Your Dollars At Work

The National Park Service collects Recreation Fees under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA). Recreation Fees provide a vital source of revenue for improving facilities and services for park visitors at national parks, national forests, wildlife refuges, and other public lands throughout the nation. Across the country, numerous national parks have been putting your fee dollars to work.

One hundred percent of tour fees collected at Jewel Cave National Monument are reinvested back into the monument. The funds obtained through ranger-guided cave tour ticket sales are used for all kinds of projects and enhanced visitor services. Some improvements take place behind-the-scenes. Others may be a direct part of your park experience, like new interpretive displays, replica historic uniforms, or even a new vault toilet.

Today, Jewel Cave collects nearly $500,000 in tour fees per year. Over time, the revenues add up, and several projects have been completed using these fee monies. Here are a few examples of projects that were only possible because of money collected from cave tour fees.

Elevator Renovation Project

Projected Cost: $2,000,000
This current project during the off-season of 2020-2021 is to rehabilitate the 300 hundred foot deep elevator shaft by repairing or replacing iron supports and worn concrete walls. This work will be done to mitigate future distress and to increase the life of the overall elevator system. By modernizing the elevator system, visitors will enjoy a safe and reliable trip into the cave for decades into the future.

Increase Safe, Consistent, and Educational Visitor Access to Jewel Cave

Total Cost: $126,000
During the busy summer season, ranger-guided cave tours often sell out by mid to late morning. In an effort to provide a safe and enjoyable experience, while increasing access to the cave, the monument has used recreational fees to hire seasonal positions that had been previously displaced due to a decreased budget. These positions allowed the monument to offer more cave tours and expand services through extended visitor center hours.

Scenic Tour Enhancement Project (STEP)

Total Cost: $5,000,000
This two-year project was completed in June 2020 and improved the safety and long-term durability of the Scenic Tour Route. Originally built in the late 1960s, the tour route has only had necessary routine maintenance. Stainless steel replacements were used for the original aluminum stairs and platforms; the new stairs and platforms should last much longer and reduce the long-term maintenance costs. Other improvements included adding lighted handrails in dark sections and adding handrails along steep sections of the trail. Concrete curbing was also added along the length of the tour route to provide better protection of the cave resources.