London is just 20 minutes away from the Corbin KFC mecca and has earned its own cluck cred for hosting the annual World Chicken Festival.
London is also a rich resource for Civil War history, memorabilia, and reenactments.
London was established in 1826 and is the county seat of Laurel County.
McHargue’s Mill is one of many projects and amenities that were built by Civilian Conservation Corps recruits in the mid-1930s. This is one of the old cabins found on the donated acres that the CCC restored.
You will likely notice this first when you enter the park, before the road forks to either the museum or other amenities. The path leading to McHargue’s Mill is lined with original millstones; the largest collection of them in the world, actually.
The path leads along a sparkling green creek and it is a great spot for birdwatching.
This part of Kentucky is a major crossroads for some historically significant roads. Interstate 75 runs from Tennessee through Corbin, to London, and continues north.
London is the Cycling Capital of Kentucky and hosts the Redbud Ride each year since 2006.
Downtown London is situated along Main Street and congregates around its intersection of 4th Street. It has dozens of impressive buildings with white pillars and marble but not much as far as daytime entertainment. When I asked two different local women how they would spend a day off in London, they had no idea.
Luckily they have a fantastic farm-to-table restaurant called Local Honey, and their food is delicious.
Local Honey is super cozy with just enough glitz and vintage décor to create an elegant ambiance.
As the waitress handed me the brunch menu, she told me the special for the day was smoked salmon Eggs Benny, so I handed the menu back to her. This is my favourite brunch dish.
It was everything I had hoped it would be, and the béchamel is on point. Several people told me I had to try their famous gravy, so I got some for the seasoned home fries. So good.
I had been looking forward to visiting Sacred Grounds Coffee and The Grind, but neither were open. I left and came back again later, and both times found myself among a crowd outside doing the “wtf hands” and shrugging at each other because they did not know what was going on either.
I will try again next time when we return to visit the Abbey Restaurant and Serial Grillers.
Marymount Hospital
My work friends and I had been talking about the creepy story of the Angel of the Death serial killer at the old Marymount Hospital in London, where a staff medic named Donald Harvey was murdering patients. Harvey moved on to Cincinnati where he killed more patients and other people he met, eventually around 90 in total.
I found the photo with text below just as it is on the Google. I do not take credit for or own any rights to it at all.
Harvey was beaten to death in prison a few years ago. The old hospital was at 310 E 9th Street but was demolished in 2012. There are so many conspiracy theories about why the building is 100% demolished and gone but the line still rings when you call the Marymont phone number at 606-878-6520.
One might think they would have a recording advising that the hospital is defunct and to dial another number, but no. There is a brief noise that sounds like a cross between someone screaming and a leaking oxygen hose. I made my whole dentist office listen to it while they were working on me, and we compared it to the sound of their air hose.
I am certain that this is just some kooky thing someone pays for in order to keep people interested in the story because, of course, I drove by the old site.
In the area for a while? Follow me to Corbin and Williamsburg.
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