Carlsbad Caverns

Nancy and I visited Carlsbad Caverns on our way to Tucson. This is the way in, if you prefer not to take the 800 foot deep elevator. The cave was discovered by a cowboy in about 1889 who thought he saw a fire near his cattle. What he thought was smoke coming out of this entrance, was really millions of bats flying out to eat insects!

We went on a self guided tour in the cave in the morning, and then in the afternoon we hide a guide to show us through some private places, like the Kings palace below. This was the scene from a movie called Journey To The Center of the Earth. They camped out near here. Also, in the 1930's the local Chamber of Commerce used to meet here. It seemed pretty dark to me for a meeting.

Below is a small pool in one of the rooms estimated to be 14 football fields in size!! Whooo! That's big. The ceiling in that room was nearly 400 feet high.There is much less water in the cave now. The Park Service admits that the big parking lot positioned above the cave, has prevented water from seeping into the depths.

As a result, most of the "hangy-downies" and the "sticki-y-upies" aren't growing anymore. Another example of the "unintended consequences" of government interference. They did stop the Chamber Meetings and kept people from breaking off the stalactites and stalagmites. So some government involvement can be helpful. But do they really need the huge parking lot and 50,000 square foot gift shop, restaurant and movie theatre?  Just walk in the cave and see it yourself.

It's a wonderful place to visit and very interesting. I'm sure we'll go back. Take your own food though, the snack bar is not good.