Carter Caves State Park
| Carter Caves State Resort Park | |
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Visitor Center
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 Location in Kentucky
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| Type | Kentucky state park |
| Location | Carter County, Kentucky |
| Coordinates | 38°22′26″N 83°07′20″W / 38.37389°N 83.12222°WCoordinates: 38°22′26″N 83°07′20″W / 38.37389°N 83.12222°W |
| Area | 2,000 acres (810 ha) |
| Elevation | 1,040 feet (320 m) |
| Created | 1946 |
| Operated by | Kentucky Department of Parks |
| Open | Year-round |
| Official website | |
Carter Caves State Resort Park is located in Carter County, Kentucky, United States, along Tygarts Creek. It is formed by Carter Caves, and nearby Cascade Caves, which were added to the park in 1959. On December 16, 1981, 146 acres (59 ha) of the park were designated as nature preserves. Bat Cave and Cascade Caverns State Nature Preserves were dedicated for the protection of the Indiana bat, mountain maple, and Canada yew, all endangered species.
The park was in various private hands for almost 200 years until the last private family owners, the J.F. Lewis family and various other private investors, including local Rotary Clubs, donated the large tract of property (945 acres (382 ha)) to the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1946. The purchase of the caves and surrounding land was driven by Governor William Jason Fields, a native of Carter County.
Carter Caves is a state resort park that features a lodge, cottages, 18-hole putt-putt course, 9-hole golf course, full-service campground (18 sites now have sewer hook-ups), and immense natural beauty. It has various cave tours available year-round that displays and explains the wonders of the underground world. It also has seasonal horse riding stables. It is well known for its splendor above and below ground.
There are several different Cave Tours offered. Guided tours of Cascade Cave and X-Cave are available year-round. Bat Cave and Saltpetre Cave are only open in the summer, and close during the winter hibernation season due to the threat of White nose syndrome, a disease which threatens several endangered species of bats.
Cascade Cave is the name for three different caves in the same area and is together the largest cave in the park. It features an underground lake room and an 30-foot (9.1 m) underground waterfall.
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Wikipedia