Illinois Valley News

Visitors to Oregon Caves National Monument pose for photos and enjoy the relatively cool temperatures on Saturday, June 12. For more information about the monument“s attractions, see story on page 13. (Photo by Michelle Binker, Illinois Valley News)

Summer tourist season is in full swing in Illinois Valley, although sustained spring showers have slightly slowed its start.

The Illinois Valley Visitors Center on Caves Hwy. (state Hwy. 46) in Cave Junction was relatively quiet on the afternoon of Thursday, June 10. But manager Norah Latzke said that the previous Monday was busy, with approximately 90 tourists passing through.

July typically is quite a busy month at the visitor center, Latzke said, with around 200 tourists coming by daily. By contrast, she added, the winter months average some 30 daily visits.

Latzke said that many of the visitors are people from California making “side trips“ on their way to Portland.

“The RVs are starting to come out,“ Latzke said.

Some 20 miles up the highway, the Chateau at Oregon Caves National Monument had a parking lot filled with various vehicles.

Employees shuffled around in their burgundy vests as tourists checked in for the night. A couple sipped wine and relaxed while mapping out a travel itinerary on a laptop computer.

At the front desk, Laura Empens said that despite some cancellations due to snowy conditions, the Chateau is rapidly booking up for the season.

“We“re having a terrific year,“ Empens said. “We“ve probably had more business this year than last.“

Some tourists are coming from as far away as Sweden, she stated happily.

Barbara Ford said that between 100 and 150 have passed through the visitor center at the monument, which is under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service (NPS). She said that she anticipates that figure to climb between 400 and 500 as summer comes around.

Many educational and school groups already have visited the Caves this year, Ford said, with 53 students on-site Thursday, June 10. “We“re anticipating a wonderful summer,“ she said.

Dave Thompson is the project-and-outreach coordinator at the monument. He said that tourist numbers have fluctuated throughout the past couple of months, but added that Memorial Day weekend was busy and staffing levels have thus far proven “adequate“ to handle the uptick in traffic.

“We“ve been accommodating people better than we have in the past,“ he said.

Thompson added that in the seven years he“s worked at the monument, he has conducted at least 1,000 tours, many of which have included repeat visitors. In fact, one recent tour had three generations of the same family enjoying the unique attractions.

Between 60,000 and 80,000 tourists visit the caves every year, Thompson said, which enables him to continue helping people make connections to the park.

“The best part for me is interacting with the public,“ he said.

Annual NPS surveys show the Caves monument with near-perfect scores for visitor satisfaction, which Thompson said is “pretty outstanding.“

The presence of permanent law enforcement personnel at the park also will enhance the experience, Thompson said. He added that having emergency medical technicians and similar professionals is a “big help, safety wise.“

A series of partnerships is helping draw people to the monument, Thompson said. The Siskiyou Field Institute is helping educate middle-school students about the area“s watersheds, and networking efforts with Crater Lake National Park and other regional attractions also are boosting tourist numbers at the Caves, Thompson said.

More evening programs are being offered at the Chateau, with poetry and music performed by staff members. A package deal is being offered through the Chateau that features an off-trail tour, lodging, dinner and a ranger program for $99.

Thompson also is working on adding a weekly events bulletin to the caves Website, nps.gov/orca. It will feature fauna and flora of the week and daily updates on the ranger program, he said.

Cave tours are offered from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and are about 90 minutes long. Participants must be at least 42 inches tall and must pass a stair test.

Admission is $6 for persons 16 years and younger; $8.50 for 17 and older; and $4.25 for senior and Access Card holders. Candlelight tours are offered in the evenings, and take around 45 minutes.

Beginning Saturday, June 26, off-trail tours will be offered at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

For more information, phone 541-592-2100.

We want to hear from you!
Add your thoughts with the link below.

Comments returning soon!

Back to top of story