Entry No. 23 — the Louisville file — filed under: roadside-attraction
Caufield's Novelty & The World's Largest Vampire Bat
A 36-foot-tall fiberglass and steel vampire bat hanging upside down from the exterior wall of a historic 1920s trick shop, built as a spooky rival to the nearby Louisville Slugger bat.
The story
Louisville’s West Main Street is famous for the giant baseball bat leaning against the Louisville Slugger Museum. Keep walking down the block to 1006 West Main, though, and you'll find its dark twin hanging three stories high from a 1920s brick facade. Spanning 36 feet of steel rebar and fiberglass, the World’s Largest Vampire Bat roosts upside down over the sidewalk—a giant, fanged rival to the city's primary athletic landmark.
Caufield’s Novelty has operated as a theatrical and costume supplier in Louisville since 1920. While most classic trick shops vanished as mid-century novelty crazes faded, Caufield’s survived by doubling down on year-round Halloween inventory, magic tricks, theatrical makeup, and staging high-impact visual stunts like mounting a gargantuan bloodsucker to the outside wall.
What it's like
You’ll spot the vintage 1947 hearse parked on the street before you step beneath the bat's fiberglass wings. Inside, the aisles are packed with rubber masks, wigs, stage blood, and classic practical jokes. Head straight for the back of the building to find the permanent 'Dungeon' walkthrough—a dark, year-round animatronic haunted maze that offers a quick, campy hit of Halloween nostalgia regardless of the month.
The move: Snap a picture under the giant bat, check out the vintage 1947 hearse parked out front, then walk to the back of the store to brave the permanent animatronic 'Dungeon' walkthrough.
- 📍 Downtown Louisville
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 1006 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- 21c Museum Hotel Louisville — Walk three blocks down Main Street to switch from rubber monster masks to 24/7 contemporary art galleries inside a boutique hotel.
- Flame Run Glass Studio — Head two blocks over to watch glass artists manipulate molten glass from an elevated observation catwalk.
- HereAfter — Cap off your trip down Main Street by descending into a 19th-century-inspired speakeasy hidden in the basement below a law office.
Good to know
How big is the vampire bat sculpture?
The bat measures 36 feet tall, spans roughly three stories along the store's exterior wall, and is built out of steel rebar and fiberglass.
Is the Dungeon haunted walkthrough open year-round?
Yes, the permanent animatronic Dungeon walkthrough sits in the back of the store and operates throughout the year, not just during October.
Where is Caufield's located relative to the Louisville Slugger Museum?
It's located just down the block at 1006 W Main Street on Downtown Louisville's historic West Main Street corridor.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: lou.today · Official site · terrordaves.com · 6amcity.com
last checked: 2026-07-21