Cave Hill Cemetery & Arboretum — Local services in Louisville

Cave Hill Cemetery is about as beautiful and serene as a cemetery can be. While our sons were in town for Father's Day weekend we decided to visit Cave Hill (we're those people who love to visit cemeteries) to visit some of the luminaries that are resting there, and to take in the beauty of such a storied cemetery.

Driving in the main entrance you first travel down a long, tree-lined street. For those that have never visited before (like us) there is a kiosk with some informative pamphlets and a map. We knew who we wanted to visit, so the map helped us find our way.

Cave Hill is a sprawling cemetery with criss-crossing roads and amazing scenery. The roads wind up hills and down valleys, all while paying silent respect and dignity to departed who rest here.

Our first destination was to Muhammad Ali, his a very dignified, stately memorial. And surprisingly understated. Freshly planted flowers accompany the walkway up to his resting place.

Our second destination was, of course, Colonel Harlan Sanders, and his grave site was pretty much as I expected. A bit of grandeur and nicely maintained.

The Cemetery makes it easy to find these two locations simply by following the green (Ali) or yellow (Sanders) lines on the pavement. Otherwise just driving or walking around this cemetery is a beautiful experience. The varieties of the grave markers is amazing, ranging from a simple granite slab on the ground to grandiose sculptures and intricate headstones, all which reflect and pay respect to those resting there.

My wife and I plan to return again, given more time, to take in the quiet beauty of this magnificent...

See update at bottom for why my score is good. I was so excited to take my two senior dogs to Cave Hill for the Cave Hill Dog Walk this past Saturday. Every ticket was supposed to be for a guided leisurely walk, pup treats, water provided for the dogs, and every dog was supposed to receive a bandana.

No water in the dog bowls, my dogs did not get bandanas or treats, and our guide, Sarah (who works there), not only left myself and my dogs behind (my dogs are 13, we were walking as fast as we could), but totally ignored us too…did not speak one word to me at all. Eventually, we turned around and left. I do not attend events to be singled out by some hateful, rude, staff member. Anyone cruel for no reason does not need to be caring for the loved ones of others.

No thank you!

Update: I have been contacted by the staff at Cave Hill cemetery and informed that the situation has been addressed. They were kind enough to send me a nice letter, the bandanas my dogs were supposed to receive and an extra token of kindness, in addition. I greatly appreciate the gesture and do not want to rate this place badly based on one person‘s actions. I will be giving Cave Hill another chance. It is a stunning place and I look forward to my next visit.

Unfortunately, I won’t be bringing my dogs to the dog walk again because they are older and I don’t want to chance another bad experience with the dog walk. That one person did make me feel like others might be impatient with elderly dogs, which breaks my heart. Always be nice to people and their pets! Especially regarding...

Cave Hill Cemetery is a 296-acre Victorian era National Cemetery and arboretum located at 701 Baxter Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky. There is a main entrance on Baxter Avenue and a secondary entrance on Grinstead Drive (two other entrances have been closed). It opens daily at 8 a.m. and closes daily at 4:45 p.m. (when you are well advised to be off the property because it will be locked up). It is Louisville's largest cemetery and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Cave Hill National Cemetery, containing military graves, is also on the National Register, added in 1998. American Revolutionary War military officer and founder of Louisville George Rogers Clark is buried here, along with sisters Patty Hill and Mildred J. Hill who composed the "Happy Birthday to You" song, boxing champion Muhammad Ali who was born in Louisville, and Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Both union and confederate soldiers are buried there, which is not common. The cemetery is very large, is very well kept, and is full of interesting and beautiful grave markers, tombs, and monuments, making it a beautiful and peaceful place to spend an afternoon. The cemetery is currently listed as a level two arboretum accreditation but is in the process of becoming a level three and, once that is achieved, it would be one of only five cemeteries in the world to have that accreditation status. There is...