Month: August 2010

New fees proposed for Kartchner tour

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[Source: Sierra Vista Herald]

The Arizona State Parks department staff is proposing a fee change for one of the two cave tours at Kartchner Caverns State Park.

A view of the Big Room in Kartchner Caverns
A view of the Big Room in Kartchner Caverns. Image via Wikipedia

The new fee proposal is to change the Rotunda/Throne adult cave tours from $18.95 to $22.95 and children’s fees (7- to 12-year-old) from $9.95 to $12.95 and (6 and under free).

Public comments on these fees will be accepted online until Aug. 29. Comments may be submitted at AZStateParks.com/find/contact.html.

The Arizona State Parks Board will be presented this information from park staff who say this solution will increase income to the park and reduce overhead costs by suspending tours in the Rotunda/Throne room from Oct. 15 until Dec. 15. This will also allow time for this portion of the cave to have a rest from the public while research can be conducted.

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Helping desert tortoises the right way during monsoon season

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[Source: Sonoran News .com] – Monsoon season brings one of the southwest desert’s most iconic creatures out of their burrows and out-and-about across the state. Desert tortoises are now in their most active season, and Arizona’s increased human population creates more risks for these slow-moving symbols of the Sonoran desert. 

The Arizona Game and Fish Department asks the public to follow these important guidelines if they encounter a desert tortoise:

– Do not remove a tortoise from its habitat. Taking a wild tortoise home is illegal in Arizona. Additionally, most tortoises stay in the same small area their entire lives, so if you move a tortoise to a new location it will not know where to find food and shelter and will likely die.

– Do not release a captive tortoise into the wild. Captive desert tortoises cannot be released into the wild as they can pass diseases to wild populations and displace wild tortoises. It is also illegal to release captive animals into the wild.  

– Keep dogs away from both captive and wild desert tortoises. Even the most gentle dog can pose a serious threat to a tortoise. [to read the full article click here].

Kartchner Caverns chosen to represent state in contest

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[Source: Sierra Vista Herald]

Kartchner Caverns State Park has been chosen as the nominee to help the state parks system win $100,000 in the  “Live Positively, America’s Favorite Park Program” being coordinated by Coca-Cola.

In anticipation of Friday’s launch, Reneé Bahl, executive director for Arizona’s State Parks said, “We would like the public to follow our lead and consolidate their votes so Arizona State Parks can win. We polled our rangers to get a consensus on one park so we have a better chance to win this amazing prize for the whole system. Some states have a higher population, some higher visitation, but we believe Arizonans have the greatest passion for all their parks and the outdoors so they will join us in voting for Kartchner Caverns State Park.”

The staff decided that Kartchner Caverns epitomizes the natural resource stewardship and commitment of Arizonans. Kartchner is now one of the top 10 show caves in the world for the diversity of its stunning calcite formations and symbolizes the extraordinary efforts taken by elected officials, park rangers and the public who took unprecedented steps to protect and open this pristine cavern system in 1999.

“This living cave has character and a persona. If you haven’t gotten a cave kiss from Kartchner Caverns, you haven’t lived,” says park director Bahl.

While park officials want you to vote as many times as possible for Kartchner Caverns, they say it is more important that you also visit your favorite park.

Votes will be tallied on Aug. 31.

Go to www.livepositively.com/#/Americasparks/vote and vote for Kartchner Caverns State Park.

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Yavapai County to consider assisting Jerome State Historic Park

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[Source: Prescott Daily Courier, Linda Stein 7-31-2010]

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The board will also consider an intergovernmental agreement that could lead to reopening of Jerome State Historic Park this fall. Under the pact, the county would pay $30,000 to the Arizona State Parks Board to run the park, a mining museum in the 100-year-old Douglas Mansion. A separate agreement would allow the Jerome Historical Society operate the gift shop and the visitor contact desk.

Previously, county officials inked agreements to keep Fort Verde State Park and Red Rock State Park open by contributing $30,000 to each and marshaling volunteers. State officials targeted the parks for closure because of state budget cuts. The parks generate $266 million for rural Arizona and attract about 2.3 million visitors annually.

[…]

Here is a video (unrelated to the article) on Jerome State Historic Park.  It was produced by KAET-TV Eight PBS:

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