Hart County Tourism

08/18/2024

Mark you calendars for this year's Civil War Days Battles for the Bridge weekend September 13-15. More details about each event are available on the Hart County Historical Museum page.


Explore Kentucky's Caveland
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08/17/2024

Winner! Winner! Congrats to four top 3 gold and silver awards for Best in Kentucky winners from Kentucky Living Magazine! 🥇🥇🥈🥈

🥇 Best Place for Adventure - Mammoth Cave National Park
🥇 Best Hiking Trails - Mammoth Cave National Park
🥈 Best Farm Tour Adventure - Dennison's Roadside Market
🥈 Best Kid-Friendly Attraction - Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo

We have lodging, dining, shopping, and adventuring info at kygetaway.com to help you plan your visit. Of course, you want to come!!! 😍


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08/16/2024

Thanks to our partners in Cave Country Trails for all you do to encourage people to get out on our wonderful trails! Congrats to Karen Runner McGuffey for winning this month’s big check.

For info about our Hart County trails go to https://kygetaway.com/hart-county-ky-attractions/trails/


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Did you hear??
The July winner of our was Karen Runner McGuffey! We caught up with this fast mover this week in Hart County. The July challenge featured both Hart County and Munfordville.

Haven’t seen a big check with your name on it yet? No worries, there is still three chances to win this year!! Find out more about the challenge and how to enter free here:
https://cavecountrytrails.com/2024/05/31/cave-country-trails-celebrates-fifth-year-of-challenges/

08/16/2024

This Saturday, August 17, is Bark Ranger Day at Mammoth Cave National Park! Grab your best friend and join the special activities. Don’t forget that Hart County has loads of pet-friendly adventures every day. Check out the pet-friendly tabs on our kygetaway.com website and go here for a fun itinerary ⬇️

https://kygetaway.com/itineraries/bring-along-your-best-four-legged-friend/



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Calling all canines! 🐾 You’re invited to B.A.R.K. Ranger Day at Mammoth Cave National Park!

Join rangers this Saturday, August 17 for a variety of activities including guided walks and other ranger-led programs featuring furry companions. You can even take the B.A.R.K. ranger oath and get your very own certificate as a 100% good dog who protects national parks.

Grab your leash, some water, a few oopsie bags, and your favorite hooman for an outdoor adventure that's sure to be a howlin' good time! Treat yourself to more information at: https://ow.ly/SacH50SY5pX

08/15/2024

If you are looking for pet friendly adventures, we have those! Chris and Cooper made lots of new friends at Dutch Country Safari Park. You can, too!

Go here for loads of info about our pet friendly adventures here in Hart County ⬇️

https://kygetaway.com/itineraries/bring-along-your-best-four-legged-friend/


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08/14/2024

A two-day Amish BBQ Cookoff with wings, chicken, beef & pork contests, dessert contest and auction, vendors, arts & crafts, Mr. Puppet, Balloon Man, fireworks, breakfast, lunch, sauce and meat rub samples, door prizes, and homemade ice cream! Check out the schedule, and make room for delicousness!

This Amish BBQ Cookoff will be Friday, September 13, from 4 to 9pm and Saturday, September 14, from 7am to 2pm. at Miller’s Hitching Post , 11251 Cub Run Highway, Cub Run, KY.

Here’s a link to info about our Amish community - https://kygetaway.com/resources/amish/

Add a stop on your Hart County adventure. Go to kygetaway.com for all of our lodging, dining, shopping, and adventuring info to help plan your visit.


Explore Kentucky's Caveland
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08/13/2024

You don’t want to miss this! Spectacular 300 Springs. Access via Lynn Camp Launch. Go to our paddling trail link for maps and info! ⬇️

https://kygetaway.com/attractions/paddling/


Cave Country Trails
Explore Kentucky's Caveland
Caves, Lakes and Corvettes

08/13/2024

Summer ending? Time to kick back! Paddle down Hart County's Blueway on the Green past shimmering 300 Springs. Slow down and enjoy the view.

