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Kentucky State Parks Offer Camping Discount In April

February 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Carter Caves State Resort Park

Carter Caves State Resort Park

If you’re planning a camping trip in April at a Kentucky State Park, you’re in luck. You can save 20 percent on your camping reservations.

Kentucky State Parks are offering a 20 percent discount on camping reservations made for April 1-26.

To get the discount, campers need to make online reservations at www.parks.ky.gov (look for the “reservations” tab at the top of the page). Use the promotion code APR12.

The Kentucky State Parks will also be offering two nights’ camping for the price of one during Camper Appreciation Weekend, April 27-28. Many parks will be holding special events for campers that weekend.

The Kentucky State Parks have 31 campgrounds across the state.

Campsites for horse camping are available at Carter Caves, Pennyrile Forest, Dale Hollow and Taylorsville Lake. About a dozen campgrounds offer Wi-Fi service for a fee.

All state park campgrounds have sites with water and electric hookups.

Reservations can be made by visiting the website. Guests reserving online can view pictures of the individual campsites available, allowing them to better select a site to suit their individual needs. Guests may also call 1-888-4KYPARK for reservations.

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Carter Caves State Resort Park Hosts Tracking and Woodslore Weekend March 2-4

February 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Carter Caves State Resort Park invites you to step back in time when Native Americans and European colonists lived closer to nature.

The park’s Tracking and Woodslore Weekend, March 2-4, will allow guests to learn about the skills that were needed for survival in the wilderness. You’ll learn about animal tracking, hunting, nature, native plants and more.

The program begins Friday evening and will continue through Sunday morning. Both indoor and outdoor sessions are planned – including some hikes – so guests should bring appropriate clothing and shoes.

The cost of the program is $25 for adults and $15 for youths ages 15 and under. Carter Caves is offering overnight packages for two for $149.95 plus tax, which includes two nights’ lodging and the program. The campground will also be open as well as the park restaurant, Tierney’s Cavern.

For more information and reservations, call the park at 1-800-325-0059. For a list of the weekend’s activities, visit http://winteradventureweekend.com/TrackingWoodsLoreFlyer.pdf

Carter Caves offers cave tours, golf, hiking, mini-golf, fishing, camping, horseback riding and swimming during the summer. Carter Caves also has a lodge and restaurant. To get to Carter Caves State Resort Park from Interstate 64 East, take exit 161 (Olive Hill exit). Turn left off the exit onto U.S. 60 east. Go approximately 2 miles and turn left on KY 182 north. Park entrance is 3 miles from the left turn onto KY 182 north.

Filed Under: Carter Caves State Resort Park, Events, Featured Tagged With: ,

Winter Events in January and February at Kentucky State Parks

January 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Tree Silhouetted During Winter Sunset, Kentucky, USA

Tree Silhouetted During Winter Sunset in Kentucky

People in Kentucky (and most places, for that matter) make the mistake of thinking that winter is JUST for sitting inside, eating, and watching college basketball.  I don’t have anything against sitting or eating and I love college basketball (how could you NOT when you live in the state of Kentucky – home to two of the most exciting programs in the country?!?!). However, humans don’t need to hibernate with the bears. Doing so just leads to extra pounds.. for us and them!

There’s still plenty of beauty to get out and see, and plenty of places to visit. In fact, you’ll find the crowds smaller and traffic much more agreeable. Plan a trip to a Kentucky State Park this weekend – and don’t forget your camera. If you visit one of the Kentucky State Resort Parks, you’ll be able to enjoy a delicious hot meal in the dining room.  Most offer gorgeous views, buffet bars as well as menus, friendly staff, and some of the best coffee you’ve ever had.

Below are some of the winter events you can take advantage of at Kentucky’s State Parks.

If you’re looking for some winter adventure, the Kentucky State Parks have numerous outdoor events planned in January and February to get you outdoors and moving.

They include elk viewing tours, hikes, looking for eagles at the Land Between the Lakes and watching sandhill cranes as they migrate through Kentucky.

