Dan Austin
Park Ranger inside Jewel Cave on the Scenic Tour route.
Jewel Cave National Monument Temporarily Closes Cave for Tours
Jewel Cave National Monument will temporarily close the cave for public tours for one week, beginning Tuesday, February 7 through Monday, February 13, 2012, due to elevator maintenance. Two 28-story elevators serve as the primary transportation mode into the cave, and all staff and visitors access the cave using this system. The elevators will be off-line and will not be available for use during the maintenance work.
The maintenance work will consist of rewiring the elevator hoistway, repairing position indicators, and installing waterproof door interlocks, as well as conducting a thorough maintenance check before the upcoming summer season. Superintendent Larry Johnson states, "Due to a hectic summer schedule and high visitation, elevator maintenance is best done during the winter months. With predicted low visitation in early February, we are hopeful that the maintenance can be completed without much visitor impact."
The Visitor Center will continue to be open daily from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Park Rangers will also be available to answer questions and provide service for those that wish to visit the facility during the cave closure.
During the cave closure, free guided nature hikes will take place each day at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The hikes are scheduled for the one-quarter mile Roof Trail and will showcase the surface features of the Monument. Johnson further comments, "With a lack of snow cover and mild temperatures, we invite walkers and outdoor enthusiasts to the ponderosa pine forest for some recreational exercise. Our trails often go unnoticed, so we are taking advantage of the cave closure to invite the public to see the surface features of this beautiful area." Interested hikers need to meet at the visitor center.
To learn more about the Monument, call the Visitor Center at 605-673-8300 and select Option 2. Monument information can also be accessed online at www.nps.gov/jeca.
News Releases:
January 11, 2012 / Jewel Cave Offers Free Cave Tours on Holiday Weekend
December 9, 2011 / Jewel Cave National Monument Offers
Off-Season Wild Caving Tours
November 2, 2011 / Jewel Cave and Wind Cave Offer Free Tours on Veterans Day weekend
September 30, 2011 / Jewel & Wind Caves Host Cave Rescue Seminar
September 16, 2011 / Free Cave Tours and Volunteer Opportunities at Jewel Cave on National Public Lands Day
August 29, 2011 / Jewel Cave Works on Roadways September 6th through 9th
July 15, 2011 / Jewel Cave National Monument Opens Cave for Tours
July 9, 2011 / Elevator Problems Temporarily Close Part of Jewel Cave for Tours
June 24, 2011 / Jewel Cave Takes Reservations for Cub Scout Belt Loopalooza scheduled for Saturday, July 16, 2011.
June 10, 2011 / Jewel Cave Offers Free Tours on June 21, 2011
June 3, 2011 / Jewel Cave National Monument Schedules Special Junior Ranger Days - June 11, July 9, August 13, and Sept. 10, 2011
May 27, 2011 / Jewel Cave National Monument Offers Events on National Trails Day June 4, 2011
April 8, 2011 / Free Tours of Jewel Cave during National Park Week, April 16 - 24, 2011
February 17, 2011 / Jewel Cave Awarded National Park Foundation Impact Grant
January 7, 2011 / Jewel Cave Offers Free Tours on Holiday Weekend
December 8, 2010 / Jewel Cave National Monument Offers Off-Season Wild Caving Tours
November 22, 2010 / Share the Experience Photo Contest Accepting Entries through December 31, 2010
November 5, 2010 / Jewel Cave National Monument Opens Cave for Tours
October 29, 2010 / Jewel Cave National Monument Temporarily Closes Cave for Tours
October 28, 2010 / Jewel Cave and Wind Cave Offer Free Cave Tours on Veterans Day, November 11
September 10, 2010 / Jewel Cave Celebrates National Public Lands Day
September 10, 2010 / Jewel Cave Plans Prescribed Fire
August 6, 2010 / Jewel Cave Offers Free Discovery Tours this weekend
June 11, 2010 / Jewel Cave National Monument Schedules Special Junior Ranger Days
May 24, 2010 / Larry Johnson selected as Superintendent for Jewel Cave National Monument
May 19, 2010 / Jewel Cave National Monument Offers Events on National Trails Day
April 8, 2010 / Free Tours and Special Activities mark National Park Week at Jewel Cave and Wind Cave
March 2, 2010 / Jewel Cave Surpasses the 150-Mile Mark
February 5, 2010 / Jewel Cave Bids Farewell to Superintendent Suess
January 1, 2010 / Jewel Cave National Monument Gears Up for School Programs
