Your life is full of adventure. You’ve had exciting experiences. But have you experienced underground adventure? The thrilling Louisville Mega Cavern is less than two hours from Indianapolis with out-of-this-world underground adventures. Take the Louisville Mega Cavern Zipline Tour and fly down six underground ziplines. Step onto the world’s ONLY underground aerial ropes challenge course. Ride the Mega Tram for a historic tour of the underground cavern. Or just walk around in awe of the breathtaking cavern – one of the largest in the country! It can all be done in one day! Or you can make a road trip out of it and visit other places in Southern Indiana.
Adventure Underground at Louisville Mega Cavern
As a mom of two boys, I know I’m in for a lifetime of adventure! They love roller coasters, off-road biking, every sport, and pretty much any thrilling activity. What they have yet to encounter, however, is adventure underground! The dark and unfamiliar setting adds to the excitement of never-before-seen activities and challenges, up to 165 feet underground! The Lousiville Mega Cavern has something for everyone. You can choose to leisurely walk the cavern, take a comfortable ride on the tram, strap up and glide down the mega cavern ziplines, or race through the aerial ropes course. During the holidays, you can drive through the cavern to see the Lights Under Louisville holiday light show.
What is the Louisville Mega Cavern?
The Louisville Mega Cavern is a 100-acre limestone cavern that was created by a massive limestone quarry – with miners blasting out a mind-boggling amount of rock for over 42 years during the middle of the 20th century to build bridges and roads across the Midwest. The cavern lies underneath the Louisville Zoo and has remained virtually dormant since the last load of limestone was mined nearly 20 years ago. Today, it is privately owned and open to the public to experience the mega cavern zipline, ropes course, and tours underground. With over 17 miles of underground passageways beneath the City of Louisville, the size and scale of this cavern are huge and must be seen to be truly appreciated.
The Louisville Mega Cavern is Trip Advisor’s #1 attraction in Louisville, KY and features the world’s only fully underground zipline tour (MEGA ZIPS), the world’s only fully underground aerial ropes challenge course (MEGA QUEST), a 10-stories-underground Historic Tram Tour (MEGA TRAM), and of course, Lights Under Louisville, the world’s only fully underground holiday light show.
Louisville Mega Cavern Zipline – Mega Zips
Among the treasures located within the caverns, you’ll find the mega cavern zipline tour – a six-line underground zipline course, including a dual racing zip and two challenge bridges that will test your skill and balance. This exhilarating adventure will take you into never-before-seen sections of this man-made cavern. Your tour guides will also educate you about the geology and history of the unique attraction – the world’s only fully underground zipline course. Participants must be at least 7 years old and weigh between 55 and 285 lbs (participants under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult). Mega Zips tickets start at $109.99 per person for the two-and-a-half-hour tour.
Louisville Mega Cavern Ropes Course – Mega Quest
The Mega Quest Aerial Ropes Challenge Course is perfect for ages five years and older. It is the ONLY fully underground aerial ropes challenge course in the world with 76 different challenges that will keep children and adults on their toes. Participants must weigh less than 310 pounds and must be able to reach a height of 52 inches with their arms above their heads to transfer from element to element. Mega Quest tickets start at $39.99 per person for up to two hours.
Louisville Mega Cavern Historic Tram Tour – Mega Tram
If the mega cavern zipline is a little too extreme, sit back and enjoy being carted around on the Mega Tram. Late winter through fall, visitors can ride aboard a tram pulled by an SUV for an hour-long tour of the cavern. The historic tram tour will take you on an underground adventure rich in history, geology, mining, recycling, and green building technology. Because you ride through the cavern and never walk, it is especially convenient for parents with small children, seniors, and the physically challenged. Learn all about the history of the cavern and see a replica of the Cuban missile crisis bunker! Mega Tram tickets start at $19.99 per person for the 60-70 minute tour.
Louisville Mega Cavern Mega Walking Tour
The Mega Walking Tour is a historic walking tour through the Louisville Mega Cavern. Enjoy all the spectacular sites, fascinating historical facts, and much more. The excursion takes visitors on an underground adventure that is simply HUGE in scale. The attraction accommodates 13 people per tour. The walking surface of the 1.8-mile hike consists of pavement, dirt, small rocks, and some areas of light mud. Participants will be equipped with a safety vest and flashlight. Shoes are expected to get dirty. Mega Walking Tour tickets start at $19.99 per person for the 70-minute tour.
Louisville Mega Cavern Lights Under Louisville Show
During the holidays, Lights Under Louisville is a spectacular attraction that people travel from far, far away to experience. The 30-minute drive-through light show lets you drive your own vehicle through parts of the 17 miles of underground cavern. You can also opt to hitch a ride on the Christmas Express. You’ll see over 6.5 million points of light, lasers, light tunnels, multiple projection areas, a holographic Santa, and more than 900 displays. It’s the only underground holiday light show in the world and it was voted a top 10 light show by USA Today. Ride on the Christmas Express for $21.99 per person or drive-through in your own vehicle starting at $42.99 per vehicle.
Prepare for Adventure
The average temperature in the Louisville Mega Cavern is 58 degrees year-round. Even if it’s in the middle of summer, you’ll want to dress in layers as the weather underground does not match the weather above ground! You’ll need closed-toed and closed-heeled shoes with a back strap. Shoes should preferably be waterproof and ones you don’t mind getting a little dirty. If you have long hair, wear it in a ponytail.
Do not wear short shorts or shirts that do not have sleeves. This is due to the safety harness gear that you will be wearing. Make sure you have deep pockets or a pocket with a zipper or velcro closure if you will be bringing keys, cell phones, wallets, or anything else that you do not want to lose. If something falls out at 70 feet above the mega cavern zipline floor you will not get it back! There are lockers to store belongings so I wouldn’t chance it! Also, don’t forget to bring cash for tips! They suggest 15% – 20% for the tour guides.
Purchase Tickets Online
Reservations are not required but they are highly recommended. Tickets can be purchased for specific time slots for the mega cavern zipline, ropes course, and tram and walking tours here. If you do not have a reservation, they will try to accommodate you based on availability. You must arrive at least 30 minutes before your tour time. This will give you enough time to check in for your tour and fill out the necessary paperwork. Louisville Mega Cavern operates on Eastern Time Zone so keep that in mind if you are coming from a different time zone!
Visit Southern Indiana
Louisville is such an amazing city less than two hours away from Indianapolis! Head to the Louisville Mega Cavern and back in one day or spend a long weekend in Louisville. Visit Lousiville at Christmas to take advantage of this beautiful city all lit up during the holidays. Southern Indiana also has a lot to offer. Pick one of these great Southern Indiana spots to make a stop at on your way home from a day of adventure on the mega cavern zipline. If you’re really digging all of these short-drive adventures, plan your next Midwest Road Trip. Even if you only have a night or two, there’s so much fun to be had within a few hours of Indy!
Not sure if your kids are ready for the mega cavern zipline? Start here in Indy at a treetops ropes and zipline course. Looking for more caves to discover? Explore these awesome caves in Indiana. There’s so much adventure to be had in and near Indianapolis. You just have to find it!
Have you flown down the mega cavern zipline? Taken the Mega Tram tour? Braved the ropes course? Share your comments and mega cavern zipline photos with us below or tag us on social media using #PLAYindy. Follow Indy with Kids on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for all of the best ideas and things to do with kids in Indy!
Address
1841 Taylor Ave
Louisville
ky
Visit Louisville Mega Cavern Zipline Tour, Ropes Course & Mega Tram | Underground Adventure in 2024