Steve Rawlings Bids Farewell As NCA Presidentmembers.cavern.com/Content/cavetalkfiles/201509.pdf ·...

Robert A. Holt PO Box 625, Cobleskill, NY 12043 Executive Director Phone: 518-231-5420 Email: [email protected] www.cavern.com

1965 - Celebrating Our 50th Year - 2015

September 2015

Steve Rawlings Bids Farewell As NCA President

Fellow NCA Members, As you read this the curtain will be coming down on what I hope has been a very successful summer season. In a couple of weeks we'll be gathering in Wisconsin for the 50th Anniversary celebration of the founding of the National Caves Association. I hope that you will make a special effort to attend what promises to be a fabulous convention and I look forward to seeing you then.

Managing an organization like the NCA takes a team of dedicated individuals working together. Over the past two years it has been my good fortune to have been able to work with a great team. Whether you serve on the Board of Directors, on a committee or in some other capacity of service to this organization you are part of the team that keeps this organization moving forward. I hope that the past two years has been as enjoyable and rewarding for you as it has been for me. It has been my pleasure to work with you. Thank you for your support, for putting up with me for the past two years and thank you for a job well done.

As my term comes to a close I especially want to thank our executive director Bob Holt for holding everything together and keeping things running smoothly. Bob, you're a huge asset to this organization. If it weren't for your dedication to the NCA and the tireless energy that you put into your job I would have a lot more gray hair and there would be a lot less of it than there already is. I cannot overstate how much I've enjoyed working with you the past few years. Thanks! I also want to extend my gratitude to Susan and Claudia for all of their help over the past two years. I don't know what I would have done without the two of you but I do know that it would have been much less enjoyable and much more difficult. Never a dull moment with you two! Thanks for keeping things fun and exciting. Thank you to all of you who have listened and have shared your knowledge and experiences with me. Those conversations helped immensely over the past couple of years and I'm truly grateful to you for being there. A special thanks to Mr. Runkle, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Woodruff and Mr. Evans for sharing your wisdom and insight.

OFFICERS

President: Steve Rawlings

Mercer Caverns, CA

Ph: 209-728-2101 [email protected]

Vice President: Patty Perlaky

Raccoon Mt. Caverns, TN


Secretary Treasurer: Bob Holt

Mercer Caverns, CA


Past President: Greg Beckler

Natural Stone Bridge & Caves, NY


REGIONAL DIRECTORS Region One:

(CT, DE, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT)

Rob Arey –Polar Caves Park, NH

[email protected] Ph: 603-536-1888

Region Two:

(MD, VA, WV, KY)

John Graves – Luray Caverns, VA


Region Three: (IL, IN, MI, OH)

Claudia Yundt - Squire Boone Caverns, IN


Region Four: (AR, IA, KS, MO, NE)

Dennis Boyer - War Eagle Cavern, AR


Region Five: (MN, MT, ND, SD, WI)

Tom Hagen - Rushmore Cave, SD


Region Six: (CA, ID, NV, OR, WA, AK, HI,

Barbados, Bermuda)

Matt Doyle – Lake Shasta Caverns, CA [email protected] Ph: 800-795-CAVE

Region Seven: (AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY)

Steve Beckley – Glenwood Caverns, CO

[email protected] Ph: 970-945-4CAV

Region Eight: (LA, OK, TX) Ed Mayfield – Caverns of Sonora, TX [email protected] Ph: 325-387-3105

Region Nine: (AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN)

Tim Lacy – DeSoto Caverns Park, AL


Directors at Large

Steve Runkle - Cave of the Winds, CO


Aaron Ginn - Sierra Nevada Recreation, CA [email protected] Ph: 209-736-2708

President Steve Rawlings

mailto:[email protected]

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http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Caves-Association/100457649994226

