Gorge Market Pulse — Mid-August 2026

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The Gorge cabin market moves slowly and quietly — which is exactly why a periodic look at the numbers matters. Here is where the four core markets stand as of this week, and what the figures mean if you are buying, selling, or running a cabin.

The numbers this week

MarketAvg. property pricePrice / sq ftDays on marketEst. occupancyEst. nightly rateActive short-term rentals
Slade$315,500$29337627%$247250
Stanton$326,984$29416026%$214241
Campton$208,841$30329225%$236199
Beattyville$234,262$20315524%$16973

Source: Mashvisor market data for Kentucky, pulled August 13, 2026. Occupancy, nightly-rate, and rental figures are model estimates — useful for direction, never for underwriting a specific property. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Rocky creek running through conifer forest, Red River Gorge country
Creek country below the clifflines — the terrain that drives this market

What stands out

Slade’s days-on-market is the story. An average approaching a year of market time in the heart of cabin country does not mean nothing sells — it means sellers who price to the market separate quickly from sellers who price to memory. For buyers, long market time is negotiating room; our cabin investment guide covers how to use it.

Campton remains the value door into the Gorge. The lowest average price of the four markets, with nightly-rate estimates in the same range as its neighbors. The trade-offs — access, terrain, utilities — are covered in our town profiles.

Beattyville moves faster than the cabin markets. Roughly half the market time of Slade, at the second-lowest entry price — consistent with what we see on the ground: demand for year-round homes and land is steadier than the visitor economy’s seasonality.

Common Questions

Are these numbers good or bad for sellers?

Mixed. Prices per square foot in the cabin markets remain strong, but market times are long — presentation and pricing discipline decide outcomes here far more than in a fast market. A realistic pricing conversation before listing matters more than any renovation.

Is occupancy really only ~25%?

These are model estimates averaged across all active short-term rentals — strong operators in prime locations run far above the average, and underperforming listings drag it down. Treat the number as a market temperature, not a forecast for a specific cabin.

Want the numbers for a specific property or town? Work with Marcos or see the full Gorge Market Snapshot.

By Marcos Gil, REALTOR® — Keller Williams Commonwealth · KY Real Estate License No. 296259 · Call or text (859) 310-1209.

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