Historic Flood Forces Months-Long Closure of Kentucky’s Last River Ferry
Mammoth Cave National Park’s historic Green River Ferry has suffered major damage after recent flooding hit parts of Kentucky. The ferry won’t be running for several months while repairs take place.
The flooding damaged the ferry’s navigational cables and support towers, according to the National Park Service. The Green River reached nearly 60 feet high during the floods – almost three times its normal level.
Important link
“Our team is assessing the damage at the Green River Ferry to determine if we can simply make repairs to the existing cables and towers or if a full reconstruction of the system is required”, said park Superintendent Barclay Trimble writes Fox Weather. “The ferry is an important link for our visitors, staff, and local communities to cross the Green River, but, unfortunately, the damage we are seeing from the flood is not easily fixed.”
The ferry uses cables and four 20-foot tall towers to operate. These cables are connected to 15.5-ton concrete anchors buried deep in the riverbank. The powerful floodwaters pulled these anchors from their position and moved them 20 feet downhill.
Recent flooding
During normal April conditions, the Green River averages between 15-22 feet with a flow of about 5,000 cubic feet per second. The recent flooding caused the river to crest at 59.54 feet with water flowing at more than 55,000 cubic feet per second.
First built in 1934, the Green River Ferry is the last remaining active river ferry in the park. It typically operates 364 days a year, carrying vehicles, hikers, and bikers across the river.
While the ferry and boat ramp are closed, visitors can still access the Green River Ferry day area. The Green River Ferry Road North remains open, but only for passenger vehicles.
