Just because winter is coming doesn’t mean that your visits to Kentucky State Parks have to end. Many parks offer activities for the winter months. An obvious choice for something to do when the weather has turned cold or wet is to head underground. Carter Caves State Resort Park will offer cave tours during the winter season in two caves, Cascade Cave and X-Cave.
Tours of Cascade Cave are offered at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. daily through April 2nd. Cascade Cave is one of the largest of over 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 tour lasts about 75 minutes and covers a walking distance of about ¾ 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 $9.00 for adults and $5.00 for children ages 3-12. Children under three are free.
Tours of X-Cave are offered daily at 9:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. through April 2nd. The tour begins at the welcome center. X-cave has two vertical joint passages that meander through a large layer of limestone which puts you up-close to many beautiful cave formations. Some of the highlighted features include turkey rock, the pipe organ, and the giant column which is 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 ¼ of a mile and lasts about 45 minutes. Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $4.00 for children ages 3-12. Children under three are free.
For more information of the cave tours, call (606) 286-4411 or (800) 325-0059.
In addition to the caves, facilities at the park include Lewis Caveland Lodge constructed with fieldstone and with 28 rooms each with a private balcony or patio overlooking the surrounding woodlands, cottages, campground, Tierney’s Cavern Restaurant with seating for 100, picnic areas, golf course, miniature golf, and a large outdoor pool.
Carter Caves State Resort Park is located in east central Kentucky near Olive Hill on KY-182. From I-64, take exit #161 to US-60 east. Go approximately two miles and turn left onto KY-182 north.
Carter Caves State Resort Park
344 Caveland Drive
Olive Hill, KY 41164
Telephone: (606) 286-4411 or (800) 325-0059
Comments
Good winter outdoor option once the weather begins to turn.
I love caves. Sounds like fun to me.
Ah, I love these ideas. Your ideas are Good for us folks who need to get out to dislodge cabin fever. Great story.
I am claustrophobic, but I'm willing to brave caves if they are really worth it like these.
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