Carter Caves State Resort Park, Olive Hill

This park is excellent. It’s well laid out, plenty of guides into the caves. Trails are very well maintained. Dog friendly, and lots to explore. Was a gorgeous place to see the fall color. I really want to leave more time to do the longer trail here, only thing I noticed is one trail smelled like a septic system on a portion that wrapped just below the cabins. I bet the water dripping from the rocks there was sewage. But other than that this place is excellent. Next time I’ll check the lodge out.

I found Carter Caves on a whim while looking for something to do on a day off. When I saw you could go caving I had to go. So I drove almost 3 hours to take the cave tours they have available and I’m super glad I did. I had a wonderful time and Rachel our guide was so knowledgeable. It was great learning about the region and the caves. So much so that when I got home I had to read more about the place and how it formed. I definitely want to come back for the winter event where you get to see more caves and to explore in general. Also it was only like $20 or something so it didn’t break the bank. Can’t wait to come and see more of the park.

Went to Carter Caves to watch the magician Mike and dinner for Valentines. I highly recommend. The dinner was booked by tables, you went downstairs by tables then to the buffet so there was no mad rush or long lines. The buffet was great and had three entree choices, chicken, prime rib and something else. A good sale, mashed taters, Brussels sprouts, green beans and rolls were other choices. The desert bar had chocolate candies, strawberries covered in chocolate, cupcakes, banana pudding and a chocolate cake so yummy. Mike the magician made the event interactive and the made the night fun. I laughed until my jaws hurt. We had a good time.

We went to the Welcome Center to buy gifts and get tickets for a Cascade Cave tour. We also drove through the park and walked into the Lodge. It is so beautiful all through out the park. Be careful putting the address into your GPS as it will lead you the back way on a rough gravel road. Be warned if you are taking a camper to check google maps or a map first so that you don't get taken that direction. The Cascade Cave was really different than other caves we have seen. Over 200 steps and 3/4 mile, takes 75 minutes to do the tour. You are taken in one part of the cave and then out to another section since it is closed off. Then back into where you were first and out of there for a short walk to another section of the cave to see a gorgeous waterfall inside the cave. Sandals are not recommended by the way. Good sturdy footwear such as tennis shoes would be better. Depending on what time of year you go, you can see a lot of bats hanging up on the ceiling. Which this is the first cave that we have seen so many bats. Pretty cool. They end the tour with a free shoe washing due to the "White Nose Syndrome" with bats. You walk over a cleaning mat to wash your shoes. Another reason to Not wear sandals! Our guide was very informative and friendly. If you have a rough time on stairs, the guide does not rush you. Like me. :) I did not feel good about doing all of those stairs myself but I am so glad that I took this tour with my husband as it was a very pretty cave. We really enjoyed it.

Very nice and clean cottages. A lot roomier than quite a few other state park options. Not too far off 64 either. We also had an excellent tour guide, Wesley, for our cave tour. It was a great weekend.