Carter Caves State Resort Park

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Carter Caves State Resort Park
Type	Kentucky state park
Location	Carter County, Kentucky
Size	1,600 acres
Opened	1946
Operated by	Kentucky Department of Parks
Status	Open year-round

The Carter Caves State 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; the two are joined by Carter Cave Natural Bridge. ^[1] On December 16, 1981, 146 acres 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.^[2]

1 History
2 Attractions
3 References
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] History

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 to the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1946. ^[3] The purchase of the caves and surrounding land was driven by Governor William Jason Fields, a native of Carter County.^[1]

[edit] Attractions

Carter Caves has a lodge, tennis court, camping grounds, and welcome center. There is also a nine-hole golf course, but the main feature is the caves, of which there are more than 200.

[edit] Caves

Cascade Cave is the largest cave in the park, and features an underground lake and a 30-foot underground waterfall. X Cave, named for the crossing pattern of its passages, features some of the largest rock formations in the park. Saltpetre Cave was once mined for potassium nitrate that was deposited by the rivers that once ran through the cave. Historic activities are a major part of the Saltpetre Cave tour. ^[4] Laurel Cave is the smallest cave in the park, but contains some of the most interesting formations.^[5]

[edit] Trails

Thirteen miles of hiking trails cross three natural bridges throughout the park. The Cascade Trail is a three-quarter mile trail passing Cascade Natural Bridge. The Red Trail winds three and a quarter miles and includes the park's largest natural bridge, the Smokey Bridge, which stands an impressive 90 feet high and 120 feet wide. The half-mile Natural Bridge Trail passes a third natural bridge, the only one in Kentucky that is paved and supports traffic. Longer trails include the 7.2-mile Carter Caves Cross Country Trail (The 4Cs Trail) and the nine-mile Simon Kenton Trail, which parallels the 4Cs trail for a couple of miles before leaving the park, through Tygart's State Forest and on to the 200-mile Jenny Wiley Trail.^[4]

[edit] Smokey Valley Lake and Tygarts Creek

Smokey Valley Lake is a 45-acre lake within the park. Anglers will find populations of largemouth bass and muskie in the lake, while paddleboats and boats with electric motors can enjoy a day on the water. Tygarts Creek offers moderate rapids for canoing.^[4]

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b (1992) "Carter and Cascade Caves", in Kleber, John E.: The Kentucky Encyclopedia, Associate editors: Thomas D. Clark, Lowell H. Harrison, and James C. Klotter, Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0813117720.
^ Bat Cave SNP. Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission (2006-12-14). Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
^ Lewis, Jonathon F. (2004). Carter Caves State Resort Park, A living History.
^ ^a ^b ^c Bailey, Bill (1995). "Carter Caves State Resort Park", Kentucky State Parks. Saginaw, Michigan: Glovebox Guidebooks of America. ISBN 1881139131.
^ (1987) "Dictionary of Places - Carter Caves and Natural Bridges", Encyclopedia of Kentucky. New York, New York: Somerset Publishers. ISBN 0403099811.