Paul Discusses Tourism and Politics at Mammoth Cave

By Cherie Vaughan

Freelance Reporter

 

U.S. Senator Rand Paul traveled around Kentucky promoting tourism on July 22. Before his stop in Mammoth Cave National Park, he also visited Rough River State Park Lodge and Meade County Fairgrounds in Brandenburg.

Mammoth Cave Park Superintendent Barclay Trimble led a tour of the newly renovated facilities while highlighting tourism in Barren County.

Paul was asked what he thinks is one of the greatest assets when it comes to tourism.

“When it comes to Mammoth Cave, its reputation is truly mammoth, so people know about Mammoth Cave and come from all over to experience it,” Paul said. “Mammoth Cave is a draw. It helps to have good management and the new upgrades.”

“We need to do more in places like Eastern Kentucky, it’s just as beautiful there, but we need to get more people to go there by creating bed and breakfasts, inns, and businesses for people to stay. Here it’s just a matter of managing how many people come through here,” Paul said.

Barclay said Mammoth Cave’s social media team is doing a good job of using that platform and other forms of Internet access as the common method of getting the word out to engage more people. He also said the park hopes to bring in more business in the winter months by adding heat in the cabins to make it comfortable for people to stay year-round.

The Mammoth Cave Hotel Roof Replacement Project was completed in March. The project was funded by the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund, which also fixed some major structural issues with the park’s main hotel building. Most recently, 21 cabins were renovated, and more cabins are being built. The next project is to move the parking lot on the south side of the lodge to create a green space looking out the windows.

Paul was asked to comment on President Joe Biden dropping out after the first debate and the possibility of Governor Andy Beshear as a running mate for Biden’s Vice President, Kamala Harris.

“I don’t think his dropping out was planned in any way, but his performance in the debate was so bad. It depends on the source of news you watch,” Paul said. “Some say he’s been debilitated for a long time; others say this just didn’t spring up at the debate.”

“I don’t think they felt they had a choice; they will just move forward with a nominee…I don’t have a say in choosing Andy Beshear, but he could be considered.”

When asked his thoughts on President Donald Trump’s pick of J.D. Vance for Vice President, he said he likes him a lot and considers him a friend.

“On the issue of sending bad money after good to Ukraine, we are both part of a small group that say it doesn’t make economic sense to borrow money from China to send to Ukraine,” Paul added.

For more information on Mammoth Cave National Park, visit https://www.nps.gov/maca/.