Kentucky After Dark

"Kentucky After Dark" encourages travelers to explore Kentucky's haunted locales in search of aliens, cryptids, ghosts, and more.
Kentucky Tourism

See What Lurks Beyond the Shadows in Kentucky

A first-of-its-kind marketing program has emerged to shine light on the lesser-known paranormal side of Kentucky. Kentucky After Dark, spearheaded by Coomer and the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, caters to those interested in true crime, supernatural entertainment, and thrill-seeking adventures. This campaign includes in-theater ads, digital spots, and creator content, and also a passport for travelers to chart their progress – motivating travelers to explore Kentucky in search of aliens, abandoned sanatoriums, and haunted hotels.
Coomer recruited me for my illustration and design expertise to create simplified yet recognizable depictions of each Kentucky After Dark locale‘s most notorious paranormal lore. Whether it be creepy cryptids, haunted buildings, or alien visitors, they needed to be unique and have enough detail to be easily recognizable. I worked with the team to deliver 12 custom-drawn vector drawings to be used on stickers that correspond with the passport, as well as web icons and potential merch or promotional use.
Client

Kentucky Tourism

Agency

Coomer

Icon Illustrations

Justin Gammon

Photo Illustrations

Bryan Barger

Logo Design

Jason Carne

Passport Design

John Herskind

Raking in Profits in Kentucky After Dark

Ghouls Gone Wild

The recent launch of the Kentucky After Dark program capitalizes on the considerable surge in interest in the supernatural and unknown. Statistics from the Kentucky Tourism partners suggest the haunted attraction industry is likely to generate between $300 and $500 million in ticket revenue. True crime and related supernatural TV shows and films are currently some of the most–watched content. Moreover, celebrating Halloween has become big business, with Americans spending up to $10 billion on this annual event, according to the National Retail Federation.

Take Your Travels to Another Level

A Fascinating (and Frightful) Journey Awaits

Kentucky has an exciting new way to explore its most haunted spots – a souvenir passport! It‘s now available at popular locations throughout the state, and you can use stickers to mark off the places you‘ve visited. This booklet is a helpful guide that will keep you up to date and moving as you explore the scariest places in the Commonwealth. Each section has tidbits of haunted lore making sure you have a well-informed trip, plus you get to earn cool stickers to show off to your friends that you bravely faced these spooky sites!

