Historic Wigwam Village, Cave City, Kentucky: A Review
For a unique experience, stay at the historic Wigwam Village in Cave City, Kentucky!
In this review, we’ll cover all aspects of a visit at this fun, family friendly motel near Mammoth Cave National Park.
From what you’ll find inside the wigwams to an overview of what you’ll find nearby, our review will have you prepared to have a retro family adventure in the rolling hills of Kentucky.
My kids and I had the opportunity to stay here while we were on a road trip with friends from Charleston, South Carolina to Indianapolis, Indiana.
While we are normally scoping out the closest campgrounds on our travels, we just couldn’t resist a stay at this vintage road trip stop!
The Wigwams all lined up. The slightly smaller ones on the left are the 2-person rooms, while the bigger ones on the right are the 4-person rooms.
This post contains affiliates. If you book through the links, I will receive a commission at no charge to you.
Where is the Wigwam Village in Kentucky?
The Wigwam Village No. 2 is located in Cave City, Kentucky, just a few miles off of I-65.
Cave City is roughly halfway between Boiling Green, Kentucky, and Elizabethtown, Kentucky.
The quirky motel is only about 1.5 hours south of Louisville, Kentucky, and about 1.5 hours north of Nashville, making it the perfect weekend getaway from either city.
The Wigwam Village is located just outside of Cave City on North Dixie Highway.
This location puts the motel close enough to restaurants in Cave City, the entrance to Mammoth Cave, and other local attractions without the worry of any noise from interstate traffic.
Wigwam Village Overview
Wigwam Village History
In the late 1930s and 1940s, a small chain of these Wigwam Villages popped up across the United States.
Local Frank Redford built both Wigwam Village No. 1 and 2 in Horse City, Kentucky, and at the present location of Cave City, Kentucky.
Those proved to be so popular that he franchised out the design and name, which led to another 5 Wigwam Villages being built in Louisiana, Florida, Arizona, California, and Alabama.
Of those original 7, only 3 remain: Cave City, Kentucky, Holbrook, Arizona, and Rialto, California.
As a side note, we stopped by the one in Holbrook, Arizona, while we were staying in the nearby Holbrook KOA near Petrified Forest National Park!
If the Wigwam Villages remind you of something—and you’ve got kids—chances are that you’ve seen the Cozy Cone Motel from Cars.
The Cozy Cone was modeled after the Wigwam Village in Holbrook when the animators took a Route 66 road trip!
Read more about the fascinating history of the Wigwam Village at the bottom of the page here.
Check-in
Check-in at the Wigwam Village No. 2 was like nothing we’d experienced before!
My friend and I were driving in from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and our 4 kids were just as eager as we were to get out of the car.
Instead of going to a traditional check-in desk, the owner flagged us down as we entered the property and had us park temporarily near the small blue-grey building to the left of the Wigwam circle.
There, owner Keith Stone introduced himself and gave us an overview of the property and how he came to own it.
At the time of our visit, Stone and his partner Megan Smith were fairly new at the Village, having purchased it about 18 months before.
He was very personable and got the kids asking questions about the property’s history.
It was a great way to start our stay in such a unique and historic location.
The owners try to do this with all of their customers as a way to foster community, a theme that we saw throughout our stay.
Property Layout
Our kids playing in the communal area of the property.
You can’t miss the Wigwam Motel as you drive by on Dixie Highway.
The largest of the wigwams/teepees used to hold a lunch counter and check-in desk. There was also a gas station here until the late 1970s.
At night, the famous neon Wigwam Village sign is lit up, and it is worth walking out to the road from your teepee to see!
The Camping Kiddos in front of our Wigwam
Ultimately, the current owners would like to complete restore all elements of the original property, and the Village is undergoing a multi-year restoration process.
Behind the largest wigwam is a shallow, bowl-shaped grassy area.
During the day, this area is where kids congregate to play on the playground equipment.
At night, the owners start a bonfire in the fire pit, which further encourages people to come out of their individual rooms and chat.
Definitely bring s’mores ingredients to make use of this fire pit!
There’s a small grocery store in Cave City as well as the Dollar General if you’d like to stock up on chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows on the way in.
The half circle of teepees completes the main section of the property. To see a photo of the Wigwam room interior, go to the “Individual Room Review,” below.
NOTE: Behind the property is a small 2-lane road, which had very little traffic on it and didn’t disturb us during our stay.
On the other side of the road and across a field, there’s a train track, which is still used today.
The train only came through a few times during our stay, and it fascinated the kids, who stood on the small ridge between the parking area and that 2-lane road to watch the train.
The train didn’t make enough noise to disturb us while we were in our teepees.
Parking at Wigwam Village
Parking is free with your nightly rate, and each Wigwam is assigned 2 parking spots.
