Throughout history, conservation of the land surrounding what is now called Foglepole Cave depended on private property holders who were cautious and allowed entry into the caves only for scientific and research-related expeditions. With the Foglepole family's permission, Paul Wightman entered the cave in 1949 to begin mapping its many branches, and his exploration drew attention to the cave, leading to creation of the 27-acre state-owned Foglepole Nature Preserve. When the land was again for sale in the early 2000s, it was slated to become several small farms, but septic leaching and animal waste runoff from such farms may have caused severe damage to the ecosystem below. After Clifftop NFP purchased the property in late 2013, the newly dedicated Paul Wightman Subterranean Nature Preserve underwent prairie restoration, with regular prairie burnings, planting, and volunteer days helping ensure a healthy environment both above and below ground, while the cave remains closed to the public and scientific research continues in the cave and on the prairie.