Levi Jackson State Park

Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park combines the beauty of a rolling, wooded hills park with a historic site that honors the pioneers who braved the perils of the wilderness to settle Kentucky. John Freeman and Levi Jackson settled in what is now Laurel County, Kentucky. Freeman came to southeast Kentucky in 1802 and claimed an extensive tract of land bordering the famous Wilderness Road as payment for his Revolutionary War service. He built a large two-story house that he licensed as a tavern in 1803. Freeman’s daughter, Rebecca, married Levi Jackson (1815-1879) the first judge of Laurel County. Jackson and Freeman became partners and the two men ran the Wilderness Road Tavern and the Laurel River Post Office. Upon Freeman’s death, Jackson continued to run the tavern. The surrounding farmland became known as Jackson’s Farm. On December 7, 1931, Colonel G.D. Jackson and Ella Jackson, descendents of John Freeman and Levi Jackson, donated 307 acres of land to the Kentucky State Parks System for a park honoring the state’s pioneers.

The Wilderness Road is an integral part of Kentucky’s early history. Along with Boone’s Trace (named for Daniel Boone), commissioned by the Transylvania Company in 1775, the Wilderness Road carried thousands of people into the interior of Kentucky from 1796, when a wagon road was constructed from Crab Orchard in Lincoln County to the Cumberland Gap. The thoroughfare became a toll road for many years. Boone’s Trace and the Wilderness Road at times cross each other. Both historic trails pass through Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park. The Wilderness Road divided the Freeman/Jackson property and Kentucky Highway 229 follows the historic roadway. Boone’s Trace passes through the western edge of the park and crosses Little Laurel River at McHargue’s Water Mill.

One of the most tragic events in the history of Kentucky took place within the confines of the modern park on October 3, 1786. A group of fourteen families were moving to central Kentucky. They made camp one night and failed to post a guard. Throughout their journey they had taken every precaution against Indian attack. On this particular evening they felt that since they had traveled this far without attack they could relax. The families danced and drank until late that evening. After they had retired for the night, the Indians attacked the camp and massacred all but three members of the group. A man, woman, and little girl survived the slaughter. Twenty-four people are known to have perished in the attack. The site became known as Defeated Camp or McNitt’s Defeat.

Article  courtesy of Kentucky State Park

During our investigation here at the park we knew we were in the presence of Active spirits. The spirits here rattle the doors which are very tight with wood slats across them,our recorder was picked up and slammed down,in the school house noises including foot steps can be heard throughout our videos, items being moved outside of the cameras view,sounds that seem like arrows being shot into the walls, kettles in the cabin were being kicked, we were even locked out of the Hawkins cabin when we had exited and had tried to re-enter(the wood slats were used to lock it from the inside).

There are several cabins at this location:School house, Church, Hawkins Cabin, Barn, and 2 graveyards.

While Dowsing we were led to an area in the woods where we were told there were 4-5 native American Spirits. The picture below was captured there.