Bobby Mackey’s Music World has been a source of mystery and controversy since the 1980’s. People from far and wide have come to this nightclub in Kentucky to experience the supposed supernatural hauntings first hand. Reports of eerie red eyes, phantom footsteps, spirits materializing out of thin air, and objects moving on their own have all been reported in the past. Many believe these sightings are evidence of some kind of dark activity or even an Evil Entity that lurks in the night club basement, while others are quick to debunk such claims due to the lack of physical evidence and lack of historic backing to the claims.
History
The building’s history dates back to the 1850s when it was said to have been a slaughterhouse, a fact that has been embellished in the paranormal community, leading people to believe it was a “slaughterhouse satanic ritual site.” However, many claim this is a myth and a number of historians have cited that a whiskey distillery was previously located at the site. An underground well which has been claimed to be linked to demonic activity, being a portal to Hell, primarily functioned as a water inlet used during the distilling process. The building was later turned into a casino in the 1920s before being transformed into a speakeasy during Prohibition, where patrons could drink and gamble despite the ban on alcohol.
Reported hauntings
Bobby Mackey’s Music World has been the subject of many ghost stories over the years. One of the most popular is the tale of Pearl Bryan, a young woman who was murdered in 1896 and reportedly haunts the club. She was murdered by decapitation, with her body found in a field a few miles away. Her head was never discovered and many speculate that it was buried in the well below Bobby Mackey’s, a reason why she is said to haunt the property.
In the late 1940s, a young dancer named Johanna committed suicide after her father discovered she was pregnant. Although some historians have not been able to uncover any documented evidence that this had taken place, many investigators claim that she continues to haunt the dressing rooms below the bar.
On top of all this, there are numerous claims of poltergeist activity, seemingly random sounds, objects moving on their own volition, and apparitions appearing during shows or while exploring alone in the dark. Many also claim the underground jail cell to be very active, a place which was believed to have been used by organized crime gangs when the location operated as a casino and speakeasy.
Skeptics
Many researchers and scientists have debunked the claims of hauntings at Bobby Mackey’s Music World over the years. Notable historians and investigators have visited the club and found no evidence of supernatural or paranormal activity. Likewise, others examined some of the claims made about the club’s hauntings and history and concluded that all have been exaggerated or fabricated. The case of Pearl Bryan has notoriously been known to be exploited over the years, only providing skeptics with more ammo.
Perhaps there are some inconsistencies in the historic claims of this location, but isn’t this true for any location? You can investigate some of the most haunted locations in the world and sometimes get little or no evidence on a single night of investigating. Does this necessarily mean a location is not haunted? Perhaps the investigation didn’t go long enough, or tools and techniques were being used that weren’t familiar to the spirits? Perhaps the spirits were taking a break that night, or didn’t relate to the investigators? Who really knows when it comes to the paranormal. In cases like this where there is a lot of controversy and doubt over claims, I like to go in with an open mind and have some fun without any high expectations. You can see the results of our investigation in our video at the top of this article.
Visiting the Haunted Bobby Mackey’s Music World
Although many are skeptical of the hauntings of Bobby Mackey’s, given the unproven and theoretical nature of the paranormal, nobody is really able to be certain of whether a place is or isn’t truly haunted. As such, and despite the skeptics, I would still encourage paranormal enthusiasts to pay this site a visit, if not to satisfy their own curiosity and to draw their own conclusions. Visiting the location provides a unique opportunity to explore and investigate the claims of hauntings firsthand. By day, the bar is open to the public and you can tour the historic club on your own accord. But if you truly want to investigate this iconic location, you can simply by booking an overnight investigation on their website.
Thanks for reading!
xoxo
