Timpanogos Cave National Monument is seeking public comment on its proposal to increase cave tour ticket fees in order to help address deferred maintenance needs while significantly improving customer service by increasing the number of cave tours available daily and potentially extending the tour season in spring and fall.
The park does not charge an entrance fee. Cave tour tickets, sold as an Enhanced Amenity Fee as authorized by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, are the park’s only source of fee revenue. These funds support cave tour guide positions, repair and maintenance of the cave trail and other facilities, and operation of the ticketing reservation system.
The current cost of an adult cave tour ticket has fallen well below many nearby comparable activities while the cost of staffing and operation is increasing. Throughout the summer the cave tour tickets sell out quickly and early. Congressionally appropriated funding supports a base number of cave tours during a shorter season, however with the increase, the park will be able to provide additional tours daily and potentially expand the cave tour season beyond May through August.
Adult Junior Child Introduction to Caving
Current $8.00 (age 16 and up) $6.00 (age 6-15)
$4.00 (age 3-5) $0.00 (age 0-1) $16.00
Proposed $12.00 (age 13 and up) $7.00 (age 2-12) $2.00 (age 0-1) $22.00
Historically the park has allowed for fee entry for babies and toddlers however, the reservation system will charge for the reservation by ticket. The nominal fee for infants and young children will cover that cost.
Please note that the park fee program is entirely separate from the recreation fee program administered by the US Forest Service in American Fork Canyon. Though the park does partner with the Forest Service on specific projects such as the production of the annual Reflections newspaper and weekend evening programs in the canyon, no USFS funds collected in the canyon are used to support park operations such as cave tours, custodial work, trail repair, etc.
The National Park Service and Timpanogos Cave National Monument encourages public participation throughout this process. We invite you to submit your written comments online at the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/tica, or send written comments directly to Superintendent, Timpanogos Cave National Monument, R.R. 3 Box 200, American Fork, Utah 84003.
Please provide all comments by October 8, 2018. These comments will be considered and formulated before our proposal is forwarded to the Washington office for approval. We look forward to hearing from you.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