One of the most popular events is the Winter Adventure Weekend Jan. 27-29 at Carter Caves State Resort Park at Olive Hill. The weekend includes hiking, canoeing, recreational tree climbing, cave tours, winter survival, rappelling and other adventures. Guests will be able to select from a list of trips they want to take – for beginners and advanced winter adventurers alike. All of the trips and events are led by guides. The list of the trips, along with registration information and other details for the 2012 event are available at www.winteradventureweekend.com. All participants must register online at this site. The nonrefundable fee for adults (age 13 and older) is $25, and the nonrefundable fee for children ages 6-12 is $20. (All participants must be at least 6 years old. Some trips have additional age requirements.). For more information, call Carter Caves at 1-800-325-0059.

Pine Mountain State Resort Park in Pineville is hosting the Hike the Highlands Winter Getaway Jan. 13-15. Join the expedition to hike 8 miles on three guided hikes in one weekend. Gaze out across the Cumberland Mountains from Knobby Rock in the midst of the celebrated Blanton Forest. Stand on the mountain peak where Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia adjoin and feel the weight of history in the saddle of the Cumberland Gap Pass. Investigate a Native American camp in a sandstone rockhouse, relive the folk history of the legendary Chained Rock and examine a natural arch on the vaulted south slope of Pine Mountain. Registration is required. The park is offering a lodging package for $170 for two. Call 1-800-325-1712 for information.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park near Corbin is hosting its Arches and Waterfall Weekend Jan. 13-15. Enjoy a weekend of guided hikes to explore some of Kentucky’s natural treasures: natural arches and waterfalls. There will be a daily morning hike and a daily afternoon hike to different natural features. Relax in the lodge and enjoy evening programs. Call the park at 1-800-325-0063.

Jenny Wiley State Resort Park at Prestonsburg and Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park at Buckhorn resume elk viewing tours in January. This is one of several excellent wildlife viewing tours offered by the Kentucky State Parks. Call the parks for details and reservations or visit www.parks.ky.gov (Jenny Wiley is 1-800-325-0142; Buckhorn Lake is 1-800-325-0058.)

Three parks in western Kentucky will offer Eagle Watch Weekends in January and February. The parks and dates are: Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park at Gilbertsville, Jan. 20-22; Lake Barkley State Resort Park near Cadiz, Jan. 27-29; and Kenlake State Resort Park near Aurora, Feb. 3-5. Tours are conducted by van and by boat with wildlife guides. Call the parks or visit www.parks.ky.gov for more information and reservations.

Barren River Lake State Resort Park will offer its Nature Watch Weekends for sandhill cranes, Jan. 20-21 and Feb. 17-18. Participants can register for morning or afternoon trips led by naturalists. Registration is $30 per person and includes an evening session, a sunrise or sunset field trip, boxed meal and a T-shirt. Call the park at 1-800-325-0057 for information and reservations.

John James Audubon State Park at Henderson will host several Owl Prowls during January and February. These free trips begin at 3:30 or 4 p.m. Guests should bring cameras or binoculars to see avian predators like short-eared owls, great horned owls, prairie merlins, rough-legged hawks, northern harriers, bald eagles and red-tailed hawks. The hikes are scheduled for Jan. 8 and 22 and Feb. 5 and 19. Meet at the main boat ramp at Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife Area in Warrick County, Ind. Call 1-270-826-2247 for information.

For more information about these events and Kentucky State Parks, visit www.parks.ky.gov

Photo Credit: The gorgeous Photographic Print at the top of the page is available from Allposters.com.  More Kentucky Posters and Prints

Filed Under: Barren River Lake SRP, Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park, Carter Caves State Resort Park, Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, John James Audubon State Park, Kenlake State Resort Park, Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, Kentucky State Parks, Lake Barkley SRP, Pine Mountain State Resort Park, Winter in Kentucky Tagged With: , ,

Carter Caves Hosts Woods Lore and Tracking Weekend March 4-6

February 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Carter Caves State Resort Park

There is almost ALWAYS something wonderful going on at the beautiful Kentucky State Parks and Kentucky State Resort Parks.  One of Kentucky’s most popular State Parks, Carter Caves State Resort Park has something historical up their sleeves!

Step back in time to the 18th century, when American Indians and European Americans lived closer to nature.

Carter Caves State Resort Park at Olive Hill invites you to its Woods Lore and Tracking Weekend March 4-6. Learn some of the skills that were necessary for everyday life, and of the cultural sharing that has made our modern lives richer.

