You can live in a small town in Kentucky your entire life and still not know all of its secrets and fascinating history. While many locals around the Mt. Vernon area are aware of this abandoned mine cave in Kentucky, there are still plenty who have yet to discover the Mullins Station Cave. This historic spot feels straight out of a movie set and yet it’s right here, hidden in the hills of the Bluegrass State. If you’re curious to explore one of the fascinating abandoned mines in Kentucky, read on!
Mullins Station Road winds through forest and rocky hills near the town of Mt. Vernon, not far from I-75.
@wanderlustkentucky/Instagram, Contributed Photo You can take a closer look at the road and area with this map. These caves appear on the side of the road, adjacent to a railroad track and tunnel that is still active daily.
These two large openings appear almost out of nowhere and definitely come with a mysterious atmosphere.
@wanderlustkentucky/Instagram, Contributed Photo There’s not a lot of information available about this former limestone mine, but this is one of several caves in the area and all are likely hiding many stories dating back to the 1800s.
As you drive down Mullins Station Road, you’ll see the openings from the road on the left.
Pluto’s Forest/Youtube Locals have been known to use the area for target practice and photographers have stopped to try and capture the beauty and mystery of this fascinating place.
There have also been ATVs spotted, exploring the caves, but keep in mind we are not sure what is technically allowed and always exercise caution while in the area.
Pluto’s Forest/Youtube The opening of the cave towers at about 80 feet and is filled with mud and water, especially after a heavy rainfall.
If you’re familiar with the landscape of this area of Kentucky, you know that caves and unique rock formations are common, but this one remains particularly mysterious.
Pluto’s Forest/Youtube The cave has ties to crime, including violence and as you can imagine, there are a few haunted tales about the area.
But like most of these hidden gems, the natural beauty draws people in, while letting your imagination wander.
Pluto’s Forest/Youtube And it definitely will, whether you witness this cave in person or only through these photos.
Kentucky is an outdoor playground, filled with places like this to explore.
@wanderlustkentucky/Instagram, Contributed Photo There may be many other mines and caves that are well known in our state, but Mullins Station Cave seems to have gained the attention of those looking for a new adventure in the Bluegrass.
Take a closer look at this abandoned mine cave in Kentucky with this fascinating video by Youtuber Pluto’s Forest:
@wanderlustkentucky/Instagram, Contributed Photo
You can take a closer look at the road and area with this map. These caves appear on the side of the road, adjacent to a railroad track and tunnel that is still active daily.
There’s not a lot of information available about this former limestone mine, but this is one of several caves in the area and all are likely hiding many stories dating back to the 1800s.
Pluto’s Forest/Youtube
Locals have been known to use the area for target practice and photographers have stopped to try and capture the beauty and mystery of this fascinating place.
The opening of the cave towers at about 80 feet and is filled with mud and water, especially after a heavy rainfall.
The cave has ties to crime, including violence and as you can imagine, there are a few haunted tales about the area.
And it definitely will, whether you witness this cave in person or only through these photos.
There may be many other mines and caves that are well known in our state, but Mullins Station Cave seems to have gained the attention of those looking for a new adventure in the Bluegrass.
Some locals have known about this historic spot for decades and yet more Kentuckians seem to be discovering it as photos of the cave emerge. Trains chug past it daily, while this abandoned mine cave in Kentucky remains hauntingly beautiful as a mysterious place in the Bluegrass. Did you know about Mullins Station Cave? Are you familiar with the numerous abandoned mines in Kentucky? We’d love to hear what you know about it in the comments.
