legacy through racing, design, and community enthusiasm. Inductees are divided into three categories: Enthusiasts, GM/Chevrolet, and Racing. The National Corvette Museum aims to educate global audiences on the evolution of America’s sports car through exhibits, immersive experiences, guided plant tours, and interactive displays that celebrate the Corvette’s heritage.
Dinosaur World, Cave City
While the top destination in Cave City is its eponymous caves, like Crystal Onyx, Hidden River Cave, Diamond Caverns, and the granddaddy of all caves, Mammoth Cave National Park, there’s another quirky attraction along Interstate 65 that you simply can’t miss: Dinosaur World. Part of a larger group of Dinosaur World theme parks with locations in Florida and Texas, this is the perfect spot for Jurassic junkies, amateur paleontologists, or little fossil hunters.
Take a self-guided tour through the woods, along trails lined with life-sized fiberglass dinosaurs that lurk in the woods, including a towering Tyrannosaurus rex with its giant head and tiny arms, a pack of Stegosaurus, and a gentle Brachiosaurus standing high above the tree tops. There are hands-on interactive activities to keep the kids busy, like a fossil dig, gemstone panning, a dinosaur-themed playground, and a Dinosaur World museum. The super kid-friendly attraction is also leashed-dog-friendly, so bring along the whole family to enjoy this charming dinosaur day out.
Ark Encounter, Williamstown
Who knew that a full-scale replica of Noah’s Ark is only a 45-minute drive from Cincinnati, Ohio? Built according to the dimensions in the Bible, the ark spans 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high. Like a big biblical museum, Noah’s world is full of world-class exhibits spread across the ark’s three decks. You’ll step back in time to meet Noah and seven family members who lived on the ark and cared for the animals during the Flood, and imagine how Noah passed time on the ark, from cooking to sleeping to recreation, and more. In the ark’s adjacent theme park, there’s a carousel, a playground, with custom add-ons like camel encounters and camel rides, ziplines, behind-the-scenes animal experiences, and Emzara’s Buffet, a themed, award-winning restaurant.
Admission to Ararat Ridge Zoo, presumably named after Mount Ararat, the believed landing site of the ark, is included with the Ark Encounter visit, where you’ll meet a real-life menagerie of animals, including African Crested Porcupines, Emus, Green Anacondas, Laughing Kookaburras, and so many more. Wacky, surreal, and definitely discussion-worthy on the drive home, this is another odd landmark in Kentucky you don’t want to miss.
Mother Goose House, Hazard
You’re forgiven for doing a double-take if you’re driving through Hazard, Kentucky, and spy a giant goose perched on top of a house like a hat. Built between 1935 and 1940 by railroad worker George Stacy, this labor of love has been attracting birds of a feather for almost 90 years, who flock to the area to take a gander at the house shaped like a giant goose, complete with eight egg-shaped windows and automobile lights for eyes. It’s absurd, but in a good way, reminding us of carefree childhood days, nursery rhymes, and the most iconic goose figure of them all, Mother Goose. Tours of the house are available by appointment, with all proceeds going towards upkeep of this nest of a landmark.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Louisville
Joining a long list of famous sanitoriums in the U.S., like the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan, once a wellness empire run by cereal king, Dr. Kellogg, and Riverside Hospital, the one-time home of Typhoid Mary in the tuberculosis wards of North Brother Island in New York, the Waverly Hills Sanatorium is a landmark in Louisville. Known for its dark past, massive gothic architecture, and reputation as one of the most haunted places in America, the Waverly Hills Sanatorium is a former tuberculosis sanatorium turned tourist attraction, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The sanatorium opened in 1910 as a two-story hospital intended to house 40 to 60 patients, and closed in 1961 after the 1943 invention of the first effective antibiotic against TB, streptomycin. Today, it’s a top destination for people interested in history, Tudor Gothic architecture, and the paranormal, with both public and private tours available, lasting anywhere from a 2-hour history tour to an 8-hour self-guided private investigation.
The Moonbow at Cumberland Falls, Corbin
A moonbow, or a lunar rainbow, is a natural phenomenon that looks like a solar rainbow, with one big difference: moonbows occur at night. Only visible during full moons after a rainshower, or waves crashing on a shoreline, or near waterfalls, moonbows are rare occurrences that may be visible during the hours before the moon rises or sets in only a few locations around the world. Lucky for Kentucky, one of those places is near the quirky town of Corbin, where a moonbow regularly occurs at Cumberland Falls, self-proclaimed “Home of the Moonbow.”