Click here for more about 300 Springs including photos and video ⬇
https://kygetaway.com/2020/11/10/300-springs/

If you're in the Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo. Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum, Dutch Country Safari Park, Horse Cave KOA, or Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, you're in their neck of the woods.

For Hart County lodging, dining, shopping, and adventuring info, go to kygetaway.com.


Cave Country Trails
Explore Kentucky's Caveland
Caves, Lakes and Corvettes

08/12/2024

Don’t forget the Star Party ⭐️ tonight at Mammoth Cave National Park at 7pm central time!


Explore Kentucky's Caveland
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If one shooting star is enchanting, then hundreds of shooting stars are simply ✨fairy tale worthy!✨

🌟Don’t forget to join us tonight for an enchanted evening to celebrate the Perseids meteor shower. Activities begin at 7 p.m. CDT. Visit this link for all the illuminating details: https://ow.ly/xSlV50SW7jP

08/12/2024

Immerse yourself in history at the Hart County Historical Museum and their annual Civil War Days September 13-15.

For our Hart County lodging, dining, shopping, and adventuring info to help you plan your visit, go to kygetaway.com.


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Cave Country Trails

08/11/2024

NEW BUSINESS ALERT! Some long-time residents remember Neville's Jewelry, the local jewelry store where everyone bought their engagement rings and watches, and where they registered their china and silver patterns. That building now houses a street level shop, Two Birds Cafe & Sawdust & Splinters Woodworking. Upstairs, building owners have just opened Hidden Station, a new short-term rental that's loaded with history, nostalgia, and fun.

The owners have been working hard to rehab the space and research the history of this second-floor over the former Neville's Jewelry building that is directly across from Hidden River Cave.

Back in the heyday of radio in the 1950s, the space housed a satellite station of WKAY/WGGC, a Glasgow radio station. It operated a few hours a day with one of the area's local disc jockeys, Johnny Barrick, reporting local news and Caverna sports. Ads from local businesses were read live.

The new owners honored this history by highlighting the old radio booth (where the kitchenette is located now), the disc jockey desk, record albums and LPs. The pet-friendly apartment has a king-sized bed, a day bed, and a couch that pulls out to a small bed. This space will comfortably sleep 3 adults, or 2 adults and 2 kids.

The living room has large windows overlooking Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum and is in walking distance of downtown shops and restaurants.

To learn more about the history of a town that grew on top of a cave, go to our award-winning Horse Cave Stories site that has photos and clips of oral history from locals ⬇
https://kygetaway.com/horse-cave-stories/

For more info and a link to reserve this beautiful space that's a great place to kick back after a day of adventure in Hart County go here ⬇
https://kygetaway.com/attractions/hidden-station/

For all of our Hart County lodging, dining, shopping, and adventuring info, go to kygetaway.com.


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Cave Country Trails

08/10/2024

Music and delicious food today at Two Birds Cafe & Sawdust & Splinters Woodworking in downtown Horse Cave. Plan a stop along your your shopping and outdoor adventure today, Saturday, August 10.

For all the Hart County lodging, dining, shopping and adventuring info, go to kygetaway.com.


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08/10/2024

Thanks to Nicky Reynolds for this great feature in the August issue of Women on the Go! We're so glad you enjoyed your Hart County adventure!

Here's a link to the issue with Nicky's article on pages 104-109 ⬇
https://issuu.com/womenonthego/docs/_wog-august_final_1_?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ

For Hart County lodging, dining, shopping, and adventuring info, go to kygetaway.com.


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Cave Country Trails

08/09/2024

What a heartwarming story about one of our own Hart County partners, Dennison's Roadside Market! The Dennisons work tirelessly to bring food to our community, our visitors, and regional food banks. When you're in the area, check out their business and add a thank you for all they do.


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Kentucky Proud

HORSE CAVE — Forty-four-year-old Brian Dennison spent the better part of Thursday morning picking Devotion variety sweet corn out of a 2-acre field in his hometown of Horse Cave. Dennison’s family runs the Dennison Roadside Market, which he said began in his family’s front yard “on a 4 x...

