In Kentucky, a National Park Lifts Communities and Economy—but Needs Extensive Repairs

Kentucky real estate developer Mike Simpson lives 30 minutes from Mammoth Cave National Park, and the park is like a second home to him. The Bowling Green-based businessman grew up going to the site that now draws a half million visitors a year and has the longest cave system in the world—400 miles—according to the National Park Service. Although there is plenty to be explored below ground, Simpson has spent a lot of time above the cave, camping, hiking, and otherwise enjoying the site. Unfortunately, Mammoth Cave has more than $90 million in overdue repairs—part of $12 billion in deferred maintenance across the National Park System.  Simpson shares why addressing those overdue repairs is important to park guests, Kentuckians, and the nearby gateway business community. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Q: Tell us what Mammoth Cave National Park means to nearby communities.

A: Mammoth Cave is an integral part of the tourism economy in south-central Kentucky. The hotels in Cave City, as well as Bowling Green, benefit from the visitors who come from all over the world to visit our beautiful park and learn about the karst system that lies beneath our area. I’m a member of the Bowling Green/Warren County Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors, and I see firsthand the impact of the park on our economy.

Mike Simpson

Q: What’s your personal connection to the park?

A: I first visited Mammoth Cave when I was 12, on a field trip with my elementary school. So many Kentuckians first become aware of this wonderful park through our schools. In the years since I have continued to visit many times per year and began taking my son there when he was 4 or 5 to hike and camp. He is 25 and lives in Florida now, but we visited Mammoth Cave National Park today as he made his way home for a visit. His love and respect of the outdoors is due, in large part, to the experiences he had as a child at Mammoth Cave.

Also, my son and I each learned about the ecosystem of living organisms that exists within the cave system, most of which never see sunlight. And we learned about the formations of stalagmites and stalactites. Mammoth Cave is extremely rare—it gives people from all around the world an opportunity to see what is, perhaps, the greatest karst system on the planet. 

Q: The park site has approximately $90 million in deferred maintenance. Have you noticed any of these repair needs?   

A: I own a real estate company, and maintenance of physical structures is a daily part of my life. When I visit Mammoth Cave, I see the deferred maintenance needs both in the physical structures and the grounds. I also see the limited access to trails for persons with a physical impairment. And if what I see aboveground is in need of repair, I can only imagine what is needed with the below-grade infrastructure.

Mike Simpson

Q: How important is it that those repairs are made?

A: Addressing the deferred maintenance at the park is critical to the continued success of the area, not just economically, but educationally. Mammoth Cave serves as a field classroom for K-12 as well as our colleges and universities, including Western Kentucky University just 30 minutes away. It’s here where many individuals begin to learn the importance of a well-preserved ecosystem and why good conservation practices are so important to our national interests.

Q: To pay for those repairs, Congress needs to pass legislation to provide that investment. How much would that benefit communities around the park, especially now, when the country needs an economic lift?

A: If Congress could appropriate funds to address the deferred maintenance at our national parks, it would improve access and enjoyment for the millions of visitors who get to enjoy the unspoiled beauty of this great country. I’ve been fortunate to enjoy many of our national parks, and I’d put Mammoth Cave against the others I’ve visited in terms of its raw beauty. It’s somewhat different in that the real treasure lies below the surface. In a time of economic uncertainty, national parks offer all our citizens an affordable venue for recreation, education, and enjoyment of lands largely undisturbed by the progress of man. In my opinion, there is no greater investment our Congress can make in terms of economic and educational impact.

Mike Simpson

Editor's note: This article was updated on June 9, 2020, to change a photograph.