I live in NW Arkansas, and one of the local "show caves" is currently undergoing "improvements." As you all know, Marvel Cave is NOT a down the tower and then back up the tower tour because in the 1950's the Herschends blasted a tunnel out for the exit where the cave train is. Not unheard of "improvements" back in those days, although some conservationists would balk today. However, the local cave I'm talking about, War Eagle Caverns...also a privately owned show cave just like Marvel Cave, is blasting out a 100 foot tunnel so people on their tours can have better access to additional passageways and to some small lakes and streams that previously were not accessible to the general public because you would have to crawl on your bellies in mud with bats inches above your head to get to those sights. When completed, the lakes will have bridges over them, so folks can get back even deeper in the cave. Current tour is about a half mile of walking, but when the improvements are done, the tour will be longer and there will be better access for a bit more of the 4 miles of cave that exist. They are closed for the winter season, and the bats are hibernating now, too, so blasting has been suspended. When War Eagle Cave reopens in March, the new tours will be offered. So what do you think? Is it, in this day, acceptable to blast passages through a natural cave system for the purpose of increasing tourism to the cave? Conservationists, again, might be upset that the fragile cave ecosystem could be disturbed...the bats, and other creatures would be disturbed. What do you think? Legally, the couple that own the cave can do anything they want to with it, it is their private property, after all. Chime in.
