OFFICERS President: John Graves Luray Caverns, VA Ph: 540-743-6551 john.graves@luraycaverns.com Vice President: Al Mathis DeSoto Caverns, AL Ph: 256-872-6240 al@desotocaverns.com Secretary Treasurer: Bob Holt National Caves Association Ph: 518-231-5420 bob@cavern.com Past President: Patty Perlaky Cave Without A Name, TX Ph: 830-537-4212 caveperl@yahoo.com REGIONAL DIRECTORS Region One: (CT, DE, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT) Greg Beckler Natural Stone Bridge & Caves, NY gbeckler@frontiernet.net Ph: 518-494-2283 Region Two: (MD, VA, WV, KY) Eric Helton Diamond Caverns, KY eric@diamondcaverns.com Ph: 270-749-2233 Region Three: (IL, IN, MI, OH) Claudia Yundt - Squire Boone Caverns, IN claudia@squireboone.com Ph: 812-732-4382 Region Four: (AR, IA, KS, MO, NE) Dennis Boyer - War Eagle Cavern, AR wareaglecavern@gmail.com Ph: 479-789-2909 Region Five: (MN, MT, ND, SD, WI) Tom Hagen - Rushmore Cave, SD tom@rushmorecave.com Ph: 605-255-4467 Robert A. Holt PO Box 625, Cobleskill, NY 12043 Executive Director Phone: 518-231-5420 Email: bob@cavern.com cavern.com October 2018 Indiana Caverns Announces New Projects for 2019 Indiana Caverns celebrated their 5th Anniversary on June 15th with a day-long celebration and an evening concert by The Strings of Indian Creek, a caver led country/rock band. The highlight of the evening was the announcement of two new major projects planned for 2019. The largest project will be named The Bat Chaser, which will be a 600-foot long gravity-powered aerial coaster (rollglider) built by Walltopia USA. Indiana Caverns Bat Chaser will be only the second roll glider the company has built in the US. The first one opened in Gatlinburg in March 2018. There are currently 15-20 roll gliders operating throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Region Six: (CA, ID, NV, OR, WA, AK, HI, Barbados, Bermuda) Matt Doyle Lake Shasta Caverns, CA mdoyle@lakeshastacaverns.com Ph: 800-795-2283 Region Seven: (AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY) Kathy Miller Glenwood Caverns, CO kmiller@glenwoodcaverns.com Ph: 970-945-4228 Region Eight: (LA, OK, TX) Ed Mayfield Caverns of Sonora, TX edmayfield@mac.com Ph: 325-387-3105 Region Nine: (AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN) Lisa McClung Lost Sea, TN lisa@thelostsea.com Ph: 423-337-6616 DIRECTOR AT LARGE Denise Bell Seneca Caverns, OH senecacaverns@hmcltd.net Ph: 419-483-6711 DIRECTOR EMERITUS Steve Runkle - Cave of the Winds, CO rsr@caveofthewinds.com Ph: 719-685-5444 Walltopia describes the rollglider as "an aerial ride, which combines the thrill of free falling and hang gliding into one ride, giving the rider a new adrenaline experience in a safe environment." It also has been compared to a curved zipline type experience, but on a track rather than a cable. The Bat Chaser starts from the top of a 50-foot tower and the rider will then glide along a curved and dipping track which winds around and through a grove of large trees just to the south of Indiana Cavern's main parking lot. The Bat Chaser is expected to open in May 2019. It is anticipated that many current visitors will
add a ride or multiple rides on the Bat Chaser while waiting for their cave tour to depart. A graphic design drawing of the Bat Chaser is attached to this article. Walltopia Roll Glider Bulgaria A similar one will be built at Indiana Caverns and named The Bat Chaser Indiana Caverns also announced plans for two challenge/escape games especially designed for families with limited time (30 minute games rather than the normal one hour games standard in most currently operating escape rooms). One of the games will have a mine theme and is tentatively called "A Thousand feet Deep!). The theme of the second game is still under discussion. Indiana Caverns plans to offer 60-minute versions of these games that can be booked in advance online after regular cave operating hours and anytime during the offseason. Indiana Caverns plans to package these new attractions together and/or with cave tours to offer new family experiences and new packages for groups. It is hoped that the challenge rooms will provide a additional more local component to revenue and much needed winter revenue along with increasing summer per capita from existing cave visitors. The challenge rooms are expected to open sometime this winter. Gary Roberson Indiana Caverns Kathy Miller New Region 7 Director At the recent convention of the NCA, President John Graves announced the appointment of Kathy Miller to the Board of Directors. Kathy is Manager of Natural Attractions at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park and brings loads of experience to the table. Kathy replaces her boss and owner of the park, Steve Beckley. Steve has served on the NCA board for several years; however, he has turned his duties of Region 7 over to the capable hands of Kathy. We welcome Kathy to the NCA Board of Directors and thank Steve for his service!