While other more famous waterfalls like Niagara Falls and Yosemite Falls can sometimes produce moonbows, neither produces the phenomenon as regularly as Cumberland Falls, nicknamed the “Niagara of the South.” Tucked inside the scenic Cumberland Falls State Resort Park within the 708,000 acres of the Daniel Boone National Forest, the moonbows at Cumberland Falls are the main attraction. The best place to view a moonbow is at the Falls Overlook, a short walk from the Cumberland Falls State Resort Park Visitors Center.
Vent Haven Ventriloquist Museum, Fort Mitchell
Perhaps the only place more fascinating than a clown museum is a museum dedicated solely to ventriloquism, full of more than 1,000 dummies staring blankly back at you. Vent Haven was opened in 1973 after the 1972 death of W.S. Berger (William Shakespeare Berger), whose massive personal collection of dummies, puppets, scripts, playbills, and assorted ventriloquism-related memorabilia was donated to the museum and put on view. Since then, ventriloquist enthusiasts, puppet lovers, and lip-locked loyalists from all over the world have visited the one-of-a-kind museum.
On display during the 2025 season is a “Wall of Heads” exhibit, featuring over 30 heads mounted on a wall without their dummy bodies, and an expanded Shari Lewis (of Lamb Chop fame) section in the Bob Barker Gallery. On Saturday, August 9, 2025, the Vent Haven Ventriloquist Museum is hosting its annual Open House, where you can visit the landmark museum for free and without an appointment.
The Kentucky Castle, Versailles
The Kentucky Castle is a 100-acre estate located in horse country, just outside Lexington (“Thoroughbred City”) in Versailles. Like most castles, this one has a storied past that borders on tragedy. Construction began on the Martin Castle in 1969, inspired by the architecture a couple saw on their honeymoon in Europe. But the dream turned bittersweet, and by 1975, they were divorced, and the half-built castle sat as a sad roadside attraction for 30 years. Over the years, the medieval-looking castle changed hands and names a few times; it survived a terrible fire. In 2017, it was transformed into a boutique hotel with an estate-grown farm-to-table restaurant under the new name, “The Kentucky Castle.” Part fairytale, part elegy, the Kentucky Castle is one of the Bluegrass State’s most photographed landmarks.
Kentucky Stonehenge, Munfordville
Unlike the mystery surrounding Stonehenge, like who built it and why, the history of Kentucky’s Stonehenge is more straightforward. The replica of the stone landmark in Wiltshire, England, was built by Chester Fryer, a lifelong rock collector and History Channel enthusiast, who was intrigued by the iconic monument and started to work on his version in 2005 in the small town of Munfordville.
Often referred to as “an ancient society” in Kentucky, Fryer’s version mirrors the points of a compass rose, with extra stones marking the cardinal directions. Alongside features inspired by the world-famous Stonehenge, the estate is organized into several themed rock displays, including Earth Mysteries, the Garden of Gethsemane, Rock Gardens, and a Rock Park. The Kentucky Stonehenge was built on private property owned by Chester Fryer, who was always happy to chat with the throngs of tourists who traveled from all over to see the roadside attraction. Admission to Kentucky Stonehenge is free.
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The Big Bat, Louisville
The Big Bat is a towering baseball bat outside the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, a museum that celebrates the most iconic baseball bat brands in the world. The big bat stands 120 feet tall and weighs 68,000 pounds, made of hollow carbon steel; it is an exact scale replica of Babe Ruth’s 34-inch Louisville Slugger. The bat is dramatically propped against the museum’s red brick building, a fantastic photo opp if ever there was one. Used by legendary players like Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, and Derek Jeter, the Louisville Slugger is not only a symbol of American baseball but also of heritage, pride, and American spirit. Explore the museum gallery, take in a tour of the factory where the bats have been made since 1884, and visit the hallowed Bat Vault to see more than 3,000 bat models.
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A Bizarre Retreat In Kentucky
From moonbows to dummies, Kentucky knows how to keep it weird at ten of the most bizarre landmarks. Stroll past life-sized dinosaurs in Cave City, gawk at a goose-shaped house, or stand beneath a 120-foot baseball bat in Louisville; the Bluegrass State delivers roadside oddities in full force. Add in a ventriloquist museum, a medieval castle born of heartbreak, a biblical ark, and even Kentucky’s own Stonehenge, and you’ve got a state that proudly leans into its quirks. It’s part Southern charm, part surreal detour, and all unforgettable.
