News Release

Great Basin National Park marks 40th anniversary

News Release Date: September 24, 2026
Contact: Great Basin National Park Public Affairs, 775-293-2146

BAKER, Nev. — Great Basin National Park will celebrate two major milestones Oct. 23: the park’s 40th anniversary and the completion of major improvements to the Lehman Caves lighting system and tour route.

The all-day celebration will feature a 2 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center, along with guest speakers, ranger programs, free ranger-led cave tours, an Eskdale High School choir performance, and presentations by cave specialists and historians. Light refreshments will follow the ceremony, courtesy of the Great Basin National Park Foundation. Free cave tours will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, with tickets available at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center beginning at 9 a.m.

“A lot has changed since Great Basin National Park was established in 1986, but our commitment to protecting this extraordinary place remains the same,” Superintendent Ashley Adams said. “These improvements will enhance the experience of exploring Lehman Caves while helping protect its fragile environment and preserve this remarkable resource for future generations.”

The new lighting system replaces obsolete 1970s-era equipment with energy-efficient LED fixtures that better illuminate Lehman Caves’ unique formations. Modern electrical equipment and system design also allow sections of the cave to remain dark when visitors are not present, helping protect the fragile underground environment.

The multimillion-dollar project was funded through proceeds from federal land sales within a designated boundary in the Las Vegas Valley. The funds are administered by the Bureau of Land Management and authorized under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act. For more information about Great Basin National Park’s 40th anniversary celebration, including a complete schedule of events, visit go.nps.gov/GRBA40. For information about Lehman Caves tours on other dates, visit go.nps.gov/LehmanCavesTours.
  nps.gov
About the National Park Service. Established in 1916, the National Park Service preserves America’s most treasured natural and cultural places for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of current and future generations. Learn more at nps.gov.

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