Guests will enjoy nature, tracking, culture and history in outdoor and indoor settings.  Tracking and Woods Lore is for everyone interested in 18th century lifestyles, culture, wildlife and our natural environment.  To learn more about our instructors visit www.trailsinclivinghistory.com Overnight packages are available.

The admission price is $30 for adults (ages 16 and older) or $50 per couple. Admission is $15 for guests age 15 and younger. Overnight packages for two adults are $114.95 plus tax for two nights. The price is $94.95 plus tax for one adult.

Preregistration is required. Call the park at 1-800-325-0059 for more information and to make reservations.

Carter Caves State Resort Park is located at 344 Caveland Drive in Olive Hill, Ky. The park has a lodge with a restaurant, cottages and campground. Besides cave tours, activities include hiking, swimming, boating and fishing.

The park is located off Interstate 64 at exit 161. Take U.S. 60 east. Go approximately 2 miles and turn left on KY 182 north. The park entrance is 3 miles from the left turn onto KY 182 north.

Agenda for March 4-6 Woods Lore & Tracking Weekend

FRIDAY EVENING

7-8:45 p.m. – Grayson Room in Lewis Caveland Lodge

Welcome to the Park

Discussion on cultural sharing in the 18th century

Storytelling:  “EASTERN WOODLAND INDIANS”

Demonstration of hunting techniques of the Eastern Woodland Indians

“DEM BONES GONNA RISE AGAIN” – Mental Skill with Skulls (Available all Weekend)

8:45-9 p.m. Break – Overview of activities

9-9:30 p.m.  TRACKING WALK:  “LISTEN TO THE DARK”—Attune your senses to nocturnal life

SATURDAY MORNING

8:30-9:15 a.m.  INTRO TO TRACKING, Grayson Room in Lewis Caveland Lodge

9:15-10 a.m. WORKSHOP: PAW PRINT IDENTIFICATION

10-12 p.m.  TRACKING WALK: “NOSE TO THE BREEZE & EAR TO THE GROUND” (location to be determined).

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

12-2 p.m. LUNCH ON YOUR OWN

2-4 p.m. TRACKING WALK (EASY TRAIL WALK) -Outside Activity

OR

2-4 p.m. TRACKING WALK (MODERATE TRAIL WALK) – Outside Activity

5-7 p.m.  DINNER ON YOUR OWN

7 p.m. SLIDE SHOW:  IT’S ONLY NATURAL – EARLY NATURALIST AND NATIVE PLANTS USED IN APPALACHIAN CULTURE TODAY

SUNDAY MORNING

9-11 a.m. Choose one of the following activities.

Option #1:  TRACKING WALK (MODERATE TRAIL WALK) – Outside Activity:  EMPHASIS ON ANIMAL SIGNS & ANIMAL CALLING

Option #2:  NATURALIST ACTIVITY – Inside Activity: SCIENTIFIC COLORING, TRACK MAKING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES

11:30 a.m. REVIEW DEM BONES AND RECAP

Filed Under: Blog, Carter Caves State Resort Park, Events, Kentucky State Parks Tagged With: , ,

The Johnny Cash Story Visits Carter Caves

September 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Country/Western Singer Johnny Cash W. Guitar by Wheels of a Steam Train
Buy at AllPosters.com

Beautiful Carter Caves State Resort Park will host “The Johnny Cash Story Dinner Show” with the band “6 Feet High & Rising” the weekend of Sept. 24-25.

Enjoy two nights of good food and songs that made Johnny Cash famous. The band dresses the part and produces an electrifying atmosphere as they perform hits such as “Walk the Line,” “Ring of Fire” and “Folsom Prison Blues.” The buffet dinner will start at 7 p.m. and the show will begin at 8 p.m. both nights.

Songs Performed:
Ring of Fire
I Walk The Line
Folsom Prison Blues
Get Rythym
Man In Black
I Still Miss Someone
Sunday Morning Coming Down
Jackson
Daddy Sang Bass
I Got Stripes
Five Feet High & Rising
Big River
Ragged Old Flag
Boy Named Sue
Cry, Cry, Cry
Long Legged Guitar Pickin Man
& Many More……..
Plus a video salute to local veterans during “Johnny’s” rendition of “Ragged Old Flag”

The cost for the buffet dinner and show is $34.95 plus tax per person and $29 plus tax for children 12 and under. A lodging package that includes a one night stay, dinner and show for two is $149.95 plus tax.

