A proposed data center near Mammoth Cave is running into organized opposition from the people who would live closest to it. Residents in Barren County have formed a coalition with one goal, to stop the project entirely, WBKO reported.
The group says it has found 37 sinkholes on the proposed site. Members are also pointing to an endangered species, a cave shrimp that lives only in Mammoth Cave, as part of their case.
For contractors in south-central Kentucky, the fight raises a question that matters well beyond this one site: what happens when big data center projects meet karst ground, sensitive groundwater and neighbors who are ready to push back.
Across the tracks
Angie Herald has lived almost her whole life on the family farm, which she told WBKO covers around 100 acres. She and her father both run businesses there.
The company behind the project wants to build just across the railroad tracks from her property, and Herald said the latest site plans put the data center in her backyard. WBKO's report did not name the company.
Her neighbor, Jessie Crabtree, helped start the coalition. "It's just peaceful. It's quiet. I can't even imagine a data center being there," Crabtree said.
Sinkholes and cave shrimp
Crabtree told WBKO the group has two strategies. One is the 37 sinkholes members say they've identified on the site. The other is the cave shrimp.
"It's an endangered species. It only lives only in Mammoth Cave in eight underground basins," Crabtree said, adding that it was named the 2025 cave animal of the year for the United States.
Sinkholes are a familiar issue for anyone who builds in this part of Kentucky. They can complicate foundations, stormwater design and site grading, and they tie surface work directly to what's happening underground.
Building support
About 40 people came to the coalition's first meeting, Crabtree said, and the group is now forming committees to build its case.
"This is their home, their farmlands and so forth. And they spoke up and each one told their own story," she said.
The coalition's next meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 5:30 p.m. at the Water Mill Restaurant, according to WBKO.
Litigation over Cave City's moratorium
WBKO reached out to Cave City Mayor Dwayne Hatcher, who said "No comment," citing ongoing litigation over the city's data center moratorium. The station's report did not explain the details of that lawsuit or who brought it.
Online reaction has been mostly against the project, WBKO reported. But some commenters said they don't oppose data centers as long as utility costs don't rise, and others said they'd support one if it's properly regulated.
What we don't know
WBKO's story leaves several key questions open, including the developer's name, the size of the proposed data center, the site's acreage and what approvals it still needs. Contractors watching this one should look for those details in local planning and zoning records and in any public filings tied to the Cave City moratorium case.
Why it matters for contractors
Data centers are huge site jobs, and the ones proposed in places with karst geology come with extra engineering. Sinkholes mean more geotechnical study, careful stormwater design and possibly specialty foundation work. Nearby endangered species can mean environmental reviews that add time to schedules.
This project is also a sign of how quickly organized opposition can form. With a coalition building committees, a moratorium in court and many unanswered questions about the developer's plans, the timeline is uncertain. Excavation, utility and geotechnical firms in the Bowling Green and Glasgow area should keep an eye on it, but shouldn't count on the work until the legal and zoning picture is clearer.