And for another massive, lesser known cave in Kentucky, check out this sand cave that you can take a hiking trail to reach.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Abandoned Mines in Kentucky January 27, 2023 Sarah M. What are some other abandoned mines in Kentucky worth exploring? With a history that includes deep ties to coal mining, it should come as no surprised that there are some fascinating abandoned mines in Kentucky to learn about and explore:
Portal 31. Portal 31 Coal Mine was a facility owned by the U.S. Coal & Coke Company, a subsidiary of U.S. Steel, in the early 1900s. The company built the community of Lynch, then the world’s largest coal camp, as a community for miners and their families. At its peak in the 1940s, the coal company employed more than 4,000 people from all over the world; its workforce was a melting pot of some 38 different nationalities. Coal mining was – and is – a dirty, dangerous business that helped fuel our nation’s growth and remains an important part of our history and economy. Kentucky played a big role in this coal mining boom. But mining was hard, thankless work, and life at Portal 31 was difficult. The powers in charge prevented miners from unionizing, earning it the nickname “Bloody Harlan.” Today, visitors can experience life in the mine by taking an underground tour to get insight into the experience of the miners who at one time worked there. Blue Heron/Big South Fork. Blue South Fork is an area where the imagination can easily run wild. Encompassing 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau, it’s a place of deep beauty – and deep mystery. For its within the wilds of Big South Fork that you’ll find Blue Heron, Kentucky’s very own ghost town. Blue Heron, also known as Mine 18, is an abandoned coal mining town and was a part of the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company’s historic operation. The Blue Heron mines ran from 1937 until 1962, when operations ceased being profitable. Today, this mining ghost town is run by the National Park Service, and they offer guided tours along it abandoned railroad.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Abandoned Mines in Kentucky
January 27, 2023
Sarah M.
What are some other abandoned mines in Kentucky worth exploring? With a history that includes deep ties to coal mining, it should come as no surprised that there are some fascinating abandoned mines in Kentucky to learn about and explore:
Portal 31. Portal 31 Coal Mine was a facility owned by the U.S. Coal & Coke Company, a subsidiary of U.S. Steel, in the early 1900s. The company built the community of Lynch, then the world’s largest coal camp, as a community for miners and their families. At its peak in the 1940s, the coal company employed more than 4,000 people from all over the world; its workforce was a melting pot of some 38 different nationalities. Coal mining was – and is – a dirty, dangerous business that helped fuel our nation’s growth and remains an important part of our history and economy. Kentucky played a big role in this coal mining boom. But mining was hard, thankless work, and life at Portal 31 was difficult. The powers in charge prevented miners from unionizing, earning it the nickname “Bloody Harlan.” Today, visitors can experience life in the mine by taking an underground tour to get insight into the experience of the miners who at one time worked there. Blue Heron/Big South Fork. Blue South Fork is an area where the imagination can easily run wild. Encompassing 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau, it’s a place of deep beauty – and deep mystery. For its within the wilds of Big South Fork that you’ll find Blue Heron, Kentucky’s very own ghost town. Blue Heron, also known as Mine 18, is an abandoned coal mining town and was a part of the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company’s historic operation. The Blue Heron mines ran from 1937 until 1962, when operations ceased being profitable. Today, this mining ghost town is run by the National Park Service, and they offer guided tours along it abandoned railroad.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
With a history that includes deep ties to coal mining, it should come as no surprised that there are some fascinating abandoned mines in Kentucky to learn about and explore:
- Portal 31. Portal 31 Coal Mine was a facility owned by the U.S. Coal & Coke Company, a subsidiary of U.S. Steel, in the early 1900s. The company built the community of Lynch, then the world’s largest coal camp, as a community for miners and their families. At its peak in the 1940s, the coal company employed more than 4,000 people from all over the world; its workforce was a melting pot of some 38 different nationalities. Coal mining was – and is – a dirty, dangerous business that helped fuel our nation’s growth and remains an important part of our history and economy. Kentucky played a big role in this coal mining boom. But mining was hard, thankless work, and life at Portal 31 was difficult. The powers in charge prevented miners from unionizing, earning it the nickname “Bloody Harlan.” Today, visitors can experience life in the mine by taking an underground tour to get insight into the experience of the miners who at one time worked there.
- Blue Heron/Big South Fork. Blue South Fork is an area where the imagination can easily run wild. Encompassing 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau, it’s a place of deep beauty – and deep mystery. For its within the wilds of Big South Fork that you’ll find Blue Heron, Kentucky’s very own ghost town. Blue Heron, also known as Mine 18, is an abandoned coal mining town and was a part of the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company’s historic operation. The Blue Heron mines ran from 1937 until 1962, when operations ceased being profitable. Today, this mining ghost town is run by the National Park Service, and they offer guided tours along it abandoned railroad.
