Call for Cave Tour Tickets (520) 586-2283
10th Anniversary Celebration  

Location

Kartchner Caverns Locator Map

Elevation 4,700 feet

Contact the Park:
(520) 586-2283
Reservation Line

(520) 586-4100
Information Line

Kartchner Caverns SP
P.O. Box 1849
Benson, AZ 85602

Facilities

Visitor Center Parking Restrooms Handicapped Accessibility Gift Shop Deli Exhibits Group Day Use Areas Camping Electric RV Sites Dump Station Showers Picnic Areas/Shelters Hiking Trails Pets Wildlife Viewing

Nearest Services: 9 miles

Click icons for more info

511 Speed Code

511 logo

Park's Speed Code: 4220#

Fees

Park Entrance Fees*:
Per Vehicle (1-2 Adults): $5.00
Additional Adults (14+): $2.00
Individual/Bicycle: $2.00
*Entrance Fee Waived for Reserved Tour Ticket Holders

Camping Fees:
Electric site: $22.00
All sites are electric

Cave Tour Fees:
See Cave Tour Information Page

Wrap-Up Photo Gallery

10th Anniversary Celebration: November 7 & 8, 2009

Opened & Dedicated Fall 1999

On November 7 & 8, 2009, the park hosted a weekend of insightful presentations, a large variety of interesting booths and fun kid's activities to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the park's Grand Opening. Check out the event photos below, or for a blast from the past, check out the Development of the Caverns Photo Gallery (Photo Gallery). The event schedule with speakers is listed below the photos. Renée Bahl, Arizona State Parks Director spoke at the event, as did former Director Ken Travous.

Learn more about Cave Tours (Learn More) or Watch Video of the Cave (Watch) or Read a Cronkite News Service article about the Anniversary (Read)

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Photography by Ellen Bilbrey for Arizona State Parks. Copyright © Arizona State Parks. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.

Saturday November 7th, 2009

  • 9 am: Official welcome by Arizona State Parks
     
  • 9:30 am: Max Kartchner, A Family Perspective 
    - Herbalist Charles Kane will lead a half-hour edible and medicinal plant walk. Meet outside main entrance to the Visitor's Center.
               
  • 10 am: Kevin Hansen, Southwest Regional Interpreter, New Mexico State Parks, Presentation on Bobcats

  • 10:30 am: Charles Kane will be signing his book: Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest, available for purchase in the gift shop.
     
  • 11 am: Introductions of special guests
                            
  • Noon: Gary Tenen, Co-discoverer of Kartchner Caverns
                         
  • 1 pm: Dr. Raina Maier, University of Arizona, The Microbiology of Kartchner Caverns
     
  • 2 pm: Kevin Hansen, Southwest Regional Interpreter, New Mexico State Parks, Presentation on Mountain Lions
     
  • 3 pm: Dr. Robert Cassavant, Arizona State Parks and Dr. Rickard S. Toomey, National Park Service, Both cave specialists will discuss 10 years of cave conservation 
               
  • 4 pm: Chuck Duncan, Ranger at Katchner Caverns State Park, Presentation and discussion on the construction of the tunnels and trails of Kartchner Caverns

10th Anniversary CelebrationSunday November 8th, 2009

  • 9 am: Official welcome Arizona State Parks
    - Mark Kartchner, MD, A Family Perspective
     
  • 10 am: Kevin Hansen, Southwest Regional Interpreter, New Mexico State Parks, Presentation on Jaguars
     
  • 11 am: Gary Tenen, Co-discoverer of Kartchner Caverns
     
                                         
  • Noon: Break for lunch and exhibits
                         
  • 1 pm: Debbie Buecher & Ronnie Sidner, Bat Biologists, Discussion of “pit-tag” program at park, used to monitor migration and population of resident bats
     
  • 2 pm: Kevin Hansen, Southwest Regional Interpreter, New Mexico State Parks, Presentation on Rattlesnakes
     
  • 3 pm: Dr. Dale Rucker, Past, Present & Future of Geophysics at KCSP
    - Ranger Steve Willsey, Inciting Public Interest and Partnership in the Inventorying and Monitoring of Cave Invertebrates
    - Ranger Heidi Lauchstedt, Rusticles of KCSP Lessons in Speleogenesis, Engineering, and Show Cave Management

Watch Video of the Cave (Next)

Learn more about Cave Tours (Learn More)

Development of the Caverns Photo Gallery (Next)

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