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CDEC Newsletter
January, 2008
Carlsbad Caverns National
Park Visitor Center Rehabilitation Project Underway
The Carlsbad Caverns
National Park visitor center rehabilitation project is set to begin in mid-July.
All park operations—ticket sales, bookstore, restaurant and gift shop—are moving
into temporary trailers beginning Friday, May 18.
“We’re moving into the
trailers almost two full months before the anticipated start of construction,”
said Benjamin. “We timed the move so we could work out all the kinks in the
system before Memorial Day weekend and the start of our busy summer season.”
Although
the visitor center will be under construction and the park will operate out of
trailers in the parking lot, there
will be no interruption in park ranger-guided or
self-guided cave tours, or the evening bat flight program. However, for
safety and security during the renovation, the park entrance gate at Whites City
will be closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., to accommodate May through mid-October
visitors who stay for the evening bat flight, and from 6:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. the
rest of the year.
The visitor center project, expected to take nine months
to complete, includes (1) the renovation and rehabilitation of the existing
34,000 square foot visitor center; (2) new construction of adjacent restroom
facilities and two-story elevator and stairway for staff access; (3) a new
commercial HVAC and control system; (4) new electrical systems; (5) a new
membrane roof; (6) a new fire sprinkler system; (7) new fire and intrusion alarm
systems; and (8) all new exterior and interior finishes, including asbestos and
lead paint abatement.
Completed in 1957, the visitor center serves as the single visitor contact and
assembly point for everyone entering Carlsbad Cavern. Every infrastructure
component of the building has exceeded its useful life and no longer functions
effectively or efficiently. The project includes renovating the association
bookstore, as well as the concession-operated restaurant and gift shop.
For more information, contact public affairs specialist Bridget Litten at
505.785.3024.
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