Carter Caves State Resort Park, Olive Hill

Carter Caves State Resort Park - Natural underground wonders with hiking trails, cave tours, and comfortable accommodations

Nestled within 2 acres of wooded hills, Carter Caves State Resort Park features over 20 twisting caverns where nature has created luminous stone fans and draped mounds of stalactites and stalagmites. The park offers various accommodation options including holiday homes with private entrances, air conditioning, fully-equipped kitchens, balconies with mountain views, and flat-screen TVs with cable channels. Tierney's Cavern restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily with a wide variety of sandwiches and country dishes. For outdoor enthusiasts, this Olive Hill hotel provides guided wild cave tours in Bat Cave and Saltpeter Cave from Memorial Day through Labor Day, suitable for both children and adults. Visitors can explore the multi-use trails connecting to the Olive Hill Trail Town System or enjoy paddling Smoky Lake by canoe, kayak, or paddleboard through guided trips. Carter Caves State Resort Park sits 43.5 miles from Tri-State and houses more than half of Kentucky's endangered Indiana Bat hibernating populations in its cave system.

Pros

Home to three impressive natural bridges: Smoky Bridge, Raven Bridge, and Fern Bridge

Offers recreational tree climbing as a high-adventure activity

Features specialized orienteering activities combining scavenger hunts with thinking games

Provides yoga sessions at the Fields Facility for restoration after adventures

The John Hunt Morgan Bed and Breakfast delivers a Victorian experience

Cons

Cave explorations involve challenging physical activities including crawling, scrambling, and muddy conditions

The Welcome Center Gift Shop operates limited hours from April through the Sunday after Thanksgiving