Golden Pond

Kentucky's ghost towns are coal camps in the eastern mountains and river towns the railroads passed by.

Golden Pond was a town in western Trigg County, Kentucky, United States. It is now the site of the headquarters of Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, 11 miles (18 km) west-southwest of Cadiz. Golden Pond was established in the 19th century and became known for its moonshining activity during the Prohibition era. This town was in an area altered during the 1930s and later by the Tennessee Valley Authority, which constructed dams to control flooding and generate electricity for a large rural area.

With a name like Golden Pond, nobody had to explain the business plan.

The on-the-ground condition of Golden Pond is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Golden Pond is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Golden Pond is roughly 36.7856, -88.0242 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.