Whether you enjoy sport fishing, kayaking, swimming, or hiking the most, you’ve probably spent quite a bit of time in the Land Between the Lakes region and Kentucky Lake in particular. But did you know Kentucky Lake is hiding a secret? Several towns once existed in that very spot. The largest of which was known as Birmingham, Kentucky back in the 1800s. The area that once flourished as a community is now an underwater ghost town in Kentucky.
- Birmingham was a happening little community.
Vistavision/Flickr In 1844, it was home to more than 322 people, which was a larger population than the county seat of Benton.
- America’s favorite pastime had a home here.
Roger Smith/Flickr Birmingham was Marshall County’s first Baseball team.
- In 1894…
Vistavision/Flickr The community was said to have two schools, two hotels, two wagons, and blacksmith shops, five churches, four dry goods, and general stores, three grocers, a drug store, and two shops. They likely resembled the store shown, but no actual images were available.
- In the 1920s…
Geraint Rowland/Flickr Birmingham was renowned in the area for shipping poultry, hickory nuts, and rabbits to cities further north. They also did well in the mussel trade, but the product was sent to Metropolis, IL for processing. The population of the community was over 900 during this decade.
- In 1938…
Vistavision/Flickr The TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) told the community of Bermingham they had to find a new home. A dam was then built in Gilbertville, and the TVA flooded the area in the 1940s to create Kentucky Lake. The cemetery pictured is at a different location but contains residents from Birmingham.
2. Can you still see Birmingham?
Vistavision/Flickr
In 1844, it was home to more than 322 people, which was a larger population than the county seat of Benton.
Roger Smith/Flickr
Birmingham was Marshall County’s first Baseball team.
The community was said to have two schools, two hotels, two wagons, and blacksmith shops, five churches, four dry goods, and general stores, three grocers, a drug store, and two shops. They likely resembled the store shown, but no actual images were available.
Geraint Rowland/Flickr
Birmingham was renowned in the area for shipping poultry, hickory nuts, and rabbits to cities further north. They also did well in the mussel trade, but the product was sent to Metropolis, IL for processing. The population of the community was over 900 during this decade.
The TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) told the community of Bermingham they had to find a new home. A dam was then built in Gilbertville, and the TVA flooded the area in the 1940s to create Kentucky Lake. The cemetery pictured is at a different location but contains residents from Birmingham.
Locals will tell you, when Kentucky Lake is low, the streets of some foundations of Birmingham are still visible. Birmingham Point is the most likely spot to see remnants of the community, though you may not be able to tell exactly what is what.
1. Kentucky Lake is beautiful.
This is a beautiful spot to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of the city. It is sad that a community had to disappear to create such a serene spot in our state. The watersports, fishing, and activities that happen here overshadow the loss of the town for most.
The realization that this lake is actually an underwater ghost town in Kentucky can come as quite a surprise. Most people don’t realize that this gorgeous lake was once a collection of thriving communities. Birmingham, Kentucky may be gone, but its stories still remain. And its memory still flourishes beneath the calm waters of Kentucky Lake.
Birmingham, KY isn’t the only town with a unique story. You can read more about some of Kentucky’s ghost towns in this article.
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Address: Birmingham, KY 42044, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
More underwater towns in Kentucky lakes December 30, 2022 Chris Muras Is there a town under cave run lake? As far as we could determine there is not a town under Cave Run Lake. The Cave Run Lake project began in 1965 by damming the Licking River in Eastern Kentucky’s Daniel Boone National Forest. The land that was flooded was primarily owned by the U.S. Forest Service at the time, and the remaining land was acquired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before the lake project began. The city beneath Lake Kennedy in Western Kentucky is often confused with Cave Run Lake, but the two lake projects were in completely different parts of the state and completed over a decade apart. What happened to the Lake Cumberland underwater town? If you thought mysterious ghost towns were only something you could find in classic horror films, think again! A real-life ghost town lies beneath Kentucky’s Lake Cumberland – a stunning 65,530-acre body of water created by damming the river in 1952. Although the small mining community was abandoned shortly after the region was flooded, its rustic remnants found resting peacefully beneath the lake offer a unique glimpse into early pioneer life. It’s difficult to imagine that once bustling streets full of people now lay hidden under the placid surface above. Hidden from view though it may be, the communities of Long Bottom, Lula, Horse Shoe Bottom, and Stokes are sure to remain an unforgettable and permanent reminder of this area’s rich historical past. Are there actual ghost towns in Kentucky? There are quite a few old abandoned towns in Kentucky, as there are in most states. Many old mining towns or towns that relied on railroad stops have slowly declined and some have nearly disappeared entirely. Here are some of the most famous ghost towns in Kentucky:
Golden Pond Bells Mine L&N at Rocky Hill Barthell Packard Blue Heron Calloway Town Lawton Mushroom Mine Blandville
Keep reading to find out more about these abandoned ghost towns in Kentucky.
