Vandals cause thousands in damage to church at Mammoth Cave National Park

MAMMOTH CAVE, Ky. – Officials at Mammoth Cave National Park are investigating an act of vandalism at the historic church that sits on the park’s property.

According to officials, someone used orange spray paint on the Mammoth Cave Baptist Church’s exterior and interior walls, along with windows and benches.

“Any sort of markings that you do, especially in this way, is just sad for the park and for really the communities around. These are our last connection so that we have as far as buildings to the communities that lived here before. Before the national park many, many families and communities lived within these boundaries and they gathered here, they worshiped here, this is kind of the center of their world back in the day, and so defacing that is very sad for us,” said Molly Shroer, Mammoth Cave National Park Public Information Officer.

Damaging federally protected property is a federal crime.

The park estimates the repairs to the church will cost between $10,000 to $15,000.

“We will have to make sure that we do what we can to not damage the under-structure and the wood while removing the paint or painting over it. It’s just, a lot more care has to go into it because it is historic,” said Shroer.

This comes less than a year after vandals damaged the floor of the historic Joppa Church in park property.

Anyone with information on the crime is asked to contact the park at (270) 758-2115.