Green River Ferry at Mammoth Cave National Park to Be Idled For Inspection, Maintenance

Routine maintenance will idle the Green River Ferry for four-six weeks beginning in mid-October. Photo by QT Luong, www.terragalleria.com/parks

Routine maintenance will take the Green River Ferry at Mammoth Cave National Park out of service for four-six weeks later this fall.

Every five years the ferry is idled so crews can sandblast and repaint its hull and so U.S. Coast Guard inspectors can go over the craft. This year the ferry is scheduled to be taken out of commission on October 18 and be idled until late November or early December, according to park Superintendent Patrick Reed.

The ferry will operate for two hours (6:00-8:00 a.m.) on the morning of October 18, but then will not run again until the repairs and inspection are complete. The ferryboat will be moved to the adjacent parking lot on the south side of the river. About half of the parking spaces will be closed to make room for the ferry and workmen.

“This is the schedule we have planned, but it is also dependent on the level of the river,” said Superintendent Reed. “The moving operation requires that the river be at about ten feet. A long trailer is backed into the water and under the ferry as it floats on the river.”

While Green River Ferry is out of service, the hours of Houchin Ferry will be extended: 6:00 a.m. to 9:55 p.m. Please call 270-758-2166 for current information on ferry operations.