Saltpeter Cave

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Saltpeter Cave

| nrhp_type =

| image = Carter Caves Saltpeter Cave.JPG

| caption =

| nearest_city= Olive Hill, Kentucky

| coordinates = {{coord|38|22|35|N|83|07|26|W|region:US_type:landmark|name=Saltpeter Cave|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin =

| built =

| architect OR builder =

| architecture =

| added = July 24, 2001

| area = {{convert|2.4|acre|ha}}

| refnum = 01000743{{NRISref|version=2010a}}

}}

Saltpeter Cave, in Carter Caves State Resort Park near Olive Hill, Kentucky. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

It has also been known as Swingle's Cave and as Swindell's Cave. It is a limestone cave with {{convert|3.05|km|mi}} of measured length.

It has served as a saltpeter, or niter, mine, by the early 1800s. It has been believed, by local tradition, that niter mined from the cave was used to make gunpowder for the War of 1812, including supplying for the 1815 Battle of New Orleans.{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=01000743}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: Saltpeter Cave / 15Cr99, Swingle's Cave, Swindell's Cave |publisher=National Park Service|author= Susan Neumever |date=April 1, 2001 |accessdate=March 31, 2018}} With {{NRHP url|id=01000743|photos=y|title=seven photos}}.

The cave entrance is gated by a "limestone block and iron bar structure, resembling a jail cell", which was built in the mid-1900s.

The cave was developed for use by bats.

The cave is unique in that it is a hibernaculum for the endangered Indiana Bat in the winter months.{{cite book |last=Bailey |first=Bill |title=Kentucky State Parks |publisher=Glovebox Guidebooks of America |location=Saginaw, Michigan |year=1995 |isbn=1-881139-13-1 |chapter=Carter Caves State Resort Park}}

It is open for cave tours during the summer, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.