Visit Horse Cave

11/03/2024

11/02/2024

Kentucky has spectacular views above and below ground like the majestic Sunset Dome in Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum in downtown Horse Cave. Legends and lore run as deep as the cave's beauty.

Early History
In the 1930s, Hidden River Cave was one of three tourist caves that were owned and operated by the Thomas Family. Visitors could purchase tickets to visit Hidden River Cave, Mammoth Onyx Cave and Floyd Collin’s Crystal Cave, or a pass to see all three caves if they preferred.

In addition to Hidden River Cave’s large entrance, visitors in the early 1900s were drawn to the cave to see and experience Sunset Dome.

Quotes from the historic brochure and postcard exaggerate the size, but there is no doubt that Sunset Dome is a natural wonder - "Entering Sunset Dome gives the impression of coming to the edge of the earth, and creates an irresistible urge to see beyond. The true vastness of the world’s largest cave dome can only be appreciated by a personal visit and leaves an undying memory of grandeur unapproached by any of the world’s seven wonders.” —Hidden River Cave Historic Brochure

"Sunset Dome, named from unusual lighting effects, contains the greatest unobstructed floor space and is the largest single room known, dwarfing the greatest efforts of human engineering. With a height of 185 feet, it measures 500 x 600 feet and contains 5 1/2 acres of free floor space.” —Hidden River Cave Historic Postcard

Talking about the postcard and brochure claims, David Foster, the American Cave Conservation Association’s President & CEO says, “I think that’s probably a turn-of-the-century exaggeration.” “The dome is 150 feet wide and 200 feet long, and around 100 feet high,” he said, “That’s still huge. Think nine or 10 stories.”

Bill Austin, the former owner of Sunset Dome, once told Foster that when the cave was open in the 1920s and 1930s, they would invite major league ball players to come. The idea was to bet them they could not hit the ceiling of Sunset Dome with a baseball, Foster said. “I don’t know if anyone accepted this challenge or not,” he added.

The Quest for Sunset Dome
Although the original tours from the 1930s did bring visitors back to Sunset Dome, those tourist trails were long gone – washed away from decades of high water and flooding inside the cave. Gone also were the light poles and electrical wiring. The American Cave Conservation Association (ACCA), was left with a logistical challenge to bridge the 50-foot deep canyon that separated the existing tour from the trunk passage, known as Thomas Hall, which led to Sunset Dome.

The answer was to build a 100-foot long suspension bridge across the canyon. This would become the world’s longest suspension bridge inside a cave. Construction of the bridge was completed in November 2018. By the Fall of 2019 the tour was slowly progressing towards the Dome and was nearly 3/4 completed. Engineering problems and flooding continued to slow the construction progress. It also soon became apparent that additional funding was needed to finish the tour. An anonymous gift made it possible for ACCA to meet the bid estimates for the final construction phase. The concrete was poured for the remaining walkway section and the tour to Sunset Dome was opened in February 2020. After being closed for 76 years, Sunset Dome was now accessible again!

Today, Sunset Dome is awe inspiring and is considered to be one of the largest free-standing cave domes in the United States. We invite you to step back into history and see Sunset Dome!

For more historic information about Hidden River Cave, visit their website at hiddenrivercave.com and stop in for a tour. They're open year-round with spectacular vistas and enchanting history!

There's so much adventure to be had in Hart County, you'll want to stay a while. Just go to kygetaway.com for all of our lodging, dining, shopping, and adventuring info to help you plan your visit!


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

11/01/2024

Check out what we have available here at our restaurant and bakery!

10/31/2024

Things are getting real spooky at Terrazul 👻 Get a 15% OFF discount on your total bill when you dine-in with a 🎃 HALLOWEEN COSTUME
Promo runs on OCTOBER 31, 2024 ONLY. 🍗

10/30/2024

10/29/2024

If you're going to be in the area on Halloween, Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum has a treat for you. Trick or treat areas will be set up in the cave entrance area along with a scavenger hunt and prizes! 4:30 - 7 pm central time.

