Blue Holler Offroad Park is synonymous with adventure, thrill, and kick. It was established in 2014, and since then, it has been a heaven for off-road drivers and other adventure enthusiasts. The terrain and landscape it offers to attract people from everywhere to have a memorable and thrilling riding experience. Moreover, people also know this park for its risky hellbender and sand cave. What else makes it one of the best outdoor parks in Louiseville are its huge sand caves, old camping sites, and aesthetic scenery. In short, the experience you get at this part is hard to match.
Why Blue Holler Offroad Park
There is plenty to explore in the park. However, the best adventure is its large sand caves. They are too large for vehicles to drive through. Especially for off-road riders, the appeal and charm of the park never lessen. Its off-road terrain has chunky; steep hill climbs and narrow, tight all-terrain vehicle trials. Furthermore, it is humongous in size, having 35 miles of trial and spreading over 1200 acres.
In its neighborhood lies another attractive landscape, the world’s largest known cave system at Mammoth Cave National Park. To charge you up, amenities like ice cream, breakfast, lunch, dinner, shower facilities, and restrooms are available. You can also explore this park with your family as well. Due to these reasons, local off-road drivers welcomed it with open arms when it was opened in 2014.
Open Hours for Camping
Despite having the most adventurous scenic views and riding experiences, the park remains open from 8 AM to 5 PM(Wednesday to Sunday). More than that, weather changes can also affect its operating hours. One of the reasons for the short operating time is the absence of electric hookups and water in the park. So, you will have to rely on daylight if you want to experience this one of the best off-road destinations.
Charging Rates of Blue Holler Offroad Park
The adventure is not for free. 15 dollars is the entry fee for a passenger or rider. If you want to participate in riding events, you will have to pay $60 per person. And if you want to spectate the race, the $20 cost is for you. There is an offer for families, as kids under 12 years have free entry. But food is not free for children. Besides that, the charges for primitive camping are $10 per person.
Since several events are organized in the park, you can also participate in them. Their charges differ. For example, $100 was the package deal for the Tracy Adkins concert, which also included access to the park from Wednesday to Sunday, an admission fee, and Bounty Hill access on Saturday. And $80 was fixed as the ticket price.
Because thousands of people participate in such events, the management tries to manage in and out by imposing a re-entry fee. For instance, it fixes the $5 reentry fee for Redneck Rave events. On top of that, these prices are not final and can go up. Therefore, you are advised to purchase these tickets as soon as they are available.
Why People Died During the Events in Parks?
Negligence on the part of park management is the primary cause of such unfortunate mishaps. One such case is that of Adam Jones, who lost his life in an ATV crash. Several theories emerged at the time. Some threw the blame on an unlit road, due to which the rider lost control of the ride. Others declare the rider responsible for the crash because he was not wearing a seat belt.
It cannot be said with certainty which side of the story is true. But Blue Park is notorious for deaths, injuries, and other such incidents. Further, the park also faces criticism for its way of conducting and managing these events.
Criticism Faced by the Blue Holler Offroad Park
Environmentalists also criticized the Park for destroying the natural habitat in the nearby area. Adulterating the water of the Bylew Creek reservoir, endangering hellbenders, and destroying natural blue spruce stands are some examples of how this park has left environmental impacts on the surrounding area. These people also accuse the government of showing lethargy in shutting off the park’s operation.
Major Rules and Guidelines
The responsibility for peaceful and safe adventures lies on both the park administration and the guests. Following are the basic rules and guidelines that you must follow if you want to visit the park.
Visitors’ Safety and Responsibility
- Seat belts and complete equipment are compulsory for all riders.
- Proper insurance for all the vehicles inside the park is a must.
- Guests should not be without protective clothes, such as shirts and shoes.
- Over seating is not allowed inside the park.
- A DOT-approved helmet is mandatory for dirt bikes, ATVs, and open-cockpit vehicles and spectators under the age of 18 years.
- The park advised the riders to have a fifth-wheel hitch lock.
During Your Stay at the Blue Holler Offroad Park
- Damage to natural habitats, such as trees, is not allowed.
- Riding must be on marked creeks, fields, and areas.
- The visitors are encouraged by the management to report any prohibited activity.
- Be nice to other riders and guests.
- Following the speed limit of 5 mph is a hard and fast rule of the park.
- Children under 18 must always accompany their legal guardians and parents.
- Activities like fishing, hunting, and target practice are strictly prohibited.
- Alcohol and unauthorized substances are banned here.
- Don’t spread your trash. Otherwise, you will be fined.
- Guests are required to sign a release form.
Concluding Remarks
Although the park tops all the off-road parks in Kentucky, it is also better than most off-road trails in Texas, Florida, and Ohio. It has room for substantial improvement in key areas. Vigilance on the part of park management, preserving natural habitat, discipline by visitors, and safety of guests are a few to name.
Overall, this park ensures an excellent adventure for off-road drivers. If riders want to have maximum benefits from the ride, they must follow proper guidelines to experience a safe and fun ride. They must read the guidelines carefully and be considerate of all the rules. They must also display courteous behavior for other visitors to make it a safe place for families as well.
Rand Frankey is OffRoadsCare freelance Content Editor. He loves offroad Travelling and bikes, jeeps, and dirk bikes. He will explain all his experience with dirt bikes and offroad vehicles which helps you to make a decision like which vehicle is right for you.