M A M M O T H   C A V E   N A T I O N A L   P A R K

Central Kentucky

Saturday, November 6, 2004

Park: #10

Established: 1941

Acres: 52,830

Annual Budget: $5,694,000 (FY 2004)

Visitors: 1,888,126 (FY 2004)

Highlights: World's longest recorded cave system (almost 350 miles), 200 animal species found within the cave, huge caverns, underground food court, excellent tour guide, rich and interesting history, World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, an abundance of wildlife above ground.

Location: Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

Hours: Sun-Thu: 8am-6pm (CT), Fri-Sat: 8am-6:30pm (CT)

Phone: 270.758.2180

Park Fees: $4 to $45 for cave tours

Link: Official Website

Top Pics: 21 Images

Rating:

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Making my way northward, soon enough I pass into the park's southern reaches. It's a good 7 miles from park border to the Visitor Center.

I arrive at the Visitor Center parking lot and park the van. I notice many cabins nearby, no doubt filled to capacity with visitors during the park's high season. Today they all look closed, as attested to by their shuttered windows. I bet there's a pretty big waiting list for lodging here in the park. With close to 2 million visitors a year, you just gotta know it must be a zoo here in the summer months. I'm glad to be visiting in the off-season.

The Visitor Center has a rather subdued design. No fancy facades or architecture here. Little could one tell from the building that below waits a wonderful subterranean world.