Louisville Mega Cavern

Useful Information

Location:	I 264 Henry Watterson Expy exit Poplar Level Rd 864 north. After 350 m turn right into Taylor Ave, follow road to the end.
Open:	JAN to MAR daily 9-16, tours two-hourly on the even hour, last tour 16. APR to MAY daily 9-16, tours hourly on the hour, last tour 16. Memorial Day to Labor Day daily 9-17, tours hourly on the hour, last tour 17. May be closed for single days because of special events, call for details. [2010]
Fee:	Adults USD 13.50, Children (3-11) USD 8, Children (0-2) free, Seniors (60+) USD 12, Military USD 12. Groups (20+): Adults USD 10, Children (3-11) USD 6. [2010]
Classification:	Limestone Mine
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	L=20,000 m, T=14 °C.
Guided tours:	D=70 min.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Louisville Mega Cavern, 1841 Taylor Avenue, Louisville KY 40213, Free: +1-877-614-6342, Tel: +1-502-855-6342
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1930's	quarry opened.
1962	defense shelter during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
1970's	quarry closed.
APR-2009	opened to the public.

Geology

Description

Louisville Mega Cavern is a former limestone mine with an enormous size, hence the name. It is advertised to be the largest building in the state of Kentucky. Actually it is not a building, as it is simply an underground limestone quarry. But it was equipped as an air raid shelter during the Cuban Missile Crisis and is actually the largest Civil Defense shelter in the U.S.A. It had provisions for 50,000 people to live underground for an extended period of time.

Mega Cavern is visited on a sort of train or tram, which is pulled by a SUV. There is no walking underground. The main stops on this tour are the earliest parts of the quarry and explanations on the begin of limestone quarrying and a historic replica of the so-called Cuban Missile Fallout Bunker. A part of the huge cavern is used for recycling using worms, which is also explained on the tour.

There are also special educational tour offers for groups concentrating on history, geology, mining, recycling, or green building technology. Although this is not a natural cave, one topic is caves, karst, cave life, and hydrogeology. This tours are available throughout the year and it is possible to book tours for the desired topic.