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It is said that every state in the United States has its own odd, unnerving, or just plain strange sites that ooze both mystery and wonder—Kentucky is no exception. Still, it perhaps leads the way in a multitude of these mostly rare and sometimes unexplained landmarks and sites. What is there to make of a state like Kentucky, then? A place where the natural meets the odd, and the artistic greets the strange. Here are eight of the strangest landmarks in the state.

The Bernheim Forest Giants (Clermont)

Out of 16,000 acres of woodland, this is the strangest spot. The Bernheim Forest and Arboretum is home to one of the oddest art pieces—three forest giants sit in a natural scene; one lies under the tree shade, another sits in contemplation in the dirt, and the tiniest plays with some giant pieces of rock. All crafted from resources found on the land, one look at the giants while a strong wind blows the trees around them, and the experience is uplifting and whimsical. Moreover, they each have cute names: Mama Loumari, Little Nis, and Little Elina.

Aside from the feeling they may impart, the giant art pieces have no mysterious origins. They were created by an artist named Thomas Dambo to commemorate the arboretum and research forest for its 90th anniversary and have since become one of the main allures to the area. While its popularity grows, its strangeness remains the same.

Down at the Witches' Tree (Louisville)

Somewhere in Louisville, there is a tall, gnarled tree that looks as if it's about to burst. Ugly and twisted, with hints of beauty throughout, one might notice that the tree is decorated with various lockets, charms, fruits, and necklaces. The story behind that and the history of the tree are inextricably linked.

The story goes that there was once a witch's gathering tree, a tree so revered that many ceremonies and practices were held there, and so famous was the spot that the city opted to get rid of it. Once the tree was disposed of, the witches retaliated: they cursed the town, and 11 months to the day of the tree's destruction, a great storm almost wiped Louisville off the map. Locals say lightning struck the spot where the old tree once was during the storm, and a new tree sprouted. Thus, the story of the Louisville Witches' Tree begins, a tree so feared and respected that offerings are made to it so that another catastrophe does not yet befall the land.

The Colonel's Grave (Louisville)

At Cave Hill Cemetery sit pearly white pillars and a centerpiece with a familiar face. A bust greets all who turn and walk through the only cemented walkway among long green grasses, and a closer inspection will reveal that the bust is that of Colonel Harland Sanders, the man and face behind the legendary fast food titan, KFC.

Though beginning his restaurant gambit at the young and spry age of 62, the Colonel, along with his iconic white suit and beard, rests easy in an odd and not-too-extravagant site. Its lovely centerpiece, the bust itself, resembles the aesthetic he was known for in the latter part of his life and is a creation by his daughter, no less.

From selling his chicken recipe roadside during the Great Depression to letting go of the company in 1964, it is worthwhile to remember that while the brand is legendary, its humble origins reside here, at a site that is a mixture of both wonder and strangeness, but more prominently, leaves the feeling of a grand legacy.

The Pope Lick Trestle Bridge (Louisville)

A location that belongs in the very jaws of myth, Pope Lick Trestle Bridge is said to be home to a legendary, murderous goat man. Though there are countless tales of its origins and many who have claimed to have seen this goat man, the bridge itself is nearly in ruin despite its very modern and ongoing usage.

Resting aside the legends, the bridge is as deadly, if not more, than the supposed goat man who inhabits it. Many, driven by adventure and myth, make the mistake of climbing onto the bridge and either fall to their dooms or are hit by a train. Gruesome, but in reality, the legend of this mysterious cryptid only strengthens as time passes. While visitors are discouraged from climbing the rickety and rusted metal structure, it makes an excellent spot to observe from below. Just exercise caution and avoid going at night—for if the goat man does exist, a dilapidated bridge is the least of problems.

A Shrine of Saints (Louisville)

Kentucky is the last place one would expect to find the skeletal remains of two holy saints, but that is exactly what makes this peculiarity enticing and yet so odd. Both Saint Magnus and Saint Bonosa (whose bodies and origin hail from Roman times) have managed to find their way to an unlikely domain—the story of which is just a tad bit less odd than the remains themselves.

During a vicious anti-Catholic bout in the 1800s, many of the practicing religious men and women were attacked, and some killed, during an event that would come to be known as Louisville's Bloody Monday—it was a full-on persecution of Catholics that would eventually lead to thousands leaving the city practically overnight.

Decades after the incident, the air of violence, heavy emotions, and memories of that violent day still lingered in the minds of those in the city and the country, and Italy, in perhaps a warming and firm gesture, had sent Louisville's U.S. Customs Office two foreign visitors. Saint Bonosa had been persecuted and eventually killed for her beliefs in Christianity, while Magnus, a sympathizer of Bonosa, had met the same fate. The remains now rest peacefully at the local parish of St. Martin of Tours and have stood as a reminder of violent religious persecution, both in ancient and modern times.

The Vent Haven Museum (Fort Mitchell)

Pediophobics beware, as Vent Haven is officially the º£½ÇÉçÇø's largest museum of dummies for ventriloquism. With an astonishing collection of over 1,000 dummies, the museum has cemented itself as a beacon for the curious and established ventriloquists from around the º£½ÇÉçÇø.

Beginning with a wealthy man's passion, the museum's creator, William Shakespeare Berger, spent 60 years amassing rare, common, new, and old dummies from everywhere he could find. Long after his death, and certainly towards the later years of his life, Vent Haven would explode in popularity and to this day hosts events and conventions for those interested in the complex workings and appreciation of ventriloquism.

Black Mountain (Partridge)

At its face, Black Mountain is nearly like every other mountain in the area; it is incredibly tall, often misted early in the morning, and perfectly green when hit with direct sunlight—but Black Mountain wouldn't be here if it were just beautiful. What makes Black Mountain unique is twofold: it is the highest point in the state, at a whopping 4,145 feet above sea level, and it also is perhaps the deadliest.

In fact, its reputation for being unstable and deadly is so profound that even a visit used to require a waiver. This is because the mountain and surrounding area have become so hollowed out due to coal mining that the summit is quite literally prone to collapse at any minute, as are other pieces of ground in the area, especially on the way up. The question is now: is it worth it to witness the mountain's beauty? On the flip side, Black Mountain is also known for being an excellent habitat for black butterflies.

Jailer's Inn Bed and Breakfast (Bardstown)

Once the longest-running Kentucky jail, Jailer’s Inn in Bardstown is now a cozy bed and breakfast. First opened in 1797 and ceasing operation in 1987, this 190-year-old historic site has seen everything from executions to disease and now morning toast and coffee. Though the majority of the buildings have undergone significant changes, and the current one is from the 1800s, Jailer's Inn still has that old-timey jail feel (and they even have a specialty room that is a jail cell).

And while there won't likely be any more executions today on its grounds, the remnants of those angry souls still supposedly roam the halls and cells as they did in life. Indeed, the Jailer's Inn is not surprisingly said to be very haunted. And it would make sense because inmates used to be buried in the back in unmarked graves—spectacular.

Why These Places?

Kentucky runs no shortlist of odd, unusual, and strange places, but it's these that really speak to all the mystery and uniqueness a place like the state embodies. While some may be the graves of important people, some are just death traps and mountains. Others are supposedly the homes of legendary creatures. Each of these diverse, strange areas and sites is crucial to the identity of that weirdly pleasant, downright intriguing place, Kentucky. From myth to the macabre, it all has its place here.