Emergency Closure at Carlsbad Caverns

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.