• Photo of the steep natural entrance of Carlsbad Caverns

    Carlsbad Caverns

    National Park New Mexico

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  • Elevator Renovations

    Allow more time to visit and expect lines for small elevators while large elevator system is renovated. Walking exit is steep.

Emergency Closure at Carlsbad Caverns

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Date: July 23, 2012
Contact: Paula Bauer

The Carlsbad Caverns National Park visitor center and cave closed at 2:00 pm today due to what appears to be contamination in the air from construction work in the elevator shaft. Visitors can call the park's information line at 575-785-2232 to receive a message on the status of the closure.

"The park is doing everything possible find the source of the contamination and remedy the situation," stated Carlsbad Caverns National Park Superintendent John Benjamin. "We need to err on the side of safety and will open the visitor center and cave as soon as we possibly can."

The evening batflight programs will continue to be given by park rangers at the batflight amphitheater nightly. Call 575-785-3012 for the time of the program.

Did You Know?

The natural entrance of Carlsbad Cavern.

In 2003, a park employee found a piece of a stone scraper within view of Carlsbad Cavern's entrance that goes back to Ice Age Indian hunters. In 2004, archeologists found fragments of two spear points of the Midland-style Paleo Indian projectile points of some 10,000 years ago.