08/08/2024

We ❤️ to show you gorgeous photos of our beautiful Kentucky experiences, but this new opportunity from Mammoth Cave National Park to immerse your senses in the sounds is so cool! 👂

Check it out! And don’t forget to go to kygetaway.com for lodging, dining, shopping, and adventuring info to plan your visit.


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Cave Country Trails

MAMMOTH CAVE, Ky.- The sound of the environment is good for your mental health, and being in that environment can be good for your physical health. Soundscapes, an uncommon staple but a very calming and peaceful natural resource that can often go overlooked, are located in Mammoth Cave National Park...

08/08/2024

Looking for a weekend getaway? Here's what this family said about their Hart County adventure!

"Our Kentucky trip ... was AWESOME! We had so much fun in Hart County hanging out at Horse Cave KOA (honestly, I'm so impressed with this campground, everything they have to do there, and the seriously nice treehouse cabin we stayed in), and visiting Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo, Dutch Country Safari Park, and Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum! We are forever grateful for the experiences and memories we made this weekend!"

There's plenty of great weather left! For all the Hart County lodging, dining, shopping, and adventuring info to help you plan your visit, go to kygetaway.com.

📷 #1 & #2 Dutch Country Safari ParkDutch Country Safari Park
📷 #3- #8 Kentucky Down Under Adventure ZooKentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo
📷 #9 Hidden River Cave/American Cave MuseumHidden River Cave/American Cave Museum


Explore Kentucky's Caveland
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Cave Country Trails
Photos by kendraschultzrealtor

08/07/2024

Starry, starry night! ⬇🌟🌟🌟 After a fun day of adventure in Hart County, add a stop at Mammoth Cave National Park to experience the Perseids Meteor Shower at an evening Star Party at Mammoth Cave National Park on Monday, August 12 from 7pm to 10pm central time. Park rangers and volunteers will present an evening program about the night sky, provide telescopes to view a first quarter moon and deep sky objects, and distribute Junior Ranger Night Explorer books while watching meteors stream overhead.

The night sky events begin at the outdoor amphitheater near the Camp Store with an evening program that discusses the importance of the night sky environment to plants, animals, and humans as well as the dangers of light pollution. As the sun sets and the stars begin to emerge, the group will move to the bus loop of the visitor center where several telescopes will be set up for night sky viewing. Park rangers and volunteers from Western Kentucky University's Hilltopper Astronomy Club will be on hand to answer questions and help identify celestial objects.

Event participants may wish to bring blankets or chairs to sit on for a more comfortable viewing experience. Local astronomers are also welcome to bring their own telescopes and set them up in the bus loop. All activities are weather dependent and may be cancelled in the event of hazardous weather.

Every August the Perseids Meteor Shower lights up night skies with a dazzling display of “shooting stars.” These shooting stars are actually meteors which consist of chunks of ice or rock in space ranging in size from a grain of sand to a boulder. Past Perseids Meteor displays have seen up to 100 meteors visible per hour in dark locations.

Mammoth Cave National Park was recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association as an International Dark Sky Park in 2021. This certification showcases the park as, “land possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment.”

For more info about Mammoth Cave National Park’s Night Sky or to learn some Stargazing tips. For questions about the Star Party, please contact [email protected] or 270-758-2180.

For Hart County lodging, dining, shopping, and adventuring info, go to kygetaway.com to plan your visit.


Explore Kentucky's Caveland
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08/06/2024

Vintage, antiques, boutiques, small town charm! It's a shopping adventure in downtown Horse Cave! Who's ready? Browse the shops, stroll the cell phone tour, walk in the park, explore Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum (The museum is free, and the gift shop is fantastic!!), and stop for a bite in a local restaurant.

Make it a day or a stop along your visit to Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo, Dutch Country Safari Park. Horse Cave KOA, or Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park.

Insider tip: Most shops are closed Sundays and Mondays, but the cave and museum are open 7 days/week.

For all of the Hart County lodging, dining, shopping, and adventuring info to help plan your adventure, go to kygetaway.com

📷 #1 The Hanger Boutique
📷 #2 Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum Gift Shop
📷 #3 GeeGa's Home Decor
📷 #4 Sugar Land Bakery & Cafe & Boutique LLC
📷 #5 Hidden River Treasures - Antiques n Collectibles
📷 #6 Caveland Antique Mall
📷 #7 JunkinGypsy
📷 #8 Sugar Sank


Explore Kentucky's Caveland
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08/05/2024

Local bounty for your campsite, table, adventuring snack or take-home from Dennison's Roadside Market!

