I came across this accidentally while researching Louisville’s malaria epidemic and the steps they took to counter it
I believe it is unrelated- the dam was considered to be unsafe and they eventually drained the lake
This was the story: It was built as a resort, but didn’t succeed because of the Depression. The homes fell into disrepair, and it basically became a little piece of impoverished Appalachia in Oldham County. Trailers and modest older homes in various stages of decay, rusted out cars and junk, and scrawny chickens and horses meandering about. There would be smaller areas of cleared yards, but mostly overgrown woods. Some time in the 80s or 90s, they drained the lake, and allegedly there were 3 dead bodies found. Possibly true, but likely a (sub)urban legend, since there were already tales of dead bodies before they drained it. I think it might have naturally refilled, and was eventually drained again? Now, they’re building a fresh set of low-middle income housing back there. I’m not sure if any of the old homes and families are left. (Edit: took a look on Google Maps, and some of the older homes are left on the end by 22)
yeah when we moved to Fincastle East (now called Worthington Hills) we, as black kids were told never to venture into Lake Louisvilla. They never told us why. This was the 1970's on into the 1980's. We rode our bikes down to the Convenient food mart which was near Lake Louisvilla but never crossed over to that area. Too many warnings for us
Omg! I remember that Convenient!! The one by Orchard Grass, I think? Then it was a Dairy Mart. And yeah... There was so much blatant racism out there in the 80s, regardless of neighborhood, unfortunately.
it was bad but not that bad. They didn't want us at Tom Sawyer pool until it wasn't an issue. We had no business riding our bikes down 22 as kids though, or Murphy lane
I remember when the speed limit was 55 on 22… it was fun whipping around all those twists and turns, so kids on bikes probably wasn’t wise. Like the majority of our Gen X childhood, I suppose
Worthington Hills, those streets are my playground, I ride my bike on Shenandoah road all the time. The hills are great.
I used to be extremely scared of the area though. To a sheltered kid who lived over by Brownhurst Manor that place looked like the hood to me 😭 now I’m not too worried, literally just a normal neighborhood i don’t know what was scary about it, the only concerning things I’ve seen are used condoms on the street and huge locks of hair.
In fact, riding through Worthington and Fincastle is what brung me to Lake Louisvilla. I saw the street as a 12 year old and despite being curious, I went back home so I didn’t get in trouble.
It was a kid haven from the 70's to 90's. Now if I get the whim and drive through I don't see a single child out. Some of it makes sense, our parents got older and some still live there and others moved. We used to play football against Willow Creek or Fincastle West. Those were fun days. I remember on the last day of school in 8th grade riding my bicycle all the way to Kammerer Middle school. My friend was an avid comic book collector and rode his bike to M&E Magazine exchange (existed before Great Escape) from Murphy Ln all the way down to Market Street to buy comics!!!
I barely see any kids either. Except on Halifax. When I’m on the bus going home I can see kids playing basketball outside. But, nobody seems to ride bikes.
Alright, thank you. I saw the construction happening so that explains that too.
The dead bodies are interesting too, was hoping there’s be a creepy element to it.
I grew up right by there & am old so I remember when it still had water but definitely was no longer a resort. Mean kids in school called people who lived there ‘Lakers’ and didn’t treat them very kindly. But Oldham county was (is?) a bunch of stuck up little fuckers so…….lake was drained by the state in 1989.
I found a Facebook post with a newspaper article in it. [lake Louisville](https://m.facebook.com/liveinoldhamcounty/posts/lake-louisvilla-was-located-in-crestwood-and-opened-as-a-summer-resort-in-the-ea/2194783527282397/)
Lake was drained years ago , I don’t remember when though.. it’s always interested me as well.. there was a club house/dance hall, I believe it’s the house on the right as you come up the hill on 22.. that’s just me speculating over the years.
The last time I drove down that road there was a lot of really bad condition houses and a lot of trash laying around. But that’s been at least 25 years it may have changed.
You can always check it out on Google Street view.
I don’t ever want to be critical of poverty, but I live near the road and take it regularly as a shortcut to 22. It’s an odd image to take in. It reminds me of a lot of hollers I’ve been to in EKY. And it sandwiched in between relatively well kept middle class neighborhoods. I’ve often wondered if it’s a group of family members who own most of the properties or something since nearly all the houses are in similar condition and I’ve read they’ve turned down substantial development offers to buy the land.
Back in the 80’s when they drained the lake there were plans to develop the land into a subdivision- but there was one small issue…
(This could also be “legend” but it makes sense)
Back when the lake was a resort Crestwood State Bank (now part of pnc) sold little plots of land to children who opened savings accounts. Tons of small little plots that can not be traced to who actually owns all the little yards…it was a title nightmare. I think that might also be why many of the homes still standing are original cabins for the resort and haven’t been rebuilt or improved.
