Mammoth Cave National Park

Introduction

Mammoth Cave National Park is a United States National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kentucky's Caves and Lakes region. It preserves the world's longest known cave system, with over 392 miles of caves. The park was established in 1941 and currently draws nearly two million visitors annually.

Geography

The cave itself is approximately fifteen million years old. Humans have been visiting the cave for approximately four thousand years, although it was only discovered by Europeans in 1797. Through 1816 the cave was mined for nitrates, used in gunpowder, but after the war of 1812 ended it was sold and cave tours became popular. With nearly two hundred years as a tourist attraction Mammoth Cave is one of North America's oldest tourist destinations.

Mammoth Cave National Park is home to over 70 threatened, endangered or state listed species. More than 130 species are regular inhabitants of the caves. These species are divided almost equally among three classes of cave life: obligate cave dwellers known as troglobites, facultative species which can complete their life cycle in or out of caves (troglophiles), and those that use caves for refuge (trogloxenes). The Park has cave species and biotic cave communities that are among the most diverse in the world. Because of its diverse array of landscapes and habitats, the Park contains an extraordinary 1,300 species of plants.

Cost

There are no fees to enter the park. Guided cave tours, however, range in price from $5 to $48.

Getting There

By Car

Most visitors access the park from two roadways which have interchanges with Interstate 65, one near Park City, Kentucky (KY 255) and the other near Cave City (KY 70). KY 70 also enters the park from the west side of the park, near Brownsville. No entrance fee is charged.

By Bus

No public transportation is available. The nearest commercial airports are in Louisville and Nashville.
Cave tours depart from the park visitor center in buses.

Eat

A restaurant is located at the Mammoth Cave Hotel. This is the only public food service within the park proper.

Outside of the park, fast-food restaurants are found in Cave City (McDonald's, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Long John Silver's, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen), as well as Cracker Barrel and Jerry's family-style restaurants, and three independent restaurants. More dining options are found ten miles east of Cave City in Glasgow, or south in Bowling Green.

In addition, there are a few independent restaurants, along with Godfather's Pizza, Dairy Queen, and Subway available in Brownsville, Kentucky, just west of the park along Kentucky State routes 70 and 259.

Drink

Barren and Edmonson counties are "dry," though residents of Cave City voted in November 2005 to allow liquor by the drink in restaurants only. The nearest full liquor service and sales are in Bowling Green.

Sleep

Motel and camping facilities are available within the park itself. National chain motels can be found in nearby Cave City and Park City. There are cabins available as well as bed and breakfasts located minutes from the park.

Mammoth Cave National Park has several camping options. The Headquarters Campground, adjacent to the visitor center, has 109 spaces suitable for all types of RV's. No hookups are provided; a shower/toilet house is available. $16/night ($8 with Golden Age/Golden Access pass), maximum stay 14 days. Houchins Ferry Campground is a primitive 12-site campground, not suitable for RV's or trailers and accessible only by ferry. $12/night ($6 with Golden Age/Golden Access pass). Maple Springs Group Campground is located six miles from the visitor center, and features seven sites for up to 24 campers each; four sites have horse facilities. $25/night.

External Links

• Official Website