If you’re in the Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo, Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum, Dutch Country Safari Park, Horse Cave KOA, or Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park area, you’re in their neck of the woods!

Plan your visit at kygetaway.com.

08/04/2024

NEW BUSINESS ALERT! We welcome Marla and Sugar Sank, her lovely vintage store that was previously housed in our neighboring Cave City. It's open Thursday-Friday 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday 10 am to 3 pm in this beautiful historic building that was previously home to Bee-Lov-Lee Beauty Salon at 106 South Dixie Highway (US 31W) near the stoplight in downtown Horse Cave.

The native limestone building has a rich history ⬇

Originally the historic Central Cave Office, it was built by Dr. Harry B. Thomas when US 31W was rerouted in 1937 to its current location. The Thomas Family owned Hidden River Cave (its historic stone pier entranceway was just across the street and the cave is now part of the Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum complex ), Mammoth Onyx Cave (just a couple of miles west now part of Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo), and Floyd Collins Crystal Cave (now part of Mammoth Cave National Park).

At the northern entrance to cave country, Dr. Thomas’ solicitors (called cappers and dressed in official-looking uniforms with badges and whistles) here could divert tourists from the north to one of his caves and away from Mammoth Cave and other smaller caves nearby.

The structure made of local rock was a major force in the Kentucky Cave Wars. What were the cave wars? They called them feuds in some parts of our state, but in this area we had wars. The Kentucky Cave Wars expanded in the early part of the 20th century when tourists were not only coming by wagon or train, they were able to come in automobiles. And they did, making tourism an even more important part of our struggling economy.

Worldwide, areas that have karst topography are poor. The land with barren, rocky land, sinkholes, underground rivers, shallow soil over an underlayer of bedrock has historically not been the ideal place to build an extensive agricultural base. But our industrious forefathers found ways to capitalize on our assets. Our caves were plentiful and beautiful, and they attracted sightseers to our area, making Mammoth Cave the country’s second oldest tourist attraction (after Niagara Falls).

Our local adventurers and entrepreneurs looked to cash in on the attraction by searching for the “best”, the “prettiest”, and the “closest” cave. The death of local caver Floyd Collins happened during this period. This competition for the tourist dollar came to be known as the Cave Wars. Signs along the roads to Mammoth Cave tried to steer travelers away from Mammoth Cave or other caves to their own. Cave owners set up “Cave Information Offices” or “Cave Ticket Offices” and stands along the roadway to direct visitors to their own caves.

Workers in those cave offices who stopped the cars were usually dressed in official-looking uniforms, some with badges and whistles, resembling law-enforcement officers. They were called “cappers” because of the hats they wore. Some of them would not only praise their own caves, they would usually explain that Mammoth Cave was closed, sold out, etc., and they would encourage them to buy a ticket to their cave which was much better, more convenient, etc.

Vandals would even break into other caves and damage them. They would also break off formations and take the “cave rocks” to be sold at roadside stands. Because of the vandalism, this eventually became a federal crime.

Locals also set up roadside stands in their yards and along the road to Mammoth Cave to sell handmade baskets, cave rocks, and later velvet Elvis pictures and chenille peacock bedspreads. There was even a stand on US 31W between Cave City and Park City where you could pay to see a “man buried alive with snakes”.

You can hear more local stories from a town that grew on top of a cave along the award-winning Horse Cave Stories Cell Phone Tour. Here's a link ⬇
https://kygetaway.com/horse-cave-stories/

And you can find out more about the Horse Cave downtown shopping district on the Shop Horse Cave Map/Brochure that can be viewed and downloaded here along with other brochures from our area ⬇
https://kygetaway.com/downloads/

Stop by Sugar Sank. Check out their vintage goods. Welcome Marla to the district! And check out the cave, the walking tour, and all of the cute downtown businesses.