Finally, I want to thank my left hand man Bernard for putting up with me while I've tended to NCA affairs. I wouldn't have been able to do this job if you weren't taking care of the cave. You deserve more than a few drinks for that! Thank you to everyone who supports this organization. Without your support there would be no NCA. It's been an experience and an honor to serve as your President for these past two years and to serve the Association with this Board of Directors. I hope that we've been able to make a difference with what we've been able to accomplish and that we've left the NCA a better organization as a result. Oh, and if you feel the urge, the next time you see a member of the Board of Directors go up and give her or him a pat on the back, they deserve it. Your Board - Patty Perlacky, Greg Beckler, Bob Holt, Rob Arey, John Graves, Claudia Yundt, Dennis Boyer, Tom Hagen, Matt Doyle, Steve Beckley, Ed Mayfield, Tim Lacy, Steve Runkle and Aaron Ginn. Thank you and see you in Wisconsin.

Steve

Are You Ready For A Celebration? Have you sent your registration and made your reservations for NCA's 50th anniversary convention? Joe and Ann and their staff at Cave of the Mounds, along with House on the Rock Resort, are ready and raring to go. The resort is still accepting reservations and even tho the registration fee is a little higher now, Bob will gladly accept your check. It would be great to have record attendance for our anniversary.

Susan Berdeaux Convention Coordinator

If You Haven't Registered... It's Not Too Late... CLICK FOR CONVENTION REGISTRATION

http://www.cavern.com/Members/2015%20Convention%20Registration%20Form.pdf

Persistence Cave, an Important Ice-Age Fossil Site By Rodney D. Horrocks, Wind Cave National Park Physical Scientist &

Marc Ohms, Wind Cave National Park Physical Science Technician

You may have caught some of the national news stories about an on-going paleontological excavation at Persistence

Cave, located within Wind Cave National Park. The excavation of this important ice-age cave site is being led by Dr.

James Mead, Site Director of the nearby Mammoth Site in Hot Springs and Professor at East Tennessee State University.

But, before we talk about that excavation, a little background history is in order.

The cave was discovered in June of 2004 by Marc Ohms, the Park’s Physical

Science Technician. Marc was looking for another large cave system or

another entrance to Wind Cave that he thought must exist. While hiking, he

came across a small alcove at the top of a ridge about a 1/3 of a mile from the

edge of Wind Cave. He noted the find and moved on. A few days later when

he had more time on his hands, Marc returned to investigate some rocks

wedged into a depression in the floor of the that alcove. After pulling a few

rocks out, he could distinctly feel air blowing into his face. Excitedly he

removed more loose rocks, when he noticed movement below. Shining his

headlamp down the hole, he was startled to see a large ball of rattlesnakes

and green snakes and he beat a hasty retreat. This was the second snake

den that had been discovered in a breathing cave within the park. We have

recently heard rumors that others had previously seen this same alcove in

previous decades but dismissed it as insignificant. When Marc finally returned

to the cave in 2008 the snakes were gone and the cave was still breathing

through a 6-inch gap between the bedrock ceiling and a sediment floor. Marc

solicited Dr. Andreas Pflitsch, from Ruhr University in Germany, to monitor the

airflow from the strongly breathing cave. By this point we had started referring

to the cave as “Persistence Cave”, as a result of Marc’s persistence in looking

for that big cave; and the name stuck. After a year of monitoring, Andreas was

able to determine that the cave had the same barometric airflow patterns as Wind Cave. The question now, is whether or

not the cave will have a humanly-passable connection to Wind Cave itself. If it did, this new entrance would add nearly 70

feet to the total depth of Wind Cave, since it is located only a couple of meters from the top of the Pahasapa Limestone.

After a few more years of discussion and planning, we decided to see if we could dig into additional cave. We started by

writing the necessary government compliance documents in 2012. By 2014, we finally got the necessary approval to

investigate the new cave.

Realizing that the cave would likely be a paleontological site

and as part of the compliance process, Rod contacted the

foremost expert on paleontological cave excavations, Dr.

Jim Mead and asked his advice on how to proceed. Dr.

