Mammoth Cave National Park Annex Could be Good Business for Edmonson County

 

 

Lynn Bledsoe

Managing Editor

 

In reply to many questions about the recently proposed annex to Mammoth Cave National Park, The Edmonson News sat down with Edmonson Judge Executive Scott Lindsey to discuss the annexing of land in Edmonson County. Judge Lindsey was very forthcoming in his remarks about the subject.

The 551.14 acres that Mammoth Cave is proposed to annex are currently owned by The Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy purchased the land in 2017. The Nature Conservancy is a 501-c non-profit.  This means that the county does not receive any property tax money from The Nature Conservancy. Once Mammoth Cave annexes the land, Edmonson County still will not receive any tax money, but it may help fuel an increase in the payments in lieu of taxes that the county does receive. Currently, Edmonson County receives $148,000 a year. Mammoth Cave is made up of over 53,000 acres, 46,000 acres are located inside Edmonson County, which is 23% of the area of Edmonson County.

Judge Lindsey has known about the proposed annex for about a year and a half. His understanding is that the land in question will be donated. Judge Lindsey said he wrote a letter of support for the annex when he was approached by Congressman Brett Guthrie’s office. Judge Lindsey stated that Mammoth Cave National Park is an excellent community partner, and he is for the decision to annex the land proposed for many different reasons but mainly he sees it as a benefit to the community.

With Mammoth Cave being next door, it provides Edmonson County with many benefits. Many short-term or BnB rentals have popped up in the county, which bring visitors here. Visitors shop and eat and explore the surrounding areas of Mammoth Cave. If Edmonson County continues to use their proximity to Mammoth Cave and build on it then it could become one of the best comeback stories ever.