New expansions coming to Kentucky 'treasure' Mammoth Cave National Park

EDMONSON COUNTY, Ky. (WZTV) — Leaders in Washington have introduced new expansions to Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park.

Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) and U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) introduced the “Mammoth Cave National Park Boundary Adjustment Act” in the House and U.S. Senate on Monday, June 6.

"As the world's longest known cave system full of biodiversity and history, Mammoth Cave National Park is not only a treasure to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, but also a treasure to the entire world," said Congressman Guthrie.

The bill will put in place:

• 980 acres of land expansion that includes the Green River watershed.
• Southern boundary expansion specifically includes the coordinates 135/177, 967 in Edmonson and Barren counties.
• Critical habitat land currently owned by The Nature Conservancy will be acquired and maintained by Mammoth Cave National Park.
• Numerous cave passages, including Coach Cave and James Cave that have prehistoric and historic artifacts that the National Park System can conserve and manage.

Tourism to Mammoth Cave National Park created $69.2 million in economic benefits in 2021 and expansion of this land is expected to increase its economic impact on the community.

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