Tourism at Mammoth Cave National Park generates $69.2 million

MAMMOTH CAVE, Ky. – Mammoth Cave National Park brought a cumulative economic benefit of $69.2 million to the local community.

A new National Park Service report shows the funds came from 516,000 visitors to Mammoth Cave National Park in 2021, who spent $47.9 million in communities near the park that supported over 600 jobs, according to a release by the park.

The report also stated the cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $42.5 billion.

“Mammoth Cave National Park is a major destination for hundreds of thousands of people traveling to Kentucky each and every year,” said Superintendent Barclay Trimble. “Our gateway communities are where these travelers can find a place to sleep and eat and make use of the many other local services and attractions that help drive a vibrant tourism and outdoor recreation industry in southcentral Kentucky. There is no way we could provide a quality and memorable experience to our guests without them.”

Additionally, the lodging sector had the highest direct effects with visitor spending, with $7 billion in economic output nationally. The restaurants sector had the second greatest effects, with $4.2 billion.

Report authors also produced an interactive tool that allows users to explore visitor spending, jobs, labor income, value added and output effects by sector for national, state and local economies at www.nps.gov/subjects. To learn more about Kentucky national parks and how the National Park Service works with communities to help preserve their history, conserve the environment and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/kentucky.