WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK, S.D. – Jewel Cave National Monument and Wind Cave National Park are seeking comments until September 7 on a proposal that would raise cave tour and camping fees beginning next year.
The proposal for Jewel Cave would increase fees for adults on the Discovery Tour from $4 to $6, Scenic Tour from $12 to $16, Historic Lantern Tour from $12 to $16, and the Wild Caving Tour from $31 to $45.
The proposal for Wind Cave would increase fees for adults on the Accessibility Tour from $5 to $6, Natural Entrance, Fairgrounds and Candlelight Tours would increase from $12 to $16, Garden of Eden from $10 to $14, and Wild Cave Tour fees would increase from $25 to $45. Fees for the Elk Mountain Campground would increase from $18 per site to $24, with group sites increasing from $40 to $45.
“This increased funding will bring the park fees in alignment with those being charged by independent cave tour vendors in the Black Hills and will provide funding for projects with a direct visitor benefit,” said Wind Cave Superintendent Leigh Welling. “Fee money has paid for accessibility upgrades in the campground comfort stations, new water hydrants in the Wind Cave developed area and repairs and modernization of the elevators at Jewel Cave.”
Members of the public may submit their comments on the fee increase online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov or in person at either of two public meetings:
- 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, August 16: Pine Room in the Custer County Library located at 447 Crook Street, Suite #4, in Custer
- 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 17: Mueller Center in Hot Springs at 801 S. 6th Street
For children up to 5 years of age, cave tours are free. Youth ages 6 to 15 years are half price. A proposed change in the fee structure would also offer anyone age 62 or older tour tickets for half the adult price for the Discovery Tour at Jewel Cave and non-specialty tours at Wind Cave. This would eliminate the need for a Senior Pass. The Access Pass would no longer receive any discount.