Louisville, Kentucky is a place with a series of underground spaces, caves, and tunnels. Most were built before the 1930's in order to move shipments from the river docks to downtown buildings and nearby neighborhoods.
In E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park, we find one of those tunnels. Known to the locals as "Sauerkraut Cave/Tunnel" it sits underneath what use to be Lakeland Asylum. In 1873, the fourth Kentucky state mental hospital was established on the grounds off Lakeland Road. What started as a single brick building housing 370 patients, it quickly grew into 15 buildings and 5,000 patients, even though the hospital was only built to house 3,500 patients.
Not all patients at Lakeland had mental disorders. Some suffered brain injuries, mental retardation, or were simply elderly people who could not afford a nursing facility or retirement home. Deaths went unreported, uninvestigated, and multiple records were "lost." It is unknown the exact number of bodies that are buried on the grounds of E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park from those who were murdered, committed suicide, or were lucky enough to die from old age. The photographs below are of what was known as a popular escape route for those crafty enough to escape the high-security asylum and risk the brutal punishments if caught.
As times changed and new policies and medications were made available, come 1980 the asylum was struggling to keep numbers up. With patients staying an average of two weeks instead of a lifetime, it was on the downward spiral. In 1986, a new modern facility was built in Louisville, Kentucky, and Lakeland Asylum was demolished in 1996 and the land became part of E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park.
In E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park, we find one of those tunnels. Known to the locals as "Sauerkraut Cave/Tunnel" it sits underneath what use to be Lakeland Asylum. In 1873, the fourth Kentucky state mental hospital was established on the grounds off Lakeland Road. What started as a single brick building housing 370 patients, it quickly grew into 15 buildings and 5,000 patients, even though the hospital was only built to house 3,500 patients.
Not all patients at Lakeland had mental disorders. Some suffered brain injuries, mental retardation, or were simply elderly people who could not afford a nursing facility or retirement home. Deaths went unreported, uninvestigated, and multiple records were "lost." It is unknown the exact number of bodies that are buried on the grounds of E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park from those who were murdered, committed suicide, or were lucky enough to die from old age. The photographs below are of what was known as a popular escape route for those crafty enough to escape the high-security asylum and risk the brutal punishments if caught.
As times changed and new policies and medications were made available, come 1980 the asylum was struggling to keep numbers up. With patients staying an average of two weeks instead of a lifetime, it was on the downward spiral. In 1986, a new modern facility was built in Louisville, Kentucky, and Lakeland Asylum was demolished in 1996 and the land became part of E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park.
People have reported hearing a young girl cry "Mommy" from deep down in this tunnel. They think it is the daughter of the Mother from the article at the bottom of this post.
The ceiling of the tunnel was only 4 foot high
This poisonous lizard reminded use of the threat of snakes and lizards within these tunnels
This is one of the two "cemeteries" on the property that are known to have bodies buried from the deaths within the asylum. Notice how what markers were there (if any) have sank into the ground permanently.
The second cemetery property known to have remains of those from the Lakeland Asylum. 3 tombstones are still visible thanks to tree roots pushing them back up.
You can see the cemetery fence in the background. This small building once stood just off the cemetery property on the woods edge. What could it have been used for?
Read some headlines and articles from when Lakeland was providing services:
The voice of a young girl saying "Mommy" was been recorded in the tunnels.
The Seelbach Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky has a rich history. From the architecture, to its guests, to the haunted 10th floor, this hotel is one of Louisville, Kentucky's landmarks.
The 150 room hotel opened on May 1st, 1905 and expanded to a 500 room hotel by 1908. The building itself has materials and architectural influence from the United States, France, Germany, Italy, and Ireland. What is categorized as mainly German architecture, the building has the best of the best when it comes to class.
The 150 room hotel opened on May 1st, 1905 and expanded to a 500 room hotel by 1908. The building itself has materials and architectural influence from the United States, France, Germany, Italy, and Ireland. What is categorized as mainly German architecture, the building has the best of the best when it comes to class.
A U.S. Mail shoot alongside the elevator.
The German architecture in the Rathskellar (Lower-Level) is amazing!
This Tiffany Window sits above the "Romeo & Juliet Balcony" that opens up so that the Manager could view and manage his employees below in the Rathskellar.
Someone told the Seelbach brothers that pelicans were good luck, so they had multiple pelicans placed throughout the Rathskellar in what may be the world's largest collection of Rookwood Pottery.
Inside the Oakroom (what use to be the gentleman's billiards room) there is the gentlemen's poker room. This room was visited on several occasions by Al Capone.
The 10th floor is home to the Grand Ballroom and the "Lady in Blue."
In 1936, a young woman in a blue dress was found at the bottom of one of the elevator shaft. Her name was Patricia Wilson, a resident of the 10th floor. History says that Patricia was a newlywed bride, but exited her room one night to find her husband in the arms of another woman. In her bitterness, she committed suicide rather than have her dream life become an ongoing nightmare. Many people report seeing Patricia walking the halls on the 10th floor. More reports were filed in 1987 than any other year.
