The Witches’ Tree Louisville: A gnarled and twisted tree in a famed Louisville neighborhood has become something of a tourist attraction. The unlikely reason? Its spooky connection to a forgotten side of Derby City history, a time when practitioners of the dark arts used to meet under the craggy branches to cast spells and exact revenge.
Today, the wooden landmark lures visitors from around the world, and they’re eager to hear about something dubbed “the Storm Demon” by the Courier-Journal in the 1880s. The Witches’ Tree is included on our Old Louisville Walking Tour, our Old Louisville Ghost Tour, and our Glitter Ball City Tour.
See the Witches' Tree On Any of These Tours
Old Louisville Ghost Tour
$30
6:00pm, 7:30pm & 9:15pm
HBO FEATURED
Glitter Ball City Tour
True crime · 2.5 – 3 hrs · 21+
Fri-Sun · 2:30pm & 5:00pm
Locally owned · Recommended by The New York Times
The Legend of the Witches’ Tree Louisville
According to legend, a majestic maple tree that stood at the corner of Sixth Street and Park Avenue in Louisville once served as the favorite gathering spot for witches and voodoo practitioners. But in 1889, they weren’t the only ones interested in the tree: city festival planners announced they would chop it down for the annual May Day celebrations. Despite warnings from angry witches, authorities felled the tree and erected it as a maypole.
In retaliation, the coven brewed up a tornado that destroyed much of Louisville. Churning down the streets, the cyclone destroyed mansions, schools, bourbon and tobacco warehouses, churches and the railroad station. In the end, well over 100 people lost their lives, including members of the planning committee. As the twister roared out of town, a bolt of lightning blasted the stump and a knotted tree sprang up to replace the old one.
In Louisville, it has become custom to visit “the Witches’ Tree” and leave trinkets and tokens for good luck. On any given day, groups of visitors might be found at the corner of Sixth and Park, staring up into the craggy branches. Colorful beads dangle from dead limbs, as do an assortment of charms and amulets, all left as attempts to curry favor and assure witches their tree is safe today.
Valerie Zell, a tour guide for Louisville Historic Tours, leads visitors to the Witches’ Tree on daily walks through the neighborhood. “It’s wonderful to see people’s eyes light up when they hear the tree’s story,” she says.
“Many come back later with gifts. They leave things like old horseshoes, skeleton keys, crucifixes, and candles, but most often it’s colorful beads. The higher up in the branches you throw them, the better luck you’re supposed to have.” The Witches’ Tree has its own Facebook page where good luck spells thank those who leave gifts. And curses appear for those who steal baubles.
Author David Dominé popularized the tree in his memoir, Voodoo Days at La Casa Fabulosa, an “unconventional memoir” about his time living in a reportedly haunted house in the neighborhood.
“Old Louisville is an incredible place for those who love Victorian architecture and spooky history. The Witches’ Tree is just one of several locations that has been attracting tourists in the neighborhood,” he says.
“Many of my books came about as an effort to bring attention to Old Louisville, and it’s great to see our efforts in promoting heritage tourism paying off.”
Louisville Historic Tours specializes in guided tours of Old Louisville. With more than a thousand 19th-century structures spread out over some 40 square blocks, Old Louisville counts as one of the largest historic preservation districts in the nation.
Impressive examples of Italianate, Gothic, Châteauesque, Richardsonian Romanesque, and Beaux Arts architecture make it one of the most striking Victorian neighborhoods in the country. In addition to being known as “America’s Most Exuberant Neighborhood,” it has also gained a reputation as “America’s Most Haunted Neighborhood” due to the large number of ghostly legends and paranormal hotspots.
Get more information at 502-718-2764 or louisvillehistorictours.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Witches' Tree in Louisville?
The Witches’ Tree Louisville landmark stands at the corner of Sixth Street and Park Avenue in Old Louisville, about ten minutes south of downtown. It sits on a public street corner in the heart of the historic preservation district.
Can I visit the Witches' Tree on my own?
Yes. The tree is on a public corner and can be viewed any time, free of charge. Visiting with a guide adds the full story, including the 1890 tornado legend and the history of the surrounding Victorian neighborhood.
Is it okay to leave beads or trinkets on the tree?
Yes, leaving small tokens is the local tradition. Visitors leave beads, horseshoes, skeleton keys, and charms for good luck. Just don’t take anything that others have left behind.
Is the Witches' Tree real or just a legend?
The tree is real, and so is the disaster behind the story. The 1890 Louisville tornado devastated the city in March of that year, killing more than 100 people. The legend connects that storm to a coven’s revenge after the city cut down the original maple.
Which tours stop at the Witches' Tree?
Three Louisville Historic Tours stop at the Witches’ Tree: the Old Louisville Walking Tour, the Louisville Ghost Tour, and the Glitter Ball City true crime tour.
Is the Witches' Tree on private property?
The tree stands at a residential corner in a quiet neighborhood. Visitors are welcome to view it from the sidewalk, but please be respectful of the homes nearby, keep noise down, and stay off private lawns, especially during evening visits.
Is there parking near the Witches' Tree?
Free street parking is generally available along Sixth Street and Park Avenue and the surrounding blocks of Old Louisville. Check posted signs, as some stretches are residential permit zones.
When is the best time to visit the Witches' Tree?
Daytime offers the best light for photos of the beads and charms in the branches. After dark, the tree takes on the atmosphere that made it famous, which is when our evening ghost tour pays it a visit.