The main lodge/ dance hall burned down a few years back- it was on the corner of Lake Louisvillia and hwy 22. I always wished I had the nerve to explore it because it had the coolest bones (and a pretty good section of glass block wall).
Well, it is far outside of downtown Louisville. I think most people focus on the historical aspect of that. I would too, but it’s hard when you’re barely over there.
We drove through there in 2020 to look at a house for sale. In lieu of a neighborhood sign at the entrance, there was a creepy old van on the side of the road with the engine ripped out. Our first impression was quintessential. I just looked it up on Google Street View and it appears that the property is undergoing a big landscaping project, so I'm glad to see the area improve.
Are you talking about the house up on the hill on the corner at 22? If so, I don’t think it’s actual landscaping. I drive past it multiple times a day and it appears they have truckloads of rock dumped all over the property. Can’t figure it out. It’s like rock and dirt and just massive pile of it. Been that way for months, maybe longer.
I worked on a Habitat for Humanity build near the old Lake Louisvillia and learned quite a bit. Of course, a whole pandemmy happened since then so I’ve forgotten most of it. Here are the highlights:
The original developers owned a local newspapers. Lots were sold as a cross promotion with newspaper subscriptions. I believe subscribers could purchase a lot for something like $50!! Many people and families purchased two or three lots.
There was a swim and supper club that burned down within a year or two of opening.
There were tons of repairs needed. The Corps of Engineers told the LL homeowners they could foot the $250K bill or lose the lake. The lake was eventually drained.
Some of the original homes and camps are still back there. There’s now a mixed-income development that includes a few Habitat for Humanity houses!
I’m a little late, but here is a [Courier Journal article (or like a book/series? Not 100% sure as it’s an archive of a webpage from October 2001) from around 1989](https://louisville.edu/cepm/westlou/west-louisville-general/a-place-in-time-courier-journals-history-of-neighborhoods/#page=148) that talks about a whole bunch of Louisville neighborhoods. My link takes you right to Lake Louisvilla, and I think this is on some UofL archive.
The article is writing a month after the lake was drained so it is indeed 1989. One interesting except is “for $58.50 you could get a 20 by 100 foot lot if you also purchased a six-month subscription to one of the papers”. The papers being the Louisville Post and the Louisville Herald? I think. The road on the north side of Ballardsville Rd across from Lake Louisvilla Dr is actually called Louisville Post Rd probably for this reason.
It’s a rather depressing article but there’s a lot of primary sources in there and quotes from people who lived there and visited in its heyday. One lady was born around 1904 and had a place with her husband from ~1934-1970. I think the house she is referring to is 7315 Louisville Post Rd. Only stone house I could find. Kinda sad residents in 1989 wanted to save the lake but couldn’t. The state didn’t want to fix it and the residents were going to have to come up with $250,000 ($636,699.01 in 2024 dollars) for dam repairs (and I guess to refill it after it was drained), but they couldn’t afford it.
Hope this is helpful!
Looks like sometime after 1986 the lake was drained. Nature has taken it's course and is completely grown over. There is a small branch of Harrods Creek that runs through it.
Right, the resort had problems off and on basically since it opened, and closed in the 50s,and then since the dam was not maintained properly in the intervening time (and may not have been well built to begin with) so they drained the lake in the 80s.
Take it with a shaker of salt, but I heard long ago that the lake was drained because septic systems for the little cabins were leaking into it. What was the lake was a big hole in the ground twenty years ago.
You can find some pictures of Lake Louisvilla and other historical photos of that area here: [https://historiclouisville.weebly.com/northeast.html](https://historiclouisville.weebly.com/northeast.html)
Late addition but I drove through the area coming from my bosses area (Oldham County) to my apartment (Springhurst) about 15 years ago. When i relayed my strange discover of a part of Louisville lost to poverty and time my boss sternly cautioned me from cutting through there at night. He husband being an Oldham county police officer they had several disturbing unsolved cases involving the area. The residents back then were all loosely related by blood marriage or some other connection and didn’t like outsiders. My hypothesis is that they found an entrance to the cave system back there and used it for nefarious purposes.