For more information about “6 Feet High & Rising,” visit http://www.jctribute.com/

Carter Caves State Resort Park is located at 344 Caveland Drive in Olive Hill, Ky. The park has a lodge with restaurant, cottages and campground. Besides cave tours, activities include hiking, golf and a gift shop. For more information, call 606-286-441 ext. 2543.

To get to Carter Caves State Resort Park from Interstate 64 East, take exit 161 (Olive Hill exit). Turn left off the exit onto U.S. 60 east. Go approximately 2 miles and turn left on KY 182 north. Park entrance is 3 miles from the left turn onto KY 182 north.

Country Music Star Johnny Cash Wearing Black Clothing and Standing in Front of a Locomotive
Buy at AllPosters.com


Filed Under: Autumn Fun, Carter Caves State Resort Park, Country Music, Entertainment, Events Tagged With: , ,

Music in the Mountains at Carter Caves State Resort Park

August 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Carter Caves State Resort Park, Kentucky

Carter Caves State Resort Park is celebrating the 40th anniversary of a musical tradition with the,  Sept. 8-11, 2010.

The festival that began as a family reunion honors old-time music and eastern Kentucky traditions as well as master fiddler J.P. Fraley. He’ll be performing with professional and beginning musicians on stage, jamming in parking lots and sharing music around the campfires of Carter Caves. Musical instruments such as dulcimer, fiddle and guitar are used to tell stories about life long ago along the foothills of eastern Kentucky.

On Wednesday evening there will be a free “Jamming in the Round” get together in the campground starting at 8 p.m.  On Thursday starting at 7 p.m., enjoy an open stage concert in the park’s amphitheater.

On Friday afternoon at 1 p.m., the amphitheater will come to life with an open stage, a banjo gatherin’ and a dulcimer gatherin’.  Friday’s activities will be capped with an evening concert in the amphitheater at 7 p.m.

Starting Saturday morning, the amphitheater will resound with sessions devoted to ballads, storytelling, and Carter Family songs, and conclude with a fiddle gatherin’ and guitar gatherin’.  Saturday night’s concert in the amphitheater begins at 7 p.m

Paid admission is required for concert and jam sessions Friday afternoon through Saturday night. Fees range from $4 to $10. A festival pass for all programs costs just $25 per person.

For more information, including a list of invited musicians, contact Coy Ainsley at 606-286-4411 x2543 or email festival organizer Barb Kuhns at  bkuhnsfiddle@yahoo.com. Visit the festival web site at www.fraleyfestival.com The schedule of events can be found at: http://www.parks.ky.gov/findparks/resortparks/cc/naturalist/

Carter Caves State Resort Park features a lodge, vacation cottages, RV campsites and primitive campsites. The lodge restaurant offers a variety of food for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. There’s also hiking, golf, mini-golf, fishing, horseback riding and swimming. The park is located in northeastern Kentucky, 4 miles off of I-64 between Grayson and Olive Hill (exit 161).

Filed Under: Autumn Fun, Bluegrass Music, Carter Caves State Resort Park, Entertainment, Events, Fairs and Festivals Tagged With:

Carter Caves State Resort Park Welcomes Bil Lepp

August 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Carter Caves State Resort Park is once again hosting the Bil Lepp “Liar” Comedy Dinner Theater on Aug. 27 and 28.

This will be a night full of good food and comedy from the “Side Splitting Funny Man.”  Bil Lepp, a preacher and five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars Contest, will be on stage to entertain.  He tells original, hilarious tales that will bring a smile to the face of anyone within earshot.

The cost for the buffet dinner and show is $34.95 plus tax per person and $29 plus tax per child 12 years and under. Call 1-800-325-0059 to make your reservations.

The dinner menu includes barbecue ribs, frog legs, catfish and hush puppies, fried chicken, roast beef, assortment of vegetables dishes, salad and desserts.

A lodging package is being offered that includes a one night stay, dinner and the show for two for $148.90 plus tax.

