Looking for a Unique Place to Stay in Kentucky? Try Glamping in a Teepee
On a recent family road trip, we visited Kentucky for the first time and tried something completely new for our family: glamping in a teepee!
We spent two nights at The Edge - Cave Run’s Glamping Getaway in Salt Lick, surrounded by the beautiful green mountains of eastern Kentucky. Our family of five stayed in the Reel Deal teepee, and it ended up being one of the most unique places we’ve stayed.
Here’s what families should know about staying at The Edge, from what it’s actually like inside the teepees to the bathrooms, amenities, things to do around the property, and what you’ll find nearby.
Our stay at The Edge - Cave Run's Glamping Getaway was hosted. As always, all experiences and opinions shared are our own.
What Is The Edge - Cave Run's Glamping Getaway?
The Edge is a glamping property in Salt Lick, Kentucky, set along a bend in the Licking River just minutes from Cave Run Lake. The property has eight uniquely themed glamping accommodations, including teepees and geodesic domes, with the option to book a single site, several sites for a group trip, or the entire property.
The setting is a big part of the appeal. The glampsites are positioned along the water, while a large open green space in the middle of the property gives families plenty of room to spread out. During our stay, this quickly became one of our kids' favorite places to run around and play.
Each of the glamping sites also has its own raised deck with views of the river, outdoor seating, and a private fire pit. Small lights around the decks automatically come on after dark, adding a cozy touch to the evenings.
The property itself is gated, and guests receive a code before check-in for easy access throughout their stay. Its location also makes it a convenient base for exploring the area, with Cave Run Lake, Daniel Boone National Forest, and Morehead nearby.
Inside the Reel Deal Teepee: A Kentucky Glamping Stay That Sleeps 5
One of the biggest reasons the Reel Deal immediately caught my attention was simple: it sleeps five!
Finding unique accommodations for a family of five can be surprisingly tricky. I've come across plenty of glamping stays that look amazing but have a maximum occupancy of four. For us, a five-person occupancy is a must!
The Reel Deal sleeps five with a twin bed, full bed, futon, and trundle.
The teepee has a fun fishing theme. Our kids loved the fish pillows, and little details throughout the space made it feel much more memorable than walking into a standard hotel room.
And although you're technically sleeping in a teepee, this is definitely glamping.
Inside the Reel Deal, we had air conditioning, two fans, a mini fridge stocked with complimentary bottled water, a microwave, and a coffee setup, along with Wi-Fi throughout the property. Linens and bath towels were also provided, giving us plenty of the everyday comforts you'd expect from a more traditional stay.
Also, The Edge made it easy to enjoy an evening around the fire. Fire-starting supplies were provided inside the Reel Deal, and complimentary firewood was available near the bathhouse, so we didn't have to bring or purchase our own.
There were even board games inside our teepee. Our kids found a Spider-Man version of Yahtzee Jr. and ended up playing several rounds during our stay. It's a small detail, but having games already there was a nice addition for downtime at the campsite.
We had great T-Mobile service throughout our stay, too. While we mostly stayed off our phones and enjoyed being outside, it was nice knowing we could easily get online when needed.
What Are the Bathrooms Like When You're Glamping in a Teepee?
Let's address one of the first questions you might have when someone tells you they slept in a teepee: What about the bathroom?
This is one of the areas where The Edge really leans into the glamping part of the experience. There are four shared bathrooms in the bathhouse, each with its own theme and shower.
We received a code for the bathrooms at check-in, and they were well stocked with towels, washcloths, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and other helpful toiletries.
The shared bathhouse is a short walk from the teepees, and we had no trouble making the walk with the kids. Inside, the themed spaces feel a world away from the basic campground bathrooms you might expect when sleeping outdoors.
Things to Do at The Edge With Kids
One of the best parts of The Edge for families is that there’s plenty to do without ever leaving the property.
A large open grassy area gives kids plenty of room to run around and play, and there are outdoor games including horseshoes, Frisbees, ladder toss, and cornhole. There’s also a tree swing and a large communal fire pit surrounded by bench swings, which was one of the coolest gathering spaces on the property.
But you don't need a packed itinerary to enjoy staying here. We spent time around our private fire pit, played games together, let the kids explore outside, and relaxed on the deck overlooking the river.
That slower pace ended up being one of the things we enjoyed most about our stay. After plenty of family trips spent moving from one attraction to the next, it was nice having a place where simply enjoying the property was part of the experience.
After dark, the lights around the glampsites added to the cozy atmosphere, and we could head back inside the Reel Deal to play games and hang out before bed.
More Unique Places to Stay at The Edge
The Reel Deal is just one of the unique accommodations at The Edge. The property has six themed teepees and two geodesic domes, with options that sleep between two and five guests.
