Mammoth Cave National Park Set to Expand by 551 Acres: What it Means for Kentucky Landowners and Park Visitors

The Mammoth Cave National Park Boundary Adjustment Act of 2025 is short and sweet, but it packs a punch for land management in Kentucky. Essentially, this bill gives the Secretary of the Interior the green light to acquire about 551.14 acres of new land and officially fold it into the Mammoth Cave National Park boundary. This isn't just a vague idea; the bill points to a specific map—"Mammoth Cave National Park Proposed Southern Boundary Expansion Edmonson and Barren Counties, Kentucky" (Map 135177,967, dated May 2025)—that clearly marks the exact parcels they are targeting for this expansion.

The Park Gets Bigger: More Room to Roam

For anyone who loves national parks, this is good news. Expanding the boundary by over 550 acres means more protected land, which is a win for conservation and potentially for future public access. The National Park Service (NPS) will now have the legal authority to manage this new territory, likely integrating it into their existing conservation and visitor plans. This expansion, located in Edmonson and Barren Counties, helps solidify the park's perimeter and ensures better resource protection, especially concerning the complex cave system that defines the area.

The Real-World Impact for Landowners

This is where the rubber meets the road for local residents. The bill grants the Secretary the authority to buy this land. For current private landowners within that 551.14-acre footprint, this means the federal government is coming to the table as a buyer. While the bill implies purchase authority, not eminent domain, the acquisition process itself can be complicated. If you own property in the affected area, you’ll need to understand the appraisal process and what a fair offer looks like. If you’re an unwilling seller, the shift of this land from private to federal ownership could be a major life change, even if the NPS is offering fair market value.

The Local Tax Base Question

Another practical consideration is the effect on local government budgets. When the federal government acquires private land for a national park, that land is typically removed from the local tax rolls. For small counties like Edmonson and Barren, losing 551 acres of taxable property could mean a minor, but noticeable, hit to the property tax base that funds schools, roads, and local services. While the federal government often provides payments in lieu of taxes (PILT) for federal lands, those payments don't always fully replace the lost property tax revenue. Local officials will need to track how this acquisition impacts their finances and whether the increased tourism or PILT funds offset any losses.