Carter Caves offers cave tours, golf, hiking, golf, mini-golf, fishing, camping, horseback riding and swimming. Carter Caves also has a lodge and restaurant. For more information, call the park at 1-800-325-0059 or 1-606-286-4411.

Directions to Carter Caves State Resort Park:   From Interstate 64 East, take exit 161 (Olive Hill exit). Turn left off the exit onto U.S. 60 east. Go approximately 2 miles and turn left on KY 182 north. Park entrance is 3 miles from the left turn onto KY 182 north.



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Carter Caves State Resort Park Makes a Right Neighborly Offer

July 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

How neighborly!

Beautiful Carter Caves State Resort Park would like to show its appreciation to its neighbors with a special deal for lodge rooms and cottages. Call the park (1-800-325-0059) for a reservation and ask for the “Neighbor Special” that’s good Sunday through Thursday (July 11, 2010 – July 15, 2010).

Here’s what the “Neighbor Special” will get you:  A lodge room in Lewis Caveland Lodge for $64.95 a night plus tax – a savings of $45!  If available you can get one of  the Two Bedroom Cottages for $99.95 a night plus tax – a savings of $100!!  Rates are subject to availability.  Good for a Sunday through Thursday night stay only and can not be used with any other discount.

Carter Caves invites its neighbors to visit them and spend a few days exploring wonderful caves, walking beautiful trails and enjoying other recreation activities.  And there’s no better time to take advantage of all of  this than now – in the middle of the summer right before the kids get ready to go back to school

Call the park at 1-800-325-0059 and ask for the “Neighbor Special.”

Read more about Carter Caves State Resort Park in our Kentucky State Park Section.

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Carter Caves State Resort Park in Kentucky: More Cave Tours!

March 26, 2010 By 2 Comments

I just completed the Carter Caves State Resort Park page on Genuine Kentucky – click the link to check it out. Carter Caves is Kentucky doing what it does best… showing off in the highest order!

In other Carter Caves State Resort Park news, Kentucky State Parks has announced that Carter Caves SRP will expand the number of cave tours it offers beginning April 3.

From Kentucky State Parks:

The park will offer 11 tours on Saturdays and Sundays at Cascade Cave and X-Cave. There are five scheduled tours on every weekday. Carter Caves can also provide special tour times for school groups and other large groups.

“These cave tours are a great way to experience adventure while learning about geology and history,” said Coy Ainsley, the park’s naturalist. “Our guests – especially school-age children – really enjoy these tours because they get to see the underground world.”

Cascade Cave is one of the largest of more than 200 caves in Carter County and is noted for its large chambers and numerous cave formations. Highlights of the tour include the reflecting pool in the Lake Room, the unique cave formations in the Cathedral Room and an underground waterfall over 30 feet high. The 75-minute tour covers a walking distance of about three-fourths of a mile.

Ticket sales stop 15 minutes before Cascade Cave tours. A short drive from the welcome center is required and transportation is not provided. Tickets are $9 for adults and $5 for children ages 3-12. Children under three are free.

X-cave has two vertical joint passages that meander through a large layer of limestone that allows you to see up-close many beautiful cave formations. Some of the highlighted features include Turkey Rock, the Pipe Organ and the Giant Column, the largest cave formation found at the park. Be aware of your surroundings and you will discover how this cave became known as “X-Cave.”

The X-Cave tour covers about a quarter of a mile and lasts about 45 minutes. Tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for children ages 3-12. Children under three are free. The X-cave tour begins at the welcome center.

Group discounts are available. The park is also taking reservations for spring school field trips. The park can offer tours and other educational programs for K-12 students. Call the park for tour times and reservations.

Besides the cave tours, Carter Caves offers hiking, golf, mini-golf, camping and fishing. Carter Caves also has a lodge, cottages and restaurant. For more information, call the park at 1-800-325-0059 or 1-606-286-4411.

To get to Carter Caves State Resort Park from Interstate 64 east, take exit 161, the Olive Hill exit. Turn left off the exit onto U.S. 60 east. Go approximately two miles and turn left on KY 182 north. Park entrance is three miles from the left turn onto KY 182 north.

Learn more about Carter Caves State Resort Park!

Image Credit: C. Bedford Crenshaw

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