Tuckaleechee Caverns Nuclear Test Lab Featured On NBC Nightly News A University of Tennessee professor has gone underground to explain how evidence of nuclear tests, including those conducted by North Korea, is recorded in Townsend, TN. Rich Williams, a seismologist in UT s Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, reported on the NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt how in Blount County. The segment aired on the program on Saturday September 29, 2018. Hidden in the Tuckaleechee Caverns in Townsend is a sophisticated laboratory with a particular mission: to listen and record explosions produced by nuclear testing around the world. Seismometer information is fed through conduits to an aboveground satellite dish. The readings also lead to a kiosk in the above-ground visitor center, where you can see the results in real time. The caverns, a popular attraction in the Townsend gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, might look like an unusual place to conduct scientific research, but Williams said it s the perfect spot. Ben Vananda tends the seismic monitor for the Tuckaleechee station. He also prints out data. It is just so quiet there that we can literally hear the Earth vibrating from pretty much any point. When North Korea illegally tests their nuclear weapons, we can record the vibration here within seconds, he said. Tremors are shown on a video screen with a map of the world. Note the earthquakes north of Australia, on the island of New Guinea. The information is sent to the headquarters of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization. The Townsend station is part of a network of more than 120 similar laboratories around the world. But in all honesty, Wiliams said, ours is one of the best ones out there. Watch NBC News story here: https://eblnews.com/video/these-tennessee-caverns-are-critical-detecting-secretseismic-activity-514744
It s A Wrap Convention #53 A Great Time at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, Colorado Nearly 150 members of the NCA Family gathered in Glenwood Springs, Colorado for the 53 rd Annual Convention hosted by the wonderful folks at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. There was much socializing, eating, fun trips, cave tours, more eating, soaking in the hot springs and of course meetings and educational sessions along with our closing banquet featuring the Roaring 1920 s with themed costume. This edition is a pictorial remembrance of our week. We had a wonderful time together with sunny and warm days. Thanks to those of you who shared your photographs! The Hotel Colorado Convention Headquarters - Registration The Vendor Show A Big Thank You To Our Sponsors
Opening Reception at Iron Mountain Hot Springs
A Day at Bair Ranch
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
Closing Banquet The Roaring 20 s & Vaudeville Show
Black Grotto Caving Trip at Glenwood Caverns
Announcements Guest Speakers Meetings Education Round Table Links to Convention Speaker Presentations Jon Schallert The New Rules of Business Success and Silver Bullet Marketing http://jonschallert.com/caves/ Trent Blizzard Social Media, Online Reviews & Marketing https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1n7idzvqhgbrsmxj8hixmdke4lywuiosfklclo61kwsa/edit?usp=sharing Brad Wuest Report of ISCA http://members.cavern.com/content/reports/2018/isca%20report%202018%20show%20cave%20industry%20worldwide%20 %20PDF.pdf
Nicole Ridlen New NSS Liaison To NCA After 40 years serving at the helm as NSS Coordinator to the NCA, Gordon Smith has passed on the torch to NSS member Nicole Ridlen of Bluff Dwellers Cave. Gordon made the announcement at the recent NCA Convention in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The membership thanked Gordon with a round of applause for his many years of service. He said the NCA is in capable hands with Nicole. Nicole is active with her local Grotto and is also active with the NSS as she recently was in Helena, Montana for the 2018 Convention. We welcome Nicole and what a way to break her in at her first NCA Convention! WNS Report Several newspapers ran an article regarding Carlsbad Caverns joining with the USFWS, BLM and USFS to devise strategies to prevent WNS from spreading to New Mexico. The articles mentioned the the death of bats in the northeast and how that would be detrimental to tourism at Carlsbad. Peter Youngbaer of the NSS wrote the following response: Peter Youngbaer The half million Carlsbad bats that are the subject of the nightly summer bat flight are not going to get WNS. WNS is a disease of hibernating bats. The Carlsbad tourist attraction bats are not hibernators. In fact, they are only seasonally at Carlsbad, as it is a maternity colony of Mexican free-tailed bats. As such, the maternity "wing" of the cave (known as the "bat cave") is very hot - too hot for the fungus to survive. Now, down in the main cave, Carlsbad has small colonies of other bats, including two Myotis species (Cave Myotis and Fringed Myotis), that may be susceptible - but not the main attraction. While sensational headlines and stories may get the public's attention, and WNS is a most serious disease of hibernating bats, let's keep it accurate. Thank you. Patty Perlaky WNS Chair Mountain View in Glenwood Springs