Mead told him that he should excavate a test trench with

gridded squares, excavating in 10 cm levels and then bag

the resulting sediment and ship it to his lab for analysis. He

would then wet screen the sediment and pick through the

resulting mixture for small bones. That all happened during

the winter of 2014. In one of the bags they found a jaw

bone of a pika, a rabbit-like animal that had never been

found in South Dakota before. Today, the closest pika is

found is the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming, where it is only

found at high elevations. Jim immediately realized that

when these fossils accumulated in Persistence Cave, the Black Hills had been much colder than it is today, which pointed

towards the ice age. The discovery of two species of voles, which currently only live in Canada, further strengthened this

idea. When they found a bone from a pig-like animal that is a relative of a peccary and which became extinct around

11,000 years ago; Jim knew we definitely had an ice-age fauna. Jim and Sandy found thousands of bones in the bags we

Dr. James Mead at Persistence Cave gate

The entrance the day the cave was discovered by Marc Ohms

sent them and documented a total of 22 different animal species; they were quite excited to say the least. By the spring of

2015 Dr. Mead had applied for a research permit to conduct a full-scale paleontological excavation that summer.

By mid-June, Marc and I had erected a haul line from the

cave entrance down to the bottom of a nearby drainage

and had built a wet-screening operation in a nearby valley.

The paleontologists that Dr. Mead solicited to help started

rolling into camp soon thereafter. They included Dr. Chris

Jass from the Royal Alberta Museum of Canada, Sharon

Holte, a doctoral student from the University of Florida, Jeff

Martin, a doctoral student from the University of Maine, and

of course Jim’s wife Sandy Swift, the microscope picking

specialist. I added my staff and a GeoCorp paleontological

intern from the South Dakota School of Mines and

Technology named Paul Barrett. Knowing that no

paleontological field crew is complete without a camp cook,

Dr. Mead was able to acquire Pat Monaco to round off the

crew.

During a couple of weeks scattered throughout this

summer, nearly 1 ton of sediment was excavated out of a passage that continues straight ahead and into the ridge from

the bottom of the entrance pit and another 2 tons from a side passage that branches to the right of the entrance pit and

curves to the north under the crest of the ridge. The sediment removed from the cave only represents a minute fraction of

the tremendous volume of material still in the cave. Interesting finds were made each day, including extinct camel, horse,

and bison bones and lots of bats and snake bones. Many of the large bones had been broken by a carnivore and chewed

on by rodents. All of these observations provided clues on how the bones accumulated in this ridge-top cave. Once the

sediment and bones had been wet screened and dried, they were taken to the nearby Mammoth Site to be handpicked.

The picked bones then went to the Wind Cave Visitor Center where one of Dr. Mead’s graduate students, Derek

Jurestovsky, cataloged the bones at a table set up so he could interact with park visitors. He cataloged thousands of

bones while educating the public about paleontology. Derek had some modern animal skulls for the visitors to handle and

we put up two displays near his table discussing Persistence Cave and the paleontological project. As we got further back

into the side passage (56 feet from the entrance), we started finding bones that looked fossilized, indicating great age.

Plans started being made to C14 date some select bones this fall; we just had to decide which bones to date. By the end

of the summer, the length of the cave was over 150 feet, but it remained horizontal and just below the surface. We will

have to find a way to get significantly down, at least another 60-100 feet below the surface to break into the hypothized

large cave system that must be the source of the barometric wind. Today, we continue to chase this elusive wind, trying

to find the route downward. Dr. Mead has preliminary identified over 40 species of animals; and plans are already being

made to return next summer for a second paleontological excavation. We fully anticipate that many exciting discoveries

wait to be made in this new cave. Stay tuned for future updates.

Wind Cave National Park

Hey, maybe they were playing King of the Mountain! Earlier this

summer, three bison calves were seen exploring the top of a gravel

pile used by the park’s maintenance department.

