• Wind Cave National Park - Two Worlds

    Wind Cave

    National Park South Dakota

Wind Cave Room - Christmas Tree Park

Frostwork "Christmas Tree" in Christmas Tree Park (approximately 8 inches high)
Frostwork "Christmas Tree" in Christmas Tree Park (approximately 8 inches high)
Photo by Art Palmer
 

On December 7, 1964, Dave Schnute, and Herb and Jan Conn first ventured in this area of Wind Cave. Named for its abundance of aragonite frostwork which resembles "Christmas trees". Dave got the idea from a Yellowstone National Park place name. Resurveyed by Nelson Kuniansky, Steve Nordstrom, John Scharres on August 18, 1971.

Did You Know?

Natural Entrance of Wind Cave

Winds caused by changes in barometric pressure are what give Wind Cave its name.  These winds have been measured at the cave's walk-in entrance at over 70 mph. The winds at the natural entrance of the cave attracted the attention of Native Americans and early settlers.