Bat Cave and Cascade Caverns State Nature Preserves

Bat Cave and Cascade Caverns State Nature Preserves encompass 146 acres within Carter Caves State Resort Park in northeastern Kentucky, protecting cave and forest habitat in one of the state's best-known karst landscapes. Bat Cave entered the Kentucky State Nature Preserves system on December 16, 1981, chiefly to protect the Indiana bat; about 28,000 were estimated to winter there at the time, making the site important to the species' conservation. Cascade Caverns was added to protect two plants rare in Kentucky, mountain maple and Canadian yew. Together, the preserves are valued chiefly for safeguarding sensitive cave wildlife and uncommon native vegetation.

Kentucky · United States