Village Originals Receives Affiliate Member Recognition Award On behalf of the Awards Committee of the NCA, President, John Graves honors Affiliate Member Village Originals an Appreciation Award for their many years of service to our industry. The award was presented at the recent convention. The plaque reads: In Appreciation Village Originals For providing our members with excellent customer service and quality products, along with your support at every vendor show and convention breakout sessions. The NCA wishes to sincerely thank you for your commitment to the show cave industry. September 2018 Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Accepting the award on behalf of his family s business is Nick Gehring grandson of Jay Gehring, owner of Village Originals. Iron Mountain Hot Springs facility along the Colorado River Sunset view from Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
Tennessee Trade Show Attendees The IGES Sevierville Show will be Nov. 3 6, 2018 and the IGES Pigeon Forge Show will be Nov. 4 7, 2018. The Smoky Mountain Gift Show will be Nov. 4 7, 2018. The 2018 shows have old and new vendors exhibiting! IGES is the largest wholesale resort and souvenir gift show in the nation! Your NCA Retail Committee has worked with IGES to plan out a couple great deals for the NCA buyers that attend the trade show. NCA Buyers amenities (only for NCA Buyers): 1) 10th Annual Caves Dinner and Meeting. Tue. Nov. 6, 6:30 at RiverStone Resort (transportation provided). 2) There will be a general buyers lounge and a special table set up for NCA! The buyers lounge will be available in both locations. Buyer amenities are: 1) Free parking in both locations 2) Events have not been posted yet. Soon to come. 3) Shuttle service from Black Fox Lodge, Dollywood s DreamMore Resort, Hampton Inn Sevierville, Home2 Squites, La Quina Inn & Suites Sevierville, Margaritaville Island Hotel, RiverStone Resort & Spa and Wilderness at the Smokies from 7:30 am to 10:00am and then 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. 4) Express service between Sevierville Convention Center and LeConte Convention Center in Pigeon Forge during show hours. 5) They have also partnered with The Smoky Mountain Gift show and will have shuttle service between the shows on Nov. 4, 5, 6, & 7. 6) Parking lot golf carts are back!! 7) Are you flying in? If so they also have a Knoxville Airport Shuttle. Call Rocky Top at 877-315-8687. Make sure you show you confirmation of registration as a BUYER for IGES to get this complilmentary shuttle. The 10th Annual Caves Dinner and Cracker Barrel will be held on Tue. Nov. 6th. This year s dinner will once again be at 6:30. Keep your evening free and enjoy networking and a buyer s cracker barrel after dinner! Please come RiverStone Resort in Pigeon Forge. prepared to share any exciting new products you discovered at the show. Also share with the group how your cave shops did this year, what s new, successful products you introduced this year and any other ideas for increasing retail per capita spending at your cave. There will be lots of time for networking and a cracker barrel! The sponsors of the dinner will be providing goody bags for all attendees but they will not be present at the dinner. Please be sure to stop by the booths of the sponsors to thank them for the dinner and samples. If you are planning on attending the FREE NCA networking dinner on Tuesday evening, please e-mail, call or RSVP to Claudia by Oct. 15 th. We will need your Cave s name, Buyers name, total number attending the dinner and a contact e-mail or phone number. Please contact Claudia at Claudia@squireboone.com, 888-934-1804 or give her the RSVP before you leave the convention!! RSVP s are required! IGES/SEVIERVILLE TRADE SHOW RSVP NCA DINNER - TUE. NOV. 6, 2018 AT 6:30 Cave Name: Buyers Name: Number of people attending: Contact info: Email Phone number
Thanks for the Memories Steve & Jeanne Beckley and the Entire Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Team! Calendar of Events International Gift Exposition in the Smokies 2018, Sevierville, TN, November 3-6, Pigeon Forge, TN, November 4-7, 2018 IAAPA 2018, Orlando, Florida, November 13-16, 2018 National Cave and Karst Day, June 6, 2019 NSS Convention, June 17 21, 2019, Cookeville, TN NCA Convention 2019, Host: Ruby Falls, Chattanooga, Tennessee, September 30 October 4, 2019 International Gift Exposition in the Smokies 2018, Sevierville, TN, (Dates TBD), Pigeon Forge, TN, (Dates TBD) IAAPA 2019, Orlando, Florida, November 11-15, 2019 National Cave and Karst Day, June 6, 2020 NCA Convention 2020, Host: Lake Shasta Caverns, Lakehead, California, (Dates TBD) International Gift Exposition in the Smokies 2018, Sevierville, TN, (Dates TBD), Pigeon Forge, TN, (Dates TBD) IAAPA 2020, Orlando, Florida, (Dates TBD) National Cave and Karst Day, June 6, 2021 Got News? Please make sure you let Bob Holt know when you have news to share with the membership regarding you and your cave. It is the goal of the NCA office to continue producing monthly issues of Cave Talk and this can only happen when you help with the sharing of your news. Please send your articles, photographs to bob@cavern.com. November 2018 Cave Talk Deadline : Please have all articles to Bob Holt no later than Oct. 15. Thank you!