Enter the subterranean world of the Louisville Mega Cavern deep below the surface of Louisville. Encompassing 17 miles (27 kilometers) of roads in its 100 acres (40 hectares), this area is so large that it has its own building code. Not only is it a place to tour and enjoy activities, it also has commercial buildings.
The cavern began in the 1930s to provide crushed rock for highway construction projects across Midwestern states and continued operation until the 1970s. In the late 1980s it became a commercial storage facility, followed in the 1990s with development that continues today and includes its own road system. Be in awe that the cavern is classified as a building, the largest one in Kentucky, and sprawls 100 feet (30 meters) deep under 10 lanes of a major highway and most of the Louisville Zoo.
Tour this privately owned cavern with its extensive lighting system on a guided motorized tour that lasts over 1 hour. Learn about the cavern and its many fascinating green features, including a worm recycling and tasting room. Alternatively take an electric bike tour that travels into the cavern’s inner recesses or spend time at one of the world’s largest indoor bike parks, fully underground.
The cavern has zip-line tours that provide an excellent adventure activity. Test your skills on six zip lines including a dual racing zip and two challenge bridges. Climb the cavern on aerial ropes in the Mega Quest, a rare fully underground course. Be aware that some attractions have age, height and weight restrictions.
Bring a jacket. The cavern basically has two seasons of humid in the summer and dry in the winter and a relatively constant temperature of 58 F (14 C), which is also Louisville’s average annual temperature. Sometimes a fog develops but it is quickly dispersed using large fans.
Find the cavern on Taylor Avenue near the Louisville Zoo through entrances from the city above. Reserve your place online as tours and attractions can sell out. Spending time at Louisville Mega Cavern could unsurprisingly be the most fun you’ve had underground.