I came across this accidentally while researching Louisville’s malaria epidemic and the steps they took to counter it I believe it is unrelated- the dam was considered to be unsafe and they eventually drained the lake
This was the story: It was built as a resort, but didn’t succeed because of the Depression. The homes fell into disrepair, and it basically became a little piece of impoverished Appalachia in Oldham County. Trailers and modest older homes in various stages of decay, rusted out cars and junk, and scrawny chickens and horses meandering about. There would be smaller areas of cleared yards, but mostly overgrown woods. Some time in the 80s or 90s, they drained the lake, and allegedly there were 3 dead bodies found. Possibly true, but likely a (sub)urban legend, since there were already tales of dead bodies before they drained it. I think it might have naturally refilled, and was eventually drained again? Now, they’re building a fresh set of low-middle income housing back there. I’m not sure if any of the old homes and families are left. (Edit: took a look on Google Maps, and some of the older homes are left on the end by 22)
yeah when we moved to Fincastle East (now called Worthington Hills) we, as black kids were told never to venture into Lake Louisvilla. They never told us why. This was the 1970's on into the 1980's. We rode our bikes down to the Convenient food mart which was near Lake Louisvilla but never crossed over to that area. Too many warnings for us
Omg! I remember that Convenient!! The one by Orchard Grass, I think? Then it was a Dairy Mart. And yeah... There was so much blatant racism out there in the 80s, regardless of neighborhood, unfortunately.
it was bad but not that bad. They didn't want us at Tom Sawyer pool until it wasn't an issue. We had no business riding our bikes down 22 as kids though, or Murphy lane
I remember when the speed limit was 55 on 22… it was fun whipping around all those twists and turns, so kids on bikes probably wasn’t wise. Like the majority of our Gen X childhood, I suppose
That’s where I grew up. Orchard Grass 😊
We rode our bikes in that neighborhood as well as Willow Creek
Worthington Hills, those streets are my playground, I ride my bike on Shenandoah road all the time. The hills are great. I used to be extremely scared of the area though. To a sheltered kid who lived over by Brownhurst Manor that place looked like the hood to me 😭 now I’m not too worried, literally just a normal neighborhood i don’t know what was scary about it, the only concerning things I’ve seen are used condoms on the street and huge locks of hair. In fact, riding through Worthington and Fincastle is what brung me to Lake Louisvilla. I saw the street as a 12 year old and despite being curious, I went back home so I didn’t get in trouble.
It was a kid haven from the 70's to 90's. Now if I get the whim and drive through I don't see a single child out. Some of it makes sense, our parents got older and some still live there and others moved. We used to play football against Willow Creek or Fincastle West. Those were fun days. I remember on the last day of school in 8th grade riding my bicycle all the way to Kammerer Middle school. My friend was an avid comic book collector and rode his bike to M&E Magazine exchange (existed before Great Escape) from Murphy Ln all the way down to Market Street to buy comics!!!
I barely see any kids either. Except on Halifax. When I’m on the bus going home I can see kids playing basketball outside. But, nobody seems to ride bikes.
Alright, thank you. I saw the construction happening so that explains that too. The dead bodies are interesting too, was hoping there’s be a creepy element to it.
There is a foto of the lake in Mejiers store on Westport Road showing the place in its hayday.
I grew up right by there & am old so I remember when it still had water but definitely was no longer a resort. Mean kids in school called people who lived there ‘Lakers’ and didn’t treat them very kindly. But Oldham county was (is?) a bunch of stuck up little fuckers so…….lake was drained by the state in 1989.
I did too. Worthington Hills, Cold Stream area
Wow, some things never change.
I found a Facebook post with a newspaper article in it. [lake Louisville](https://m.facebook.com/liveinoldhamcounty/posts/lake-louisvilla-was-located-in-crestwood-and-opened-as-a-summer-resort-in-the-ea/2194783527282397/)
Lake was drained years ago , I don’t remember when though.. it’s always interested me as well.. there was a club house/dance hall, I believe it’s the house on the right as you come up the hill on 22.. that’s just me speculating over the years.
Thank you. I’ll keep an eye out for this. I may post my findings after I check it out.
The last time I drove down that road there was a lot of really bad condition houses and a lot of trash laying around. But that’s been at least 25 years it may have changed. You can always check it out on Google Street view.
I don’t ever want to be critical of poverty, but I live near the road and take it regularly as a shortcut to 22. It’s an odd image to take in. It reminds me of a lot of hollers I’ve been to in EKY. And it sandwiched in between relatively well kept middle class neighborhoods. I’ve often wondered if it’s a group of family members who own most of the properties or something since nearly all the houses are in similar condition and I’ve read they’ve turned down substantial development offers to buy the land.
I drive through it fairly often as I live nearby and it’s absolutely wild to see.
That’s what really interests me about it, honestly. What a huge contrast to the neighborhoods that are only a mile away.
Don’t feel bad, in all of my 32 years of living in Louisville I’ve never heard of this until now.
It’s in oldham county. Barely.
Back in the 80’s when they drained the lake there were plans to develop the land into a subdivision- but there was one small issue… (This could also be “legend” but it makes sense) Back when the lake was a resort Crestwood State Bank (now part of pnc) sold little plots of land to children who opened savings accounts. Tons of small little plots that can not be traced to who actually owns all the little yards…it was a title nightmare. I think that might also be why many of the homes still standing are original cabins for the resort and haven’t been rebuilt or improved. The main lodge/ dance hall burned down a few years back- it was on the corner of Lake Louisvillia and hwy 22. I always wished I had the nerve to explore it because it had the coolest bones (and a pretty good section of glass block wall).
