Arizona: Kartchner Caverns State Park

Kartchner Caverns State Park Cave Break-In Reveals Minor Damage to Cave Formations

Early on the morning of October 12th Kartchner Caverns State Park cave personnel found that someone had broken through the heavy metal gate and had entered the caverns the night before.  Forcible entry was made through the lower portal of the cavern into the Big Room and Tarantula passageway that is closed in the summer.   The break-in did not cause substantial damage and the Throne/Rotunda tours are continuing.  The Big Room opens each year on October 15 after the bats leave the cave and those tours are on schedule there as well.

On Tuesday three cave scientists: Dr. Bob Casavant, Ginger Nolan, and Steve Willsey followed the original cave discoverer trails to different passages and did a complete survey of the cave to determine the extent of the damage.   Gary Tenen, one of the cave's original discoverers, also agreed to volunteer five hours slogging through sticky mud into the back areas of the cave to assist in the investigation.  The team checked scientific monitoring stations while they were in the deeper recessed areas as well and will have that scientific data to add to the reports on the cave's health in the future.

"Unfortunately there was some damage to some of the stalactites (see photos) when the suspect(s) left the Big Room trail and walked over the calcite formation on the floor of the cave (see photos.)  The intruder(s) also left a trail through the "strawberry passage," said research science manager, Dr. Bob Casavant, but we were glad to find out that overall very little damage was done.  This could have been an extremely serious situation," he said.

"We are concerned that these people breached the cave and will be enhancing our security measures," says Executive Director Renée Bahl. Kartchner Caverns State Park manager, Dave Pawlik, will continue the investigation in cooperation with the Cochise County Sheriff's Office.

Make your cave tour reservation by calling (520) 586-2283 seven days a week from 8am to 5pm MST. Rotunda/Throne Room Tours are available for $18.95 for ages 14 and up and $9.95 for those aged 7 to 13 (children 6 and younger are free). The Big Room Tours are available for $22.95 for ages 14 and up and $12.95 for those aged 7 to 13 (children younger than 7 are not permitted into the Big Room). The Park also offers a large, modern campground adjacent to the Whetstone Mountains with views of the entire San Pedro Valley. Kartchner Caverns State Park is located on Highway 90, nine miles South of I-10 near Benson, Arizona.

For more information about the 30 State Parks, statewide hiking opportunities, off-highway vehicle trails, and other outdoor recreational and cultural opportunities in Arizona, call (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703) or visit AZStateParks.com. Follow us on twitter.com/AZStateParks.

FACT SHEET (FAQ)

(Photo left: the formation inside the Throne Room at Kartchner Caverns State Park. Courtesy of Arizona State Parks.)

Kartchner Caverns State Park is located on Highway 90, nine miles South of I-10 near Benson, Arizona.  The State Park is open daily at 7 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. and the Cave Discovery Center hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For information about Arizona State Parks call (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703 or visit the website at AZStateParks.com.

Head for Southeastern Arizona for Kartchner Caverns State Park 10 Year Anniversary Celebration

Governors, park rangers, cave experts, geologists, construction crews, bat biologists, legislators, and local leaders assisted in an eleven-year  effort to open Kartchner Caverns State Park.   Since then the cave has been listed as one of the top ten caves in the world because of the stunning array of delicate calcite formations found in the depths of the cave.

On Saturday and Sunday, November 7 and 8, 2009 from 9am to 5pm, the park will have hour-by-hour activities and cave tours if you have booked tours in advance. Visitors will learn microbiology from Dr. Raina Maier, cave paleontology, the history of the cave discovery from explorer Gary Tenen, and the secret excitement of the discovery from Kartchner family members.   Your family will enjoy the bat, bobcat, mountain lion and rattlesnake workshops as well as special desert interpretive walks (see movie: azstateparks.com/Parks/KACA).

It has been estimated that more than two million people have been drawn to southeastern Arizona to visit the park and it has generated more than $12 million in economic impact dollars to Cochise County.  The weekend will be busy with presentations, booths and interpretive programs for all ages. Visitors should make plans now by scheduling their cave tours and weekend jaunts throughout southeastern Arizona.  It is a good time to also explore other fascinating geologic wonders such as the Chiracahuas and Dragoon Mountains or historic towns such as Tombstone and Bisbee.

The $5 park entrance fee will be waived for this event. Make your cave tour reservation by calling (520) 586-2283 seven days a week from 8am to 5pm MST. Rotunda/Throne Room Tours are available for $18.95 for ages 14 and up and $9.95 for those aged 7 to 13 (children 6 and younger are free). The Big Room Tours are available for $22.95 for ages 14 and up and $12.95 for those aged 7 to 13 (children younger than 7 are not permitted into the Big Room). Walk-up tickets may not be available this weekend. The Park also offers a large, modern campground adjacent to the Whetstone Mountains with views of the entire San Pedro Valley.

Kartchner Caverns State Park is located on Highway 90, nine miles South of I-10 near Benson, Arizona.   For more information about the 30 State Parks, statewide hiking opportunities, off-highway vehicle trails, and other outdoor recreational and cultural opportunities in Arizona, call (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703) or visit AZStateParks.com. Follow us on twitter.com/AZStateParks.

KARTCHNER CAVERNS STATE PARK AGENDA - NOVEMBER 7 - 8, 2009

Saturday November 7th, 2009

• 9 am: Official welcome by Arizona State Parks Executive Director Renée Bahl and Kartchner Caverns State Park Superintendent
• 9:30 am: Max Kartchner, A Family Perspective
  Charles Kane, Edible and Medicinal half-hour plant walk
• 10 am: Kevin Hansen, Southwest Regional Interpreter, New Mexico State Parks, Presentation on Bobcats Herbalist Charles Kane will lead a half-hour edible and medicinal plant walk. Meet outside main entrance to the Visitor's Center.
• 10:30 am: Charles Kane will be signing his book: Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest, available for purchase in the gift shop.
• 11 am: VIP presentations
• Noon: Gary Tenen, Co-discoverer of Kartchner Caverns
• 1 pm: Dr. Raina Maier, University of Arizona, The Microbiology of Kartchner Caverns
• 2 pm: Kevin Hansen, Southwest Regional Interpreter, New Mexico State Parks, Presentation on Mountain Lions
• 3 pm: Dr. Robert Casavant, Arizona State Parks and Dr. Rickard S. Toomey, National Park Service, Both cave specialists will discuss 10 years of cave conservation
• 4 pm: Chuck Duncan, Ranger at Katchner Caverns State Park, Presentation and discussion on the construction of the tunnels and trails of Kartchner Caverns

Sunday November 8th, 2009

• 9 am: Arizona State Parks Welcome Mark Kartchner, MD, A Family Perspective
• 10 am: Kevin Hansen, Southwest Regional Interpreter, New Mexico State Parks, Presentation on Jaguars
• 11 am: Gary Tenen, Co-discoverer of Kartchner Caverns
• Noon: Break for lunch and exhibits
• 1 pm: Debbie Buecher & Ronnie Sidner, Bat Biologists, Discussion of "pit-tag" program at park, used to monitor migration and population of resident bats
• 2 pm: Kevin Hansen, Southwest Regional Interpreter, New Mexico State Parks, Presentation on Rattlesnakes
• 3 pm: Dr. Robert Casavant, Arizona State Parks and Dr. Rickard S. Toomey, National Park Service, Cave specialists will discuss 10 years of cave conservation

Schedule subject to change

Kartchner Caverns State Park™ FACT SHEET (FAQ)

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