CARTER CAVES STATE RESORT PARK, Olive Hill
Hotel Details
Carter Caves State Resort Park - Natural underground wonders with hiking trails, cave tours, and forested accommodations
Nestled within 2 acres of wooded hills, Carter Caves State Resort Park features a network of over 20 twisting caverns where nature has created luminous stone fans, stalactites, and stalagmites over millions of years. This Olive Hill hotel offers accommodations with private balconies or patios, flat-screen TVs with cable channels, free WiFi, and mountain views. Guests at Carter Caves State Resort Park can choose from various lodging options including holiday homes with 1-3 bedrooms, private bathrooms, well-equipped kitchens, and outdoor barbecue areas. Tierney's Cavern restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily with a wide variety of sandwiches and country dishes. The park provides guided wild cave tours in Bat Cave and Saltpeter Cave from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with specialized trips available for both children and adults. Recreational opportunities include hiking along trails featuring natural bridges, orienteering, tree climbing, and paddling Smoky Lake by canoe, kayak, or paddleboard. The property connects to both the Carter Caves Trail System and the Olive Hill Trail Town System, with the Welcome Center Gift Shop open from April through the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Pros
Home to over half of Kentucky's endangered Indiana Bat populations, which hibernate in Bat, Saltpetre, and Laurel Caves
Features impressive karst formations including a 30-foot underground waterfall, sinkholes, and natural stone bridges
Offers yoga sessions at the Fields Facility designed for restoration after adventurous activities
Provides workshops on outdoor survival skills including shelter building, fire basics, and signaling
Contains mature forests rich in diverse plants and animals both above and below ground
Cons
Located 43.5 miles from Tri-State Airport, making transportation potentially challenging without a car
Some cave exploration trips involve strenuous activities including extended crawling, rock scrambling, and exposure to mud and water
Select room type
Check Availability & Prices
Getting around
Discover available transportation options for smooth travel around the city
Facilities
General
- No smoking on site
- Free Wi-Fi
- Parking
- 24-hour reception
- Express check-in/ -out
- Pets allowed
- Rooms/ Facilities for disabled
- Wheelchair access
- 24-hour security
- Lift
- Vending machines
- Smoke detectors
- Fire extinguishers
- Key card access
- Key access
Sports & Fitness
- Canoeing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Tennis court
- Mini golf
- Fishing
Guest Parking
- Cookware/ Kitchen utensils
Services
- Tours/Ticket assistance
- Shops/Commercial services
- Welcome drink
Dining
- Restaurant
- Outdoor dining area
- Picnic area/ Tables
Business
- Meeting/ Banquet facilities
- Fax/Photocopying
Children
- Cots
- Board games
- Children's menu
- Children's play area
Facilities for people with disabilities
- Toilet for disabled
- Bathroom for disabled
Spa & Leisure
- Seasonal outdoor pool
- Live entertainment
- Leisure/ TV room
- Shallow end
Room features
- Air conditioning
- Heating
- Patio
- Garden furniture
- Tea and coffee facilities
- Dining table
Bathroom
- Washing machine
- Free toiletries
Self-catering
- Cookware/ Kitchen utensils
Media
- Flat-screen TV
- AM/FM alarm clock
Room decor
- Parquet floor
