Expansion of Mammoth Cave Would Increase National Park by 980 Acres
Kentucky’s prized possession, Mammoth Cave National Park, could be getting even bigger! U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell and Congressman Brett Guthrie have presented a bill to extend the park’s boundary. If passed, the Secretary of the Interior will acquire an additional 980 acres of land beyond the park’s southern boundary in Edmonson and Barren counties. The goal is to help protect wildlife, preserve cultural heritage, and of course, attract more tourism! In McConnell’s words, “the park also plays a crucial role in the region’s economic growth, supporting good jobs for the people of Kentucky.” Let’s dive into what a Mammoth Cave National Park expansion would mean!
“Mammoth Cave National Park Boundary Adjustment Act”
The bill was initially introduced in 2021-2022 but didn’t move out of committee, so Guthrie and McConnell are bringing it back as a priority for 2023. Both leaders hope that this bill will gain approval from Congress and help protect the natural beauty and heritage of one of the world’s longest cave systems. The bill didn’t pass last year but this year is bringing new hope. The adjusted bill, titled the “Mammoth Cave National Park Boundary Adjustment Act,” will allow Mammoth Cave National Park to acquire “critical habitat land” from The Nature Conservancy, where national park specialists can maintain the land.
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How would this impact Kentucky communities?
These proposed additions to the park would give the National Park Service even more land to conserve and manage, while also helping to boost tourism and economic growth in Kentucky’s Second District, where the park is located. This would directly impact the gateway to Kentucky’s only national park system, Cave City, KY.
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And let’s not forget the potential positive impact on adjacent local communities, who depend on the park for sustaining good jobs. Mammoth Cave National Park already adds millions of dollars in economic benefits to the area, but a much larger park could mean even more revenue for the entire region. From conservationists to tourists to job seekers, this proposed expansion at Mammoth Cave has people excited to see what’s next for one of Kentucky’s best-loved landmarks.
As the longest recorded cave system in the world, Mammoth Cave draws crowds from all over, generating $69.2 million in 2021 alone. With the proposed expansion, the economic impact on the community is only expected to grow.
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Where is the expansion located?
This expansion includes the Green River watershed and significant cave passages, such as Coach and James Caves, which contain prehistoric and historic artifacts. Prehistoric and historical artifacts are tucked inside these caves, adding more excitement and history for conservationists and tourists to share and discover.
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As Congressman Guthrie put it, “Mammoth Cave National Park is not only a treasure to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, but also a treasure to the entire world.”
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QUICK FACTS:
• Southern boundary of 980 acres of land expansion was established with coordinates 135/177, 967 in Edmonson and Barren counties.
• Critical habitat currently owned by The Nature Conservancy will be acquired and managed by Mammoth Cave National Park.
• James Cave and Coach Cave were included, containing prehistoric and historic artifacts that the National Park System can conserve and manage.
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The bill keeps hitting some bumps in the road, but McConnell and Guthrie aren’t giving up. They say the park plays a crucial role in driving tourism to our state and supporting good jobs for Kentuckians. And who can argue with that? We can’t wait to see what happens – fingers crossed for more cave passages and historic artifacts to explore! The expansion would protect wildlife, preserve cultural heritage, and – let’s face it – bring more tourism to this amazing place.
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