Kartchner Caverns State Park

Kartchner Caverns State Park in Arizona preserves a limestone cave system in the Whetstone Mountains that remained secret for 14 years after local cavers Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts discovered it in 1974. Determined to protect its pristine formations from damage, they worked with the Kartchner family, The Nature Conservancy, and Arizona officials to secure the land for careful public access. Sold to the state in 1988 and opened in 1999, the park uses environmental controls to protect delicate, still-growing speleothems, including notable formations in the Throne Room and Big Room. Much of the cave remains closed, and seasonal bat nursery use shapes tour access.

Benson, Arizona · United States