Rod Horrocks and Marc Ohms as seen from inside the cave

Ruby Falls Receives Triple Awards from

Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association

On August 3rd

, leaders from the Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association (TnHTA) announced Ruby Falls as the award winner in three categories at the annual awards gala in Murfreesboro, TN. The association recognized the attraction for its sustainable and philanthropic efforts with the Good Earth Keeping Award and the Community Service Award, and also the Ongoing Special Event Award for the Haunted Cavern. “Hospitality and tourism make up the state’s second largest industry,” said TnHTA Chairman Ken Maples. “The individuals and companies we honor with these awards are the driving force behind that success. They provide the top-notch guest service that keeps people coming back to Tennessee. The winners were selected to receive these honors by people who truly understand the level of commitment that is required to provide excellent service to customers on a daily basis – their peers.” “Congratulations are in order for our team at Ruby Falls,” said Hugh Morrow, president of Ruby Falls. “We are honored to be recognized from our industry peers in the areas of community service, special events and in being good stewards of our natural resources.” The “Stars of the Industry Awards” are presented to individuals, companies and industry partners whose commitment to hospitality and tourism has improved the overall industry statewide and has allowed the industry to ‘wow’ guests on a daily basis. “This year’s winners epitomize the true spirit of hospitality that makes Tennessee a great place to live and visit,” said TnHTA.

WNS Report

Research: Brown University researchers have found the enzyme in P. destructans that breaks down tissue. They are now testing enzyme blocking mechanisms to combat the fungus. Researchers at University of Illinois have found a microbe in caves (Candida albicans) that produces a compound (trans, trans-farnesol or tt-farnesol) that inhibits P. destructans. Preliminary research also found other Pseudogymnoascus species are less sensitive to it, indicating it could target WNS without disrupting other components of the cave ecosystem. A newspaper article from Dennis Boyer at War Eagle Cavern - written by Tom A. Throne for the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette, titled "Going Batty: Researchers study the foraging habits of gray bats at Crystal Cave." Here is the summary: Arkansas State University is conducting its second year of studying the foraging habits of gray bats, this year at Crystal Cave in Bella Vista, AR (northwest corner of the state). The researchers block the cave entrance, catch bats and glue transmitters on them, after which they are released. The transmitters stay on for 8 to 14 days. The bats are then tracked from the air with the help of Civil Air Patrol. Last year the bats tracked this way averaged about 12 miles to foraging areas, with as far as 25 miles. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission provided the grant.

Patty Perlaky WNS Chair

Hugh Morrow accepts triple awards on behalf of his entire Ruby Falls team.

NCA Buyers Talk - Please Have A Seat!

The new addition at Talking Rocks Cavern may surprise

you... We added more seats.

In a retail environment, every square foot is important. The common reaction to having extra room is to expand your selection of merchandise with the goal of increasing spending per person. However, after seeing that the manager had replaced two old chairs that had dingy cloth cushions with two nice, leather arm chairs, the owner and buyer of Talking Rocks Cavern, Bruce Herschend, encouraged us to add a few more seats for our guests. My initial reaction was that our current seating options were sufficient. There were two comfortable arm chairs toward the back of the gift shop, and several benches outside where our guests could relax. Bruce recommended doubling our guest seating in the

gift shop, as well as expanding the seating area outside. He shared with me that we had expanded the sales space to maximize sales per square foot, but when the return doesn’t continue to increase, we can conclude that we have enough sales space. Then it is time to consider other options. He continued by explaining that our motivation is not purely to be nice guys; there is a financial reward for adding more seats. Having pondered Bruce’s reasons to expand our seating areas, I realized that this concept can be found in other retail venues. Craft malls and flea markets often have seating areas, not just a couple of chairs, for their patrons. These are intentional areas designated for people who need to stop and rest, or to give the shopping faint of heart a place to escape. I can personally relate to the latter reason…

You will often find me shopping with my daughter. Not because I am passionate about shopping, mind you, but because I love spending time with my daughter. I do my best to endure her ability to shop for several hours at a time. However, on more than one excursion, I have hit my shopping “wall”. Having a place for me to sit while she looks at “just one more thing”, is heaven-sent! She can continue her hunt for items that she can’t live without, the store continues to make sales, and I quietly go to my happy place (aka: the sitting area!). Without this option, I’m expressing my apologies to her as we head straight for the car. Another two new arm chairs and a new bench now adorn the gift shop. It has been pleasant surprise to see all of the seats being used on a regular basis! The bench was strategically placed in front of the SpeleoBox where parents have be seen relaxing while watching their children show off their ninja moves venturing through the crawl maze.

