In Kentucky, You Can Drive From ‘Hell for Certain’ to ‘Heaven’ in Just 90 Minutes

Many native Kentuckians might describe their home state as "heaven on Earth." Those who don't like it here might refer to it, ahem, another way. But, you know what? There is a Heaven and there is a Hell in Kentucky.

'Heaven' and 'Hell' in Kentucky

You do not see it, but there is a tiny, tiny community in Leslie County--in the vicinity of Dryhill, Hyden, and Thousdandsticks--called "Hell for Certain," and it is as unincorporated as unincorporated can be, hence its invisibility on this map.

Hell for Certain

In 2014, a writer named Coleman Larkin chronicled his journey to the dust-speck town along the Middle Fork of the Kentucky River and then submitted it for publication to KY For KY. He learned that the most common explanation, among locals, for the community's name came from a missionary who, when asked where he'd been, said, "I don't know, but it was hell for certain!".

(I take it his Google review would have been unfavorable had such a thing existed at the time.)

If you travel to Leslie County and try to find it, the only thing you'll find, in terms of a "photo souvenir," will be a road sign.

Kingdom Come State Park

And, as you can see, Hell for Certain is just under 90 minutes away from "Heaven, " or Kingdom Come State Park. It's long been a joke in Kentucky Appalachia, and I appreciate that it lives on. Who knew it was such a short drive from Hell to Kingdom Come? By the way, here's what THAT gorgeous patch of land looks like:

Look, finding Hell for Certain KY simply comes under the heading of "novelty." Except for a few houses--maybe a church--there's nothing there but a very cool name. But the region? Spectacular. Having traveled to eastern Kentucky this summer, I know how beautiful it all is, and no vacation to that neck of the woods will disappoint.