Kentucky After Dark | Haunted Passport with Sticker

A white graphic on a black background depicting a menacing, werewolf-like creature with sharp claws and an aggressive posture. Below the image, the text reads "KENTUCKY LAKE, KY" in large, bold letters, followed by "DOGMAN" in smaller text. The design references the legend of the Dogman associated with Kentucky Lake, Kentucky.
White graphic on a black background depicting an underwater scene with a submerged house, a skull, and aquatic plants. Above the house, rays of light shine down from the surface of the water. Below the image, the text reads "KENTUCKY LAKE, KY" in large, bold letters, followed by "BIRMINGHAM, UNDERWATER TOWN" in smaller text. The design references the submerged town of Birmingham under Kentucky Lake.
A white graphic on a black background featuring a stylized depiction of Bigfoot, walking with its arms swinging. Below the image, the text reads "LAWRENCEBURG, KY" in large, bold letters, followed by "BIGFOOT" in smaller text. The design suggests a reference to Bigfoot sightings or legends associated with Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.
A white graphic on a black background illustrating a skeleton with one hand placed over its heart and the other arm pointing downward, evoking a solemn or memorial theme. Below the image, the text reads "OLDHAM COUNTY" in large, bold letters, followed by "DUNCAN MEMORIAL" in smaller text. The design likely commemorates or references the Duncan Memorial in Oldham County, Kentucky.
A white graphic on a black background featuring a stylized figure of a man in a suit with a halo-like starburst behind his head, and both hands raised with palms forward. Below the image, the text reads "HOPKINSVILLE, KY" in large, bold letters, followed by "PENNYROYAL MUSEUM" in smaller text. The design likely references a notable figure or event associated with the Pennyroyal Museum in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
A white graphic on a black background depicting a stylized airplane with an alien face on the front, and above it, a UFO emitting beams of light. Below this imagery, the text reads "FRANKLIN-SIMPSON COUNTY, KY" in large, bold letters, followed by "CAPTAIN THOMAS MANTELL CRASH" in smaller text. The design references the famous UFO incident involving Captain Thomas Mantell in Franklin-Simpson County, Kentucky.
A logo featuring a stylized drawing of an alien face with large eyes and a UFO above its head. The alien appears to be part of a triangular emblem. Below the image, the text reads "HOPKINSVILLE, KY" and "KELLY LITTLE GREEN MEN," referencing the famous Kelly-Hopkinsville alien encounter. The design is in white against a black background, creating a bold and otherworldly contrast.
A logo featuring a stylized image of a haunted mansion with a crescent moon, bat, and witch's hat above it. Below the mansion, the text reads "RICHMOND, KY" and "WHITE HALL." The design is in black and white, creating a bold and eerie look.
A logo featuring a stylized depiction of a menacing, mythical creature with horns, large eyes, and claws, standing in front of a barren, twisted tree within a circular frame. Below the image, the text reads "GEORGETOWN-SCOTT COUNTY, KY" and "DEAD MAN'S HOLLOW," suggesting a spooky or haunted attraction or location. The design is in white against a black background, creating a stark and eerie contrast.
A logo featuring a stylized drawing of a building with an octagonal shape, representing Octagon Hall in Franklin-Simpson, KY. The building has a central section with a tower and two horns extending from either side. Below the image, the text reads "FRANKLIN-SIMPSON, KY" and "OCTAGON HALL," indicating the location and name of the historical site. The design is in white against a black background, creating a striking contrast.
A logo featuring a stylized drawing of a skeleton in a suit and hat standing next to a horse, both set against a backdrop of a rectangular frame. Below the image, the text reads "MAYFIELD-GRAVES, KY" and "WOOLDRIDGE MONUMENTS," indicating the location and possibly a reference to historical or memorial significance. The design is in white against a black background, creating a striking contrast.
A logo featuring a stylized image of a hotel with the word "HOTEL" prominently displayed on the front. Next to the hotel, there is a depiction of a Sasquatch figure, suggesting a haunted theme. Below the image, the text reads "LAWRENCEBURG, KY" and "THE ANDERSON HOTEL," indicating the location and name of the hotel, known for its haunted history. The design is in white against a black background, creating a spooky and bold appearance.
A white graphic on a black background featuring a skeletal figure with an open mouth, set against a backdrop of tall, stylized plants or reeds. Below the image, the text reads "EDGEFIELD-GRAVES COUNTY, KY" in large letters, followed by "TALON FALLS SCREAMPARK AND INDUSTRIAL SLAUGHTERHOUSE" in smaller text. The design evokes themes of horror and fear, likely referencing a haunted attraction or theme park in Edgefield-Graves County, Kentucky.
A logo featuring a stylized haunted house with flames emanating from it, set against a black background. Below the image, the text reads "HENDERSON, KY" and "HAUNTINGS AT THE ELM," indicating an event or attraction related to hauntings in Henderson, Kentucky. The design is in white, creating a striking contrast against the black background.
A stylized white graphic of a large, old building with multiple stories and a central tower-like structure, depicted on a black background. Below the building, the text reads "LOUISVILLE, KY" in large, bold letters, followed by "WAVERLY SANATORIUM" in smaller, capital letters. The design evokes a sense of historical architecture, likely referencing the famous Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky, known for its history and association with paranormal activity.
A logo featuring a stylized drawing of a ghostly figure with long hair, skeletal hands, and a book, set within a shield-like frame. Below the image, the text reads "OLDHAM COUNTY, KY" and "GHOSTS OF OLDHAM," indicating a theme related to hauntings or ghost stories in Oldham County, Kentucky. The design is in white against a black background, creating a haunting and striking contrast.
A logo featuring a stylized witch's hat with flames emanating from it, set against a circular background. Below the logo, text reads "BANDENBURG-MEADE COUNTY, KY" and "BATTLETOWN WITCH FESTIVAL." The design is in black and white, giving it a striking and bold appearance.
A white graphic on a black background depicting a stylized opera house with a large, monstrous claw extending from the right side, as if breaking through the building. Below the image, the text reads "LEXINGTON, KY" in large, bold letters, followed by "OPERA HOUSE" in smaller text. The design combines elements of architecture and horror, suggesting a theme of the supernatural or paranormal associated with the Lexington Opera House.

Kentucky After Dark | Haunted Locales Illustrated Icons

Kentucky After Dark | Custom Website

A Spooky Site for Spooky Sites

Connecting with the Unknown

Coomer and Kentucky developed the Kentucky After Dark custom website featuring hauntingly iconic locations from across the state, such as the Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, the Kelly Green Men Alien Encounter in Hopkinsville, and the Battletown Witch Festival in Brandenburg. The spooky custom icons are central to each page, representing the history and spooky legends of each respective location. Each page provides maps and links to each corresponding town‘s tourism website to help travelers research where to go, where to stay, and what to see. Furthermore, visitors can participate in the haunted passport program, collecting stickers with these custom location icons at each scary site they visit and charting their progress across Kentucky.