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08/03/2024

We love this! It remind us of all the above-ground resources at our own Mammoth Cave National Park. Click on the link for the entire book, and go to our website kygetaway.com for lodging, dining, shopping, and adventuring info to help plan your Kentucky getaway!


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It's !

Parents and Educators - We have a variety of coloring books that can be downloaded from our website to enjoy and learn from.

Here's a link to one - "Fire Scientist Coloring Book"

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd792642.pdf

08/03/2024

Great food. Cool music. See you at Two Birds Cafe & Sawdust & Splinters Woodworking! Check out all the downtown shops, too! Sweet!!!

08/03/2024

One of "The 8 Prettiest Towns to Visit in Kentucky"? Awww, we're blushing. 🥰😎😚 Thanks to WorldAtlas.com for the honor!

"Surrounded by the Ohio River and the Appalachian Mountains, Kentucky is known for having more than its fair share of natural beauty. Nicknamed the "Bluegrass State" due to the unique Kentucky bluegrass that covers much of its land, Kentucky is home to many pretty small towns that are ideal for visiting year round. The next time you're planning a getaway to this Southern state, consider choosing a town that is equal parts attractive and exciting..."

HORSE CAVE
"Southern Living Magazine named Horse Cave as one of the 'most charming small towns in Kentucky' for good reason. The town, which has a population of just over 2,000, is situated on top of Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum, which features the world's longest underground swinging bridge. Adventurous cave visitors can also zipline across the entrance and rappel down a limestone cliff. The quaint town also offers the annual Horse Cave Heritage Festival, a weekend event offering craft artisans, food booths, live entertainment, and antique vehicle shows.

"If you're visiting town with your family, don't miss the Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo, an animal park that is home to kangaroos, rainbow lorikeets, and many other different species. The zoo also provides 30-minute guided cave tours for those wanting to explore underground."

Curious about the other 7 towns on their list? Here's a link to the full article ⬇
https://www.worldatlas.com/cities/8-prettiest-towns-to-visit-in-kentucky.html

There's so much fun here. Don't forget to go to kygetaway.com for all the lodging, dining, shopping, and adventuring info to plan your visit.


Explore Kentucky's Caveland
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Cave Country Trails

08/02/2024

Horse Cave KOA has options for a late summer getaway. It's a chance to embrace the Kentucky countryside not far from the adventures. Perfect! 🌳

It's among the trees and right around the corner from Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo, Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum, Dutch Country Safari Park, and Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. 🌳

For all of our Hart County lodging, dining, shopping and adventuring info, photos and videos to help you plan your visit, go to kygetaway.com.


Explore Kentucky's Caveland
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08/01/2024

Thanks to WNKY Television for featuring the Munfordville walking tour!


Explore Kentucky's Caveland
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223 years ago, Richard Jones Munford, from Amelia County, Virginia, settled about 2,500 acres along the Green River. Fifteen years later, in 1816, he donated 100 acres to establish a town called Big Buffalo Crossing, given the natural way the animals traveled the Kentucky wilderness. Then in 1858, t...

08/01/2024

A variety of gorgeous birds including rescued blind owl "Hootie", kookaburras, parrots, rainbow lorikeets welcoming visitors to Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo. You can even enter the aviary and feed the rainbow lorikeets!

A fun day of adventure with a great cave and more than 40 kangaroos just a hop off I-65 at Horse Cave exit 58. If you're in the Mammoth Cave National Park area, it's a great stop!

Here's a sample itinerary to help you plan ⬇
https://kygetaway.com/itineraries/day-1-kangaroos-a-cave-and-amish-donuts-a-day-trip-just-a-hop-off-interstate-65/

For all our Hart County lodging, dining, shopping, and adventuring info, go to kygetaway.com.


Explore Kentucky's Caveland
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07/31/2024

What a magical video from Derek Bristol of Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum underneath the small town of Horse Cave, Kentucky! If you’ve never experienced the tour, this gives you the feel of the adventure!

Explore Kentucky's Caveland
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For more detailed information on caving techniques, caving gear, and cave projects, visit my website at: https://www.derekbristol.comCaves are delicate and p...