When we visited in late summer, about half of the Wigwams were filled, so parking wasn’t an issue.
If the property is filled, you can find overflow parking next to the road and the largest teepee.
Individual Room Review
The first time I saw one of the Wigwams in person, I thought, “There is no way we’re all going to fit in there.”
Give it a chance, though, as the little teepees are bigger on the inside than they look!
One of the 2 beds in our wigwam along with access to the bathroom
You’ll have to decide if you want to rent a 2 person wigwam or a 4-person wigwam.
I will warn you: don’t try to save a buck and then cram more people than is recommended in the rooms.
There simply isn’t any extra floor space!
The Wigwams are reasonably priced, so go ahead and book 2 if you are traveling with a larger group than will fit in one of the rooms.
My 2 children and I stayed in a 4-person room, while my friend and her 2 children stayed in the 4-person teepee next door.
Our wigwams were the ones in the middle of the half-circle, and in a direct line behind the biggest wigwam by Dixie Highway.
Inside of the 4-person room, you’ll find 2 small windows, 2 double beds, a small desk, and a bathroom with shower, toilet, and sink.
We found it interesting that the new owners are so committed to renovation that they are painstakingly restoring the furniture, much of which has been in use in the wigwams since 1937!
The desk chair in our room, a beautifully rustic rattan chair, had recently been restrapped, and the desk had been repaired and shined.
The beds were comfortable, if a bit soft for my personal preference, but definitely better than many of the hotel mattresses I’ve stayed on over the years.
The shower was small—I’m 5’7” and felt a little cramped in it—but I suppose showers are temporary stops for us all.
All in all, my kids and I were quite comfortable, and I felt safe staying there with them.
What to Do near the Historic Wigwam Village
Cave City isn’t very big, and it might be easy to overlook this area of Kentucky.
Do yourself a favor, and plan to stop for at least a night or two so you can fully explore the areas around the Wigwam Village in addition to the motel itself.
Here were some highlights that my kids and I enjoyed while visiting Cave City.
Dinosaur World
Rawr! My son gets into the spirit of Dinosaur World in Kentucky.
This sprawling park has just enough kitsch to melt the heart of the most seasoned traveler.
Are the dinosaurs super accurate? No.
But is Dinosaur World still fun? Absolutely.
At the time of our visit, we had 2-8 year olds, a 6 year old, and a 4 year old, all of whom LOVED this place.
In fact, my friend’s kids were looking forward to Dinosaur World more than anything else on our 2-week road trip.
We had a blast walking on the dinosaur trail, mining for gems, and exploring the small museum onsite.
The store at the front of the park was another favorite of our kids, and we spent at least half an hour there looking at the books, gems, shirts, and toys for purchase.
Mammoth Cave National Park
The Camping Kiddos in the Rotunda at Mammoth Cave National Park
The can’t miss attraction in this area is definitely Mammoth Cave National Park, which is a few miles across I-65 from Cave City.
Here, you can explore the massive cave system on one of the tours. We think that the Historic Tour is the best Mammoth Cave tour for kids, and should be at the heart of your Mammoth Cave itinerary.
There’s also an excellent interpretive museum in the visitors center, and miles of surface trails.
Stonehenge of Kentucky
One of the most unusual places I’ve ever visited, Stonehenge of Kentucky is well worth the trouble of finding!
Located literally in the creator’s backyard, this miniature Stonehenge sprawls across a manicure lawn.
Walk in and around the stones, sit by the small pond, and marvel at the time and attention required to recreate England’s famous prehistoric site.
This attraction is free, but be respectful as you’re exploring someone’s private property.
A section of Kentucky’s Stonehenge
Eat in Cave City
For such a small town, Cave City has some great restaurants.
Kid-friendly standouts include Cave City Pizza on Broadway Street, Bucky Bee’s BBQ on Mammoth Cave Street, and El Mazatlan Bar and Grill on Gardner Lane.
Cave City Pizza was packed on the night we went, and for good reason. The pies are made to order from a large menu. It was definitely a favorite of the locals!
Bucky Bee’s BBQ serves up pulled pork and brisket with all the sides including mac and cheese, tater tots, and cole slaw.
El Mazatlan Bar and Grill had a huge patio overlooking Cave City with delicious Mexican food. It was also packed while we had dinner!
Final Thoughts on the Historic Wigwam Village
If you find yourself visiting Cave City or Mammoth Cave National Park, or if you want a quick stop off of I-65, Wigwam Village is a fun, nostalgic choice.
When you compare the property to the cookie cutter hotels right off the exit, the Wigwam Village is the far better choice—and one that you’ll be talking about for years to come.
We also appreciated the personal welcome and the fostering of community that the new owners are working so hard on.
Support a local business and get a unique night’s stay when you choose the Historic Wigwam Village in Cave City, Kentucky!