The OIYS Visitor Center
More underwater towns in Kentucky lakes
December 30, 2022
Chris Muras
Is there a town under cave run lake? As far as we could determine there is not a town under Cave Run Lake. The Cave Run Lake project began in 1965 by damming the Licking River in Eastern Kentucky’s Daniel Boone National Forest. The land that was flooded was primarily owned by the U.S. Forest Service at the time, and the remaining land was acquired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before the lake project began. The city beneath Lake Kennedy in Western Kentucky is often confused with Cave Run Lake, but the two lake projects were in completely different parts of the state and completed over a decade apart. What happened to the Lake Cumberland underwater town? If you thought mysterious ghost towns were only something you could find in classic horror films, think again! A real-life ghost town lies beneath Kentucky’s Lake Cumberland – a stunning 65,530-acre body of water created by damming the river in 1952. Although the small mining community was abandoned shortly after the region was flooded, its rustic remnants found resting peacefully beneath the lake offer a unique glimpse into early pioneer life. It’s difficult to imagine that once bustling streets full of people now lay hidden under the placid surface above. Hidden from view though it may be, the communities of Long Bottom, Lula, Horse Shoe Bottom, and Stokes are sure to remain an unforgettable and permanent reminder of this area’s rich historical past. Are there actual ghost towns in Kentucky? There are quite a few old abandoned towns in Kentucky, as there are in most states. Many old mining towns or towns that relied on railroad stops have slowly declined and some have nearly disappeared entirely. Here are some of the most famous ghost towns in Kentucky:
Golden Pond Bells Mine L&N at Rocky Hill Barthell Packard Blue Heron Calloway Town Lawton Mushroom Mine Blandville
Keep reading to find out more about these abandoned ghost towns in Kentucky.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
As far as we could determine there is not a town under Cave Run Lake. The Cave Run Lake project began in 1965 by damming the Licking River in Eastern Kentucky’s Daniel Boone National Forest. The land that was flooded was primarily owned by the U.S. Forest Service at the time, and the remaining land was acquired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before the lake project began. The city beneath Lake Kennedy in Western Kentucky is often confused with Cave Run Lake, but the two lake projects were in completely different parts of the state and completed over a decade apart.
What happened to the Lake Cumberland underwater town?
If you thought mysterious ghost towns were only something you could find in classic horror films, think again! A real-life ghost town lies beneath Kentucky’s Lake Cumberland – a stunning 65,530-acre body of water created by damming the river in 1952. Although the small mining community was abandoned shortly after the region was flooded, its rustic remnants found resting peacefully beneath the lake offer a unique glimpse into early pioneer life. It’s difficult to imagine that once bustling streets full of people now lay hidden under the placid surface above. Hidden from view though it may be, the communities of Long Bottom, Lula, Horse Shoe Bottom, and Stokes are sure to remain an unforgettable and permanent reminder of this area’s rich historical past.
Are there actual ghost towns in Kentucky?
There are quite a few old abandoned towns in Kentucky, as there are in most states. Many old mining towns or towns that relied on railroad stops have slowly declined and some have nearly disappeared entirely. Here are some of the most famous ghost towns in Kentucky:
- Golden Pond
- Bells Mine
- L&N at Rocky Hill
- Barthell
- Packard
- Blue Heron
- Calloway Town
- Lawton Mushroom Mine
- Blandville
Keep reading to find out more about these abandoned ghost towns in Kentucky.
