The Abandoned Point Leavell Railroad Tunnel, Hyattsville, Kentucky

Point Leavell was a station on the Rowland Branch of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, which operated from 1868 to 1934. The branch extended from Fort Estill just south of Richmond, Kentucky, to Lancaster, Rowland, and Stanford. The branch was also known as the Old Henry, named for Henry Lammers, one of the engineers. There were several short tunnels on the branch –  including this one east of Hyattsville.

After the rail line and tunnel was abandoned it was converted over to automobile traffic and used until the early 2000s when Route 52 was constructed. It’s reported that the tunnel was built by Irish immigrants who picked and blasted through the solid limestone on both ends until they met in the middle. The 490 foot long tunnel was also used by the locals for shelter during severe storms and tornadoes.

Today the tunnel is hidden in plain site just off of “Old Railroad Grade Road.

GPS Location: 37º35’40.2″N 84º29’39.4″W