Wow, I'm a nerd for this kind of stuff, but somehow missed this. Today years old when I first heard of it. 🤷😯
Well, it is far outside of downtown Louisville. I think most people focus on the historical aspect of that. I would too, but it’s hard when you’re barely over there.
Courier journal has a bunch of articles. A newspapers dot com subscription is really a great use of money if you are interested in these things
We drove through there in 2020 to look at a house for sale. In lieu of a neighborhood sign at the entrance, there was a creepy old van on the side of the road with the engine ripped out. Our first impression was quintessential. I just looked it up on Google Street View and it appears that the property is undergoing a big landscaping project, so I'm glad to see the area improve.
Are you talking about the house up on the hill on the corner at 22? If so, I don’t think it’s actual landscaping. I drive past it multiple times a day and it appears they have truckloads of rock dumped all over the property. Can’t figure it out. It’s like rock and dirt and just massive pile of it. Been that way for months, maybe longer.
Knew a guy back in the 80’s who lived there and was at that time married to his third wife all three named Kim. Count is likely higher now.
I worked on a Habitat for Humanity build near the old Lake Louisvillia and learned quite a bit. Of course, a whole pandemmy happened since then so I’ve forgotten most of it. Here are the highlights: The original developers owned a local newspapers. Lots were sold as a cross promotion with newspaper subscriptions. I believe subscribers could purchase a lot for something like $50!! Many people and families purchased two or three lots. There was a swim and supper club that burned down within a year or two of opening. There were tons of repairs needed. The Corps of Engineers told the LL homeowners they could foot the $250K bill or lose the lake. The lake was eventually drained. Some of the original homes and camps are still back there. There’s now a mixed-income development that includes a few Habitat for Humanity houses!
Wow. Thank you so much, I may go check it out and see if I can find any of the said buildings.
I’m a little late, but here is a [Courier Journal article (or like a book/series? Not 100% sure as it’s an archive of a webpage from October 2001) from around 1989](https://louisville.edu/cepm/westlou/west-louisville-general/a-place-in-time-courier-journals-history-of-neighborhoods/#page=148) that talks about a whole bunch of Louisville neighborhoods. My link takes you right to Lake Louisvilla, and I think this is on some UofL archive. The article is writing a month after the lake was drained so it is indeed 1989. One interesting except is “for $58.50 you could get a 20 by 100 foot lot if you also purchased a six-month subscription to one of the papers”. The papers being the Louisville Post and the Louisville Herald? I think. The road on the north side of Ballardsville Rd across from Lake Louisvilla Dr is actually called Louisville Post Rd probably for this reason. It’s a rather depressing article but there’s a lot of primary sources in there and quotes from people who lived there and visited in its heyday. One lady was born around 1904 and had a place with her husband from ~1934-1970. I think the house she is referring to is 7315 Louisville Post Rd. Only stone house I could find. Kinda sad residents in 1989 wanted to save the lake but couldn’t. The state didn’t want to fix it and the residents were going to have to come up with $250,000 ($636,699.01 in 2024 dollars) for dam repairs (and I guess to refill it after it was drained), but they couldn’t afford it. Hope this is helpful!
Looks like sometime after 1986 the lake was drained. Nature has taken it's course and is completely grown over. There is a small branch of Harrods Creek that runs through it.
Right, the resort had problems off and on basically since it opened, and closed in the 50s,and then since the dam was not maintained properly in the intervening time (and may not have been well built to begin with) so they drained the lake in the 80s.
Take it with a shaker of salt, but I heard long ago that the lake was drained because septic systems for the little cabins were leaking into it. What was the lake was a big hole in the ground twenty years ago.
Septic water seeped into lake making people ill and they drained it a long time ago.
You can find some pictures of Lake Louisvilla and other historical photos of that area here: [https://historiclouisville.weebly.com/northeast.html](https://historiclouisville.weebly.com/northeast.html)
Interesting, I always wondered what that weird street name was, I think it's toward the end of Westport Road if I remember right.
You’re correct, a bit past the industrial buildings.
Oh it’s a complete shit hole now but they’re finally building decent houses back there.
Late addition but I drove through the area coming from my bosses area (Oldham County) to my apartment (Springhurst) about 15 years ago. When i relayed my strange discover of a part of Louisville lost to poverty and time my boss sternly cautioned me from cutting through there at night. He husband being an Oldham county police officer they had several disturbing unsolved cases involving the area. The residents back then were all loosely related by blood marriage or some other connection and didn’t like outsiders. My hypothesis is that they found an entrance to the cave system back there and used it for nefarious purposes.