Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo

About Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo

Kentucky Down Under is an Australian-themed animal park and cave attraction at 3700 L and N Turnpike Road in Horse Cave, Kentucky. The park's website places it off Exit 58 on Interstate 65. Its about page says the park occupies 75 acres and is built around exhibits and programs depicting life in the "Land Down Under," combined with guided tours of Mammoth Onyx Cave. The about page says the cave was at one point renamed Kentucky Caverns; the park's current cave page uses the name Mammoth Onyx Cave.

The zoo is not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

History

According to the park's about page, Bill and Judy Austin opened Kentucky Down Under to the public in 1990. The two met in New Zealand in the late 1960s. Judy, a native of Australia, was working there as a physical therapist, and Bill, an engineer with the National Science Foundation, was preparing for an expedition to Antarctica. They married, lived briefly in Washington, D.C., and then returned to Bill's hometown of Horse Cave.

Bill became manager of Mammoth Onyx Cave, which his grandfather had purchased in the 1920s. The about page says peafowl and other small animals had been added over the years for visitors to see on the surface between cave tours. Seeing how much guests liked the animals, the couple added a herd of American bison in the 1970s and then, in 1990, the Australian animals. Judy is quoted on the page saying she grew up on an outback sheep station and had kangaroos as pets, so a business focused on Australian animals "seemed like a natural." Wikipedia's entry on the park gives the same account of the cave, the bison and the 1990 change of focus, and says the park's name changed when the Australian animals were added.

The about page notes that the Austins own additional acreage around the park, so room exists for future expansion.

Exhibits and habitats

The park's navigation and about page describe several themed areas.

The Outback is an open field where visitors walk among kangaroos, emus and other wildlife. The about page describes a Discovery Area as offering more hands-on experiences. The park's home page says visitors can pet kangaroos.

Land of Lorries is a walk-through aviary where lorikeets fly freely. The page says the birds land on visitors' hands, shoulders and even heads, and that cups of lorikeet nectar can be bought for an added charge. The about page also mentions an Exotic Bird Garden with many species of parrots and other Australian birds.

The Petting Zoo includes goats, horses and sheep, and the park sells animal feed separately. At Camp Corroboree, according to the about page, Australia's Aboriginal culture is introduced through live demonstrations of instruments and tools, along with stories. The Woolshed program explains the continent's European settlement and pastoral beginnings and includes a sheep-herding demonstration with working dogs.

The park's Meet Our Animals page names several other residents. Two dingoes are named Mary Kate and Ashley, and three servals are named Bongo, Kiara and Loki. The page also features ring-tailed lemurs, llamas, lynx, alligators and wolves. The animal shows page says the Woolshed program uses four herding dogs working a flock of sheep.

Conservation and programs

Animal shows run throughout the day, according to the park's animal shows page. Each presentation introduces several animal ambassadors, with handlers discussing where the animals come from, what they eat, how they live in the wild and their care and conservation. The page says each show features three to four animals and that, because the lineup can change, no two shows are exactly alike. Shows are included with admission.

Mammoth Onyx Cave tours are guided. The park describes the cave as active, with stalactites, stalagmites and other dripstone formations, a constant temperature of 58 degrees, and a tour that includes 144 stairs. It calls the tour one of the easiest cave tours in the area. Admission to the cave is included with park admission.

Gem mining is offered as a separate activity, and the park's site has a section for group visits and field trips.

Planning your visit

As listed on the park's website, Kentucky Down Under is open seven days a week, 363 days a year, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central Time. It is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. According to the park's FAQ, all admission tickets are purchased on arrival. Admission covers the Outback, the Land of Lorries, Mammoth Onyx Cave tours, the Petting Zoo, the animal shows and the Woolshed program. Animal feed, gem mining and golf cart rentals are charged separately, and current prices are on the park's website.

The park's FAQ suggests planning about 3 to 5 hours and recommends comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes, especially for the cave tour. Guests may bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages, and an on-site cafe is also available. Well-behaved pets are welcome on a leash. Golf carts in four-seat and six-seat sizes can be rented; the park's home page says the driver must be 18 or older with a valid license and that rentals require 24 hours' advance reservation, while the FAQ recommends advance reservation. The park's phone number is listed as (270) 786-1010.