Older adults who chose not to tour Talking Rocks Cavern have found respite in one of the arm chairs during their hour-long wait. Recently, all four chairs and the bench were pulled together as a family gathered around, intently watching two of their family members play checkers. These three examples each have significant meaning to the owner and management of Talking Rocks Cavern. When we provide a comfortable bench, we are encouraging togetherness (proximity; not just being in the same room together). The bench is also a great place to pause and observe~ and unknowingly, memories are made! The arm chair is stately in appearance, and non-verbal says that we want our guests to be well taken care of. Moreover, it translates into revenue when one person out of a group is not able to take the tour, and we say, “Please, have a seat!”

Additional seating outside the gift shop

New sitting area at Talking Rocks... Checkers anyone?

Guests relaxing enjoying checkers

while the rest of the group is touring the cave. This is much preferred to the entire group leaving because one of them isn’t able to walk the stairs of this beautiful, but vertical, cavern. It is invaluable to see our guests spending time together, even if it is over an unassuming game of checkers. A future return can be found when these guests verbally share their experiences with family and friends, post pictures and comments on their social media sites, or give their “expert” review of our attraction on Trip Advisor for the entire world to read. In your cavern gift shop, every square foot is important. The next time you ponder ways of making it more profitable, consider an investment in seats.

Jody Gertson

Talking Rocks Cavern

Outdoor Attractions Operators to Experience What’s New, Now, and

Next in the Attractions Industry at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2015

By Scott Cahoon, IAAPA Communications

Cave, cavern, and other outdoor attractions operators are invited to see what’s new, now, and

next in the worldwide attractions industry at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2015, Nov. 16-20 at the

Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

The weeklong trade show and conference will draw more than 28,000 attendees, feature a half-

million-square-foot trade show floor with 1,000 innovative exhibitors from around the world, and

offer more than 100 educational opportunities, facility EDUTours, and networking events.

IAAPA Attractions Expo is owned and produced by the International Association of Amusement

Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) and is the global attractions industry’s largest conference and

trade show.

1,000 Exhibitors to Display the Industry’s Newest Innovations

One thousand companies will fill more than 525,000 net square

feet of exhibit space on the IAAPA Attractions Expo trade show

floor Tuesday, Nov. 17 through Friday, Nov. 20. Exhibitors will

offer products in more than 125 product categories, including

zip lines, climbing walls, rides, shows, ticketing technologies,

inflatables, play equipment, displays and sets, gifts, souvenirs,

food and beverage items, and more. A number of the

attractions on the show floor will be available for live

demonstration, giving attendees a chance to try their next

business-changing product before they buy.

IAAPA’s new Food and Beverage Showcase and the First-

Time Exhibitors Pavilion will provide specialized areas where

buyers can specifically target food service related products and

innovative concepts from newcomers to the Expo.

Products from more than 1,000 exhibitors in more than 125 product

categories will be available for attractions industry professionals to test,

try, and buy on the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2015 trade show floor.

Education Program to Inspire Attractions Operators with Valuable Takeaways

IAAPA Attractions Expo 2015 features more than 100 educational

opportunities designed to keep attractions industry professionals of all

levels informed about the latest trends and developments in safety,

operations, retail, human resources, food and beverage, entertainment,

social media, public relations, marketing, and more.

Cave, cavern, and outdoor attractions operators are encouraged to attend

several sessions particularly relevant to their field, including “Events: An

Expanded Frontier for Your Business,” “2015 Food and Beverage Trends,”

“Attractions Pricing Strategies to Maximize Profitability,” “Making Your

Attractions Safe for Kids,” and much more.

