The Scenic Tour route at Jewel Cave, which has been used for guided cave tours since 1972, will close in mid-October for extensive safety improvements/Kurt Repanshek file NPS

Jewel Cave National Monument in South Dakota will temporarily shut down guided cave tours from mid-October until about April 2019 to make necessary improvements along the popular Scenic Tour route. The visitor center, park store, and surface trails will remain open during the closure.

“We need to update the current Scenic Tour route structures which were built in the late 1960s to early 1970s,” said Michelle Wheatley, superintendent of Jewel Cave. “The structures were built in an ad hoc manner that makes them very difficult to maintain and repair. More importantly, the work will address safety concerns that will eliminate the possibility of falls from the structures and will minimize the probability of slips and trips.”

The National Park Service Denver Service Center awarded a contract in the amount of $4.86 million dollars to MAC Construction Co. from Rapid City, South Dakota for the needed improvements.

In order to ensure for visitor safety, the NPS will need to shut the cave down in and around the construction site. Work includes removal of existing sidewalks, stair treads, guardrail and handrails, installation of new guardrails and handrails, stair treads, concrete sidewalks, lighting upgrades, and other improvements throughout the Scenic Tour route. 

Due to reduced visitation, the project timeframe was selected during the off-season; fewer visitors will be impacted during the winter months. For more information on the cave closure, call the visitor center at 605-673-8300. For additional information about off-season programs and services at the Monument, visit Jewel Cave online at www.nps.gov/jeca.