Cave closed for 40 years to reopen

MAMMOTH CAVE, Ky. – A 10-person AmeriCorps NCCC crew began work Monday at Mammoth Cave National Park to help reopen a cave that hasn’t been toured by visitors in more than 40 years.

The crew from Iowa is clearing, weeding and flattening the surface trail leading to Wondering Woods Cave.

The road leading to the trail will also be re-done as well as the stairs and walkway inside of the cave.

“We get to come in and open a cave, so for me, it’s kind of a legacy project,” said Troy Bradshaw, Mammoth Cave National Park Trail Coordinator.

The AmeriCorps crew is made up of 18 to 24-year-old volunteers who do 10-month-long community service projects for national parks, state parks and Habitat for Humanity.

“I think it’s really cool that we get to preserve the cave, like, the interior of it,” said Tatiana Cordova-Glaze, AmeriCorps volunteer.

The Mammoth Cave trail coordinator said none of this would be possible without the help of volunteers.

The cave is different than Mammoth Cave as its size is much smaller but is full of different formations.

Mammoth Cave is a dry cave as well, while Wondering Woods Cave is a wet cave.

The cave is set to open by this time next year.