Camp Wildcat Battlefield
Camp Wildcat is the undeveloped, remote site of the first engagement of regular troops in Kentucky during the Civil War, reached only by a single lane gravel road off Hazel Patch Road. There's parking on site and a vault toilet that meets accessibility standards, but potable water isn't available, so bring your own. Each October the Laurel Home Guards reenact the Battle of Camp Wildcat here, with cannon fire, charging horses and bayonet charges as Tennessee Confederates attack the Union camp.
Before you go
- Indoor or outdoor
- Outdoor: an undeveloped, remote battlefield site
- Official site
- fs.usda.gov
- Next festival here
- Battle of Camp Wildcat Reenactment, Expected October 2026
Worth knowing before you go
- The access road is gravel and may not suit low-clearance vehicles.
- There's no potable water at the site, so bring your own.
- The vault toilet meets accessibility standards for persons with disabilities.
- The Forest Service office is reachable by phone weekdays, 8am to 4:30pm.
Festivals here
Venue basics: Remote, undeveloped battlefield site · Reached by single-lane gravel road · Parking available on site.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You want a remote, undeveloped Civil War battlefield rather than a built-up venue.
- You're comfortable driving a gravel road and bringing your own water.
- You want to see a loud, physical reenactment with cannon fire and cavalry.
Think twice if
- You're driving a low-clearance vehicle; the gravel access road may not suit it.
- You need confirmed camping details first; the venue hasn't published them yet.
Getting there and parking
Take Exit 49 off I-75 (the Livingston exit), turn east 0.6 miles on 909, then south onto US 25 for 0.7 miles, turn left onto Hazel Patch Road, then left again at the sign for Camp Wildcat. The gravel county road may not be passable by low-clearance vehicles.
Parking is available at the site.
The Forest Service office for the site can be reached by phone Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm, and is open to visitors Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm. It's closed on federal holidays.
Accessibility
There is a vault toilet at the site that meets accessibility standards for persons with disabilities.
Confirm your specific needs with the venue before you travel (fs.usda.gov).
Camping
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at Camp Wildcat. The venue's own pages are the place to check: fs.usda.gov.
Food, water and what you can bring
Potable water is not available at Camp Wildcat, so bring your own.
Sound and sensory
Festival-specific · Battle of Camp WildcatThe reenactment includes cannon fire, charging horses and bayonet charges as Tennessee Confederates attack the Union base camp known as Camp Wildcat.
Recently at Camp Wildcat
Battle of Camp Wildcat Reenactment
Quick answers
How do I get to Camp Wildcat?
Take Exit 49 off I-75 (the Livingston exit), then east 0.6 miles on 909, south onto US 25 for 0.7 miles, left onto Hazel Patch Road, and left again at the sign. The gravel county road may not suit low-clearance vehicles.
Is there parking at Camp Wildcat?
Yes. Parking is available at the site.
Is Camp Wildcat wheelchair accessible?
Partly. There's a vault toilet that meets accessibility standards for persons with disabilities, though the site itself is undeveloped and remote.
Is there drinking water at Camp Wildcat?
No. Potable water is not available at the site, so bring your own.
What happens at the Battle of Camp Wildcat reenactment?
Cannon fire, charging horses and bayonet charges, as Tennessee Confederates attack the Union base camp known as Camp Wildcat.
When is the Battle of Camp Wildcat held?
The third weekend of October each year; the 2026 event runs October 16 to 18.
What are the office hours for Camp Wildcat?
The Forest Service office can be reached by phone Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm, and is open to visitors Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm. It's closed on federal holidays.
Can I camp at Camp Wildcat?
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at Camp Wildcat. The venue's own pages at fs.usda.gov are the place to check.
A little history
Camp Wildcat is the site of the first engagement of regular troops in Kentucky during the Civil War. The site is undeveloped and remote, reached only by a single-lane gravel road.
The Battle of Camp Wildcat is an annual Civil War reenactment held the third weekend of October, this year October 16 to 18, 2026, at the base of Wildcat Mountain in Hazel Patch, Kentucky, run by the Laurel Home Guards, a volunteer nonprofit for historical education.