Special historical carbide lantern cave tours will be also be available that evening at the regular cave tour price. For more info, contact them at 270.786.1466.

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


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

10/26/2024

Birria Tacos for your Halloweekend?? 👻

10/25/2024

HAPPY HALLOWEEKEND 🎃👻

10/25/2024

Here’s what’s going on at our restaurant and bakery:

CHILI is being served!
Grilled cheese & chili combo - $7
Chili cheese fries
Cup of chili - $5

One topping pizza - $10

FRESH Apple Cider

Fish Fridays:
Fish Dinner - 6 piece dinner, fries, hush puppies, coleslaw & a drink - $12

10/21/2024

"The process of delving into the black abyss is to me the keenest form of fascination." HP Lovecraft

Come be fascinated at Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum - not just during this eerie time of year, but year round. There's no trail quite like an underground trail.

Add a tour (if you dare) along your Kentucky Caveland adventure. We'll tell you about their special October 31 adventures soon.

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


Explore Kentucky's Caveland
Cave Country Trails
Caves, Lakes and Corvettes
📷 Coffee, Books & Yoga

10/13/2024

Local artist/muralist Jesse Sims didn’t have to travel far to create this newly completed mural on the corner of Water...

10/10/2024

Weekend events? We have those! Add them to your adventure itinerary! For details, check out our events page ⬇
https://kygetaway.com/events/

Lodging, dining, shopping, and adventuring info to help you plan at kygetaway.com.

If you're in the Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo, Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum, Dutch Country Safari Park, Dennison's Roadside Market, Horse Cave KOA, or Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park 'area, you're in our neighborhood for fun!


Explore Kentucky's Caveland
Caves, Lakes and Corvettes

10/07/2024

If it's fall, it's fun time in Hart County! Check out these October events! 🍁🍂🎃👻

👻 Hill of Terror - Every Friday & Saturday. Time: Dark ’30 until Midnight cst. 3666 Priceville Road, Bonnieville.

👻 Hollow of Unrest - Every Friday & Saturday through Nov. 2, 151 James Ragland Road, Bonnieville. Hours 8 pm – 11 pm central time.

🎥 Free Movie Night - October 12, Beetlejuice 1 and 2 at this free movie night in Thelma Stovall Park. Concessions available. Bring your own chairs, pillows, and blankets.

🍂 Sorghum Day - October 12, Sorghum, apple cider, cornmeal, broom, white oak basket, and (new this year) apple butter demonstrations right next to kids’ activities, mule wagon rides, animals, and crafts, and toss in baskets, quilts, and cruise in at 10374 Cub Run Highway, Munfordville, 8 am to 2 pm.

🎃 Octoberfest - October 19, Vendors, co****le tournament, and fall activities on the square in downtown Munfordville. For info call 270.524.4752.

🎊 Horse Cave KOA Anniversary - October 19, Horse Cave KOA will celebrate 20 years of ownership at this event. Gift vendors, food trucks, silent auction, facility tours, Super Mega Slide, Trucker Hat Bar, discount bookings. 11am to 6 pm. Open to the public.

🎻 Jammin' at the Thomas House - Every Thursday 6-9 pm. Free acoustical bluegrass, country, and old time music jams. Bring an instrument and join in, or pull up a chair and enjoy. Free. 111 East Main St., Horse Cave.

🍁 Dutch Country Safari Park Fall Fun - Special activities on the farm. Open Monday - Saturday 9am to 5pm.

🍂 Dennison's Fall Fun - Hayrides to the pumpkin patch, corn maze, caramel apples, mums, pumpkins, decorations, all the fall fun at Dennison's Roadside Market. Open Monday - Saturday 8 am to 5 pm.

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


Explore Kentucky's Caveland
Caves, Lakes and Corvettes

10/02/2024