Kartchner Caverns State Park Offers $2 Off

Summer is a good time to take your family to Kartchner Caverns State Park when the 70 degree microclimate in the cave is a refreshing change from the scorching summer heat. The other benefit for those that make summer reservations is that the prices drop $2 per adult for all of August & 2 weeks in September. The interpretive programs both months also make a summer visit even more enlightening. The Kartchner "Rotunda-Throne room" tours are available in the summer & visitors can now make reservations online!

Also for the 1st time, Kartchner Caverns State Park will be closed to the public from Sept. 11th, through Sept. 24th. This 2-week closure is taking place so that maintenance can be performed in the cave, on the park grounds & in the Discovery Center. These maintenance activities will improve the function, safety & aesthetic qualities of the park.

Some of the work in the cave will include taking out conservation chamber doors for cleaning, adding new sweeps & new windows. The tunnels will be cleaned of all loose material & the walls will be replastered with shot crete. Curbs along the trails will be re-stuccoed & 250 light lenses will be removed & cleaned. Trail repairs and electrical wiring repairs will also conducted during this maintenance shut-down.

Inside the Discovery Center the staff will be painting the entire facility inside, & stripping & re-waxing floors. On the 550-acre park the staff will be doing landscaping maintenance, performing routine campground water infrastructure repair, & painting all the campground buildings.

The park will re-open to visitors & campers & the Rotunda-Throne Room will be open for tours on Sept. 25th. The Big Room tour will re-open sometime near Oct. 15th when the bats leave the cave.

Rotunda Tours are available for $16.95 for ages 14 & up & $8.95 for those aged 7 to 13 (Regular price is $18.95 for ages 14 & up & $9.95 for ages 7 to 13). Reservations are made by calling (520) 586-CAVE (2283) or online at www.azstateparks.gov.

For more information contact the Phoenix State Parks headquarters at (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703).