Officials from the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest have announced Blanchard Springs Caverns in Stone County will reopen for the first time in two years on Aug. 18.
According to a release from the forest service, multiple factors contributed to the lengthy closure of the caverns, including ongoing facility repairs and safety mitigation measures related to the pandemic. Officials state safety and the desire to provide a quality visitor experience remain the top priorities for Forests and Caverns staff.
Ozark-St. Francis National Forests’ Recreation Staff Officer, Amy Burt, says, “Tickets must be pre-purchased through recreation.gov. Advanced ticketing for tours will allow the Caverns to adequately staff guided tours on the Dripstone Trail and provide a more enhanced visitor experience. Tours will be available Thursday through Monday and closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.”
The Discovery and Wild Cave Tours will not be offered at this time due to staffing limitations.
Visitors will be asked to wear a face mask during periods of high Covid-19 county community transmission levels.
For more information about ticketing and Caverns operations, visit https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/233266/ticket/172 or call 870-757-2211.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI