Lewis family and various other private investors, including local Rotary Clubs, donated the large tract of property (945 acres (382 ha))[1] to the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1946.

[5] The purchase of the caves and surrounding land was driven by Governor William Jason Fields, a native of Carter County.

[3] Carter Caves is a state resort park that features a lodge, cottages, 18-hole putt-putt course, full-service campground (18 sites with sewer hook-ups), and 26 miles (42 km) of hiking trails, cave tours available year-round, and seasonal horse riding stables.

Bat Cave and Saltpetre Cave are only open in the summer, and close during the winter hibernation season due to the threat of white nose syndrome, a disease which threatens several endangered species of bats.

X Cave, named for the crossing pattern of its passages, features some of the largest rock formations in the park.

Anglers will find populations of largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish, and crappie in the lake.