LOCATION

Mammoth Cave National Park is located in south-central Kentucky, approximately 10 miles (16 km) west of Interstate 65 at Park City, 90 miles (145 km) south of Louisville, Kentucky, and 90 miles (145 km) north of Nashville, Tennessee. The park's 52,830 forested acres are underlain by the world's longest cave. Mammoth Cave passageways are currently mapped to a distance of 353 miles (568 km), but exploration is on going and several thousand feet of new passage is mapped on a monthly basis. The Green River roughly divides the park into northern and southern halves, while Nolin River flows north to south near the park's western border. In addition to the numerous sinkholes found throughout the park's karst topography, steep ridges, deep valleys, sinking streams, and springs characterize the terrain. Over 70 miles (113 km) of trails provide access to the more scenic areas on the surface, while the cave is accessible by way of several different ranger-led tours. The park is open year round; the Visitor Center is closed only on Christmas Day.

The park's vegetation includes at least 100 species of trees, over 28 shrubs and vines, 29 ferns, and 209 wildflowers. Commonly observed mammals include whitetail deer, raccoon, opossum, grey squirrel, rabbit, and groundhog. There are approximately 203 species of birds including wild turkey, 18 species of reptiles including the timber rattlesnake and copperhead, which are poisonous, and 15 amphibian species. Cave life includes bats, crickets, spiders, salamanders, and cave dwelling fish, crayfish, and shrimp.

The workshops will be based at the Cave Research Foundation's Hamilton Valley Research Station. This facility is a combined research station, residential facility, and conference center on the edge of Mammoth Cave National Park. The facility is at the head of beautiful karst valley. It has 2 miles of wooded hiking trails.

The facility has a large classroom/common area, a kitchen, men and women's restroom/showers, and two bunkhouses.

The Hamilton Valley facility is located on the eastern edge of Mammoth Cave National Park in central Kentucky. The distance from important nearby places is shown in Table 1.

Hamilton Valley Research Station vital information

Phone Number: 270-773-8955

GPS Location (NAD84)
UTM - Zone 16S 0585064 Easting 4115429 Northing
Lat/Long - N 377° 10.886_ W86° 2.502_

LODGING

Participants have two basic choices for lodging during the workshops.

Cave Research Foundation Hamilton Valley Center

The facility has two bunkhouses each with five bunkrooms. Each bunkroom has separately controlled heat/air conditioning units. Bunks will cost participants $12 / night.

The lodging facilities at Hamilton Valley are quite spartan. Each bunk room contains two sets of twin-sized bunk beds (for a total of four beds). However, given the likelihood that some people will stay in hotels, most, if not all rooms will only have one or two people using them. The bunks have a mattress, but each person would need to bring theirhis/her own bed roll or bedding. In addition, each person would want to bring their his/herown clock, and a small light to use for reading (the bunk rooms have single overhead lights). The bunkrooms have shelves for storage. The bunk houses are designed mostly as places for sleeping and, as such, do not contain desks or comfortable chairs. It is anticipated that participants staying in the bunk houses would spend their free time in the common area, which contains a sofa, several armchairs, tables and chairs, or on the main building's covered porch, which overlooks the beautiful Hamilton Valley.

Bathrooms and shower facilities are in the main building rather than in the individual bunkhouses.

More info on the Hamilton Valley facility can be found at http://www.cave-research.org/hamval/hvuse.html.

Cave City Quality Inn

Another option for lodging is hotel. We are reserving a block of rooms at the Quality Inn at Cave City, Kentucky. We have negotiated a special rate for the rooms ($50 / night) for both single and double occupancy rooms. Most, if not all, of the rooms will have a small refrigerator, microwave, and small desk. We will facilitate matching participants to share rooms at the Quality Inn. The Quality Inn provides a continental breakfast and is within easy walking distance to a variety of restaurants (mostly chains). More information on the Quality Inn can be found at http://www.choicehotels.com/ires/en-US/html/HotelInfo?hotel=KY124.

We will provide van service from the Quality Inn to and from Hamilton Valley for the workshop. The shuttle from the Quality Inn at Cave City will be available for anyone staying in Cave City. People staying other places will need top have transportation or arrange to share transportation.

FOOD

Several options are available for food. The Hamilton Valley Facility has a full kitchen; it will be available for people whop would like to prepare their own food (the nearest grocery is in Cave City). There are restaurants in several of the nearby towns (including Cave City, Park City, Horse Cave, and Bowling Green) and at the Mammoth Cave National Park Hotel at the Visitor's Center.

We will also offer a meal plan for people who would like one. The details will depend on the number of people who would like to participate.

ALCOHOL

The Mammoth Cave Area is dry. That means no alcohol sales (including beer and wine), either in restaurants or carry-out. However, alcohol may be consumed at the hotels and at the Hamilton Valley facility. The town of Cave City recently voted to allow limited alcohol sales in restaurants; however, no restaurants have begun selling drinks, yet. The nearest stores that sell alcohol are in Bowling Green (south) and Elizabethtown (north).