CSX Sells Cave Rights to Support Conservation Efforts and Boost Local Tourism

CSX has sold the rights of the Hidden River Cave to the city of Horse Cave in Kentucky. The purchase of the cave rights will contribute to the economic, scientific, and educational development of the local community through an environmental tourist attraction.

The city received a grant from the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund and worked with CSX, which inherited the cave rights from its predecessor Louisville & Nashville Railroad, to close the deal last November. The sale of nine acres of land will result in the eventual opening of a passage connecting the Hidden River Cave to Sunset Dome – an immense, colorful dome under the cave purchased in 2004.

Before the regional sewage treatment system was put in place in the 1980’s, the cave served as the city’s sewer for decades. Following years of issues concerning pollution and vandalism, CSX blocked access to the cave. In an effort to address the pollution problem, the American Cave Conservation Association (ACCA) cleaned the cave and transformed it into a tourist attraction.

ACCA runs the American Cave Museum and manages Hidden River Cave. The museum features exhibits about geology groundwater, caves, and cave conservation. The association has been actively seeking for ways to attract more tourists. As a next step, the association intends to build recreational activities into the Sunset Dome tour, including rope bridges and underground zip lines.

In addition to its commitment to invest in local communities, the sale represents CSX’s environmental protection efforts. As a home for 21 different species, such as cave-dwelling worms, crayfish, and spiders, the cave is a biodiverse habitat.