The Carter Caves region is just another opportunity for Kentucky to show off – and show off it does. The Carter County region has the highest concentration of caves in Kentucky. Two of the park’s caves offer guided tours year-round, Cascade Cave and X-Cave.
Carter Caves State Resort Park is located in Carter County, Kentucky, along beautiful, peaceful Tygarts Creek. The view is like something you’d picture in a Mark Twain story – or one you’d imagine Abraham Lincoln enjoying. Carter Caves State Resort Park is formed by Carter Caves, and nearby Cascade Caves, which were added to the park in 1959. This beautiful Kentucky State Park features a lodge, cottages, 18 hole putt-putt course, 9 hole golf course, full-service campground, and considerable natural beauty, as in everywhere you look.
Tierney’s Cavern Restaurant
Tierney’s Cavern Restaurant pays tribute to the caves and to retired park Naturalist John Tierney. The gorgeous restaurant seats 100 and boasts a menu that offers many appetizing new selections from steaks and seafood to salads.
Trust me, all of the Kentucky State Resort Parks offer outstanding food. You’ll walk in hungry, but you’ll walk out thoroughly impressed and full… a wonderful combination!
Carter Caves State Resort Park offers many things for the entire family to enjoy:
- Boating – Take a guided canoe trip on the 45–acre Smokey Lake.
- Fishing - Smokey Valley Lake is Kentucky’s first and only trophy bass lake. In addition to largemouth bass, you can try your luck with bluegill, catfish, and crappie. Bait can be purchased at the campground.
- Golf - 9-hole regulation golf course. A pro shop, rental riding carts, pull carts, and clubs are available. Open year-round, weather permitting. View more information.
- Hiking Trails - Enjoy the above ground beauty of Carter Caves on 26 miles of wooded nature trails. Trails range from easy to difficult hiking level ability. The Kiser Hollow Trail is a multi-use 10-mile trail for horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking.
- Horseback Riding Trails - Kiser Hollow Horse Trail permits guests to bring their own horses and ride. The Kiser Hollow trail is open year round. Guided rides are available from 9:00am – 7:00pm only on Saturday and Sunday until October 11. The cost is $15 per person. The trail is 3 1/2 miles and lasts about 45 minutes. Pony rides available for children.
- Gift Shop
- Miniature Golf
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Playground
Cave Tours
Winter Schedule
(Nov 2, 2009 – April 2, 2010)
Spring Schedule
(April 3, 2010 – May 21, 2010)
The Carter County region has the highest concentration of caves to be found in any area of Kentucky. Two of the park’s caves offer guided tours year-round, Cascade Cave and X-Cave. Enjoy a subterranean adventure, created by nature over millions of years.
View tour information.
All caves are closed except for Park led tours of X-Cave & Cascade Cave until further notice! White Nose Syndrome, a disease that is killing 90-100% of hibernating bats in infected caves, is getting closer to the state of Kentucky. All three of these caves are important Bat Hibernacula’s for the Federally Endangered Indiana Bat. The Department of Parks closed these caves in order to help prevent the introduction of White Nose Syndrome. For additional information on the White Nose Syndrome you can visit the following website: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/white_nose.html.
Click the following link for up to the minute information on Events at Carter Caves State Resort Park.
Image Credit for the picture at the top of the post: C. Bedford Crenshaw
Image Credit for the other pictures in the article: Kentucky State Parks