While we stayed in the Reel Deal, we also had a chance to peek inside two of the other teepees, giving us a closer look at a couple of the options available for smaller families and groups.
Free Bird
Free Bird sleeps up to three guests with a queen bed and futon. It has its own distinct theme and personality, continuing the individually styled feel we noticed throughout The Edge.
Flip Flop Stop
Flip Flop Stop sleeps up to four guests with two full beds. This teepee has a bright, playful look and offers another option for families or groups that don't need the five-person capacity of the Reel Deal.
Things to Do Near The Edge and Cave Run Lake
The Edge feels tucked away, but its location makes it easy to pair a relaxing glamping stay with some time exploring the surrounding area. Cave Run Lake is nearby, and Morehead offers restaurants, shops, and a historic downtown within an easy drive.
Visit Cave Run Lake
Cave Run Lake is one of the biggest outdoor attractions near The Edge and is only a short drive from the property.
During our visit, we stopped near the visitor center and followed a path down to the water, where we walked along the rocky shoreline and took in the lake and surrounding mountain views.
We didn't head out onto the water during this trip, but even from shore, Cave Run Lake was a beautiful place to explore and an easy addition to our stay at The Edge.
Grab an Easy Dinner at Elliott's Pizzeria
For an easy dinner close to The Edge, Elliott's Pizzeria was incredibly convenient. It's only about three minutes from the property, and we were able to call in an order for pickup and bring it back to our teepee.
For families who would rather spend the evening around the fire than drive farther for dinner, having a quick option nearby is definitely helpful.
Explore Morehead, Kentucky
Morehead is also close enough to The Edge for dining, shopping, or adding a little more exploring to your trip. We drove through the historic downtown during our stay and would have loved to spend more time there.
It's also a convenient place to pick up anything you might need. We found familiar stores, grocery options, restaurants, and coffee within an easy drive, which is helpful when you're staying somewhere that feels much more removed from town than it actually is.
Is The Edge Good for Families?
Yes! For our family of five, The Edge was a great fit.
Our family loved the combination of unique themed accommodations, lots of outdoor space, activities around the property, and everyday comforts that made the experience feel easy. For larger families like ours, the Reel Deal's five-person capacity is another major plus.
As our family's first glamping experience, it felt like a great balance between some of the things we love about camping, like slowing down and spending time outdoors, and the comforts of a more traditional stay, including air conditioning and nice bathrooms.
Families who enjoy outdoor games, fires, open space, and some downtime together will find plenty to love here, while Cave Run Lake and the surrounding area make it easy to add more adventure when you want it.
Know Before You Go
A few helpful things to know before booking a stay at The Edge:
Location: The Edge is located at 12688 US 60, Salt Lick, KY 40371.
Accommodations: We stayed in The Reel Deal, which sleeps up to five guests. Other teepees and geodesic domes are available for different group sizes.
Bathrooms: The four themed bathrooms and showers are located in a shared bathhouse, a short walk from the glampsites.
Linens and towels: Beds are made with linens, and bath towels are provided. Beach towels are not included, so you'll want to bring your own if you're planning time on the water.
Air conditioning: Our Reel Deal teepee had air conditioning and two fans, which kept the space comfortable during our stay.
Firewood: Complimentary firewood is available near the bathhouse, and we also had fire-starting supplies inside the Reel Deal.
Wi-Fi and cell service: Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, and we had great T-Mobile service during our stay.
Parking: Each accommodation has a dedicated parking space, and boat parking is also available for guests planning to spend time at Cave Run Lake.
Food and supplies: There are a few options close by, including the pizza we picked up just minutes from The Edge. Morehead is an easy drive for restaurants, coffee, groceries, and other supplies.
For current rates, availability, accommodation options, and policies, visit The Edge - Cave Run's Glamping Getaway before your trip since those details can change.
Would We Go Glamping in Kentucky Again?
Yes!
This was our first time glamping and our first trip to Kentucky, so we managed to check off two new experiences at once.
Sleeping in a teepee was obviously the part our kids were most excited about, but some of my favorite moments were much simpler: watching them run around the open field, sitting around the fire, playing games together inside the teepee, and slowing down for a couple of days.
We also came away from our first Kentucky visit thinking this state is beautiful. Everything was so green, and exploring the Cave Run Lake area gave us a completely different picture of Kentucky than I had before our trip.
For families looking for unique places to stay in Kentucky, The Edge offers something a little different from a traditional hotel or camping trip. You still get plenty of time outdoors, evenings around the fire, and the slower pace that comes with being surrounded by nature, but with some of the comforts of a more traditional stay waiting inside your teepee.
And for fellow families of five who have discovered just how many unique accommodations seem to stop at four guests, the Reel Deal is one worth knowing about. All five of us got to experience our first glamping trip together, and we'd absolutely do it again.
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