In-Depth Learning Opportunities at Orlando’s Premier Attractions

In-depth Learning Experiences provide participants a deeper understanding of

the attractions industry. Exclusive EDUTours to the Brevard Zoo, Disney’s

Hollywood Studios, the Legoland Hotel, SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Studios

Florida, and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon provide a look behind-the-scenes into the

operations of these world-class facilities.

More information about each of these In-depth Learning Experiences is available

at www.IAAPA.org/IAAPAAttractionsExpoEducation

Gaining Credit toward IAAPA Certification

Participants in the education sessions, seminars, and EDUTours are eligible to

earn credit toward IAAPA Certification, the attractions industry’s new professional

recognition program.

More information about how IAAPA Certification can provide a valuable boost to

an attractions industry professional’s career is available at

www.IAAPA.org/Certification.

IAAPA Celebrates at I-Drive 360 Thursday, Nov. 19, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m.

IAAPA Attractions Expo 2015’s premier networking event, “IAAPA Celebrates at I-Drive 360,” takes place Thursday, Nov.

19, at the all-new I-Drive 360 attractions complex in Orlando, Florida. Participants will enjoy all four attractions at the I-

Drive 360 complex: The Orlando Eye observation wheel, the Madame Tussauds celebrity wax museum, Sea Life Orlando

aquarium, and Skeletons: Animals Unveiled science center and museum. Participants will also enjoy live music, food and

beverage, and fireworks during the event.

Please note: Participants must be 18 or older to attend education sessions, networking events, and facility tours.

For more information about IAAPA Attractions Expo, visit www.IAAPA.org/IAAPAAttractionsExpo.

A big thank you to our representative Richard Jackson, Vice President,

North American Operations IAAPA for his help in this communication!

A group of attractions industry professionals take in one of

more than 80 educational seminars IAAPA Attractions Expo

has to offer.

IAAPA Attractions Expo 2015 will host more than

28,000 industry professionals looking to see the

latest products, network with friends and

colleagues, and learn the most effective ways to

operate their business.

http://www.iaapa.org/IAAPAAttractionsExpoEducation

http://www.iaapa.org/Certification

http://www.iaapa.org/IAAPAAttractionsExpo

From Deep Down In The Archives...

The First NCA Meeting - 50 Years Ago - 1965

A group of convention attendees at The Shepherd of the Hills, Branson, Missouri

NCA Convention 2015, (50

th Anniversary) Host: Cave of the Mounds, Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, September 21 - 25, 2015

NCKRI -The Sinkhole Conference, Rochester, Minnesota, October 5 - 9, 2015

ISCA 2015, Germany & Austria, October 17 - 24, 2015

National Cave & Karst Management Symposium 2015, Cave City, Kentucky, October 19 - 23, 2015

IGES/SSS 2015, Sevierville, Tennessee, November 3 - 6, 2015 & Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, November 4 - 8, 2015

Smokey Mountain Gift Show 2015, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, November 4 - 7, 2015

IAAPA 2015, Orlando, Florida, November 16 - 20, 2015

Tucson Gem and Mineral Shows 2016, Tucson, Arizona, January 30 - February 14, 2015

NCA Mid-Winter Board of Directors Meeting, Renaissance Airport Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri, February 29 - March 3, 2016

NCKRI - Deep Karst Conference 2016, Carlsbad, New Mexico, April 11 - 14, 2016

NSS Convention 2016, Ely, Nevada, July 17 - 23, 2016

NCA Convention 2016, Host: Squire Boone Caverns, French Lick, Indiana, September 19 - 23, 2016


Tucson Gem and Mineral Shows 2017, Tucson, Arizona, January 28 - February 12, 2017

NCA Convention 2017, Host: Mark Twain Cave, Hannibal, Missouri (Dates TBD)


Next Cave Talk Deadline, September 15 for the October 2015 issue.

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