Unique Experiences
Tour Kartchner Caverns with cave co-discoverer Gary Tenen
- Item Number
- 119
- Estimated Value
- Priceless
- Sold
- 500 USD to bluheven
- Number of Bids
- 1 - Bid History
Item Description
Experience a stunning limestone cave in Southeastern Arizona that boasts world-class features with one of two people who discovered it!
It all began with a drop of water over 200,000 years ago.
In November 1974 two young cavers, Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts, were exploring the limestone hills at the base of the Whetstone Mountains. In the bottom of a sinkhole they found a narrow crack leading into the hillside. Warm, moist air flowed out, signaling the existence of a cave. After several hours of crawling, they entered a pristine cavern.
The formations that decorate caves are called “speleothems.” Usually formations are composed of layers of calcite called travertine deposited by water. The form a speleothem takes is determined by whether the water drips, flows, seeps, condenses, or pools.
Kartchner Caverns is home to:
- one of the world's longest soda straw stalactites: 21 feet 3 inches (Throne Room)
- the tallest and most massive column in Arizona, Kubla Khan: 58 feet tall (Throne Room)
- the world's most extensive formation of brushite moonmilk (Big Room)
- the first reported occurrence of “turnip” shields (Big Room)
- the first cave occurrence of “birdsnest” needle quartz formations
- many other unusual formations such as shields, totems, helictites, and rimstone dams.
It wasn't until February 1978 that Tenen and Tufts told the property owners, James and Lois Kartchner, about their amazing discovery. During the four years of secret exploration, the discoverers realized that the cave's extraordinary variety of colors and formations must be preserved.
The cave's existence became public knowledge in 1988 when its purchase was approved as an Arizona State Park. Extraordinary precautions have been taken during its development to conserve the cave's near-pristine condition.
The Discovery Center features museums exhibits, a large gift shop, regional displays, theater, and educational information about the caverns and the surrounding landscape. There are also campgrounds, hiking trails, lockers, shaded picnic areas, a deli, an amphitheater, and a hummingbird garden.
Gary will accompany you on a regularly scheduled cave tour and will be available for discussions, questions and a short hike if desired.
University of Arizona Hillel Foundation stores data...
Your support matters, so University of Arizona Hillel Foundation would like to use your information to keep in touch about things that may matter to you. If you choose to hear from University of Arizona Hillel Foundation, we may contact you in the future about our ongoing efforts.
Your privacy is important to us, so University of Arizona Hillel Foundation will keep your personal data secure and University of Arizona Hillel Foundation will not use it for marketing communications which you have not agreed to receive. At any time, you may withdraw consent by emailing Privacy@frontstream.com or by contacting our Privacy Officer. Please see our Privacy Policy found here PrivacyPolicy.