News Release

Wind Cave resumes tours following elevator replacement and modernization

Tours of Wind Cave resumed Tuesday, January 28, following the completion of the elevator replacement project.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: January 24, 2025

Contact: Tom Farrell, 605-745-1130

Cave tours through Wind Cave resumed Tuesday, January 28, after the completion of a year-long project to replace and modernize the cave’s elevator system. During the construction project, begun last January, both cabs were replaced, improvements were made to the shaft, and a new lift system was installed.

"We’re very pleased with the completion of this project,” said Acting Superintendent Milton Haar. “It’s been a long wait since we stopped tours last May, and we are looking forward to resuming tours through the world’s seventh-longest cave.”

Tours of the Garden of Eden will be offered at 10 a.m. with tours of the Fairgrounds beginning at 1 p.m. The Garden tour has 150 stairs and lasts one hour. The Fairground tour has 450 stairs and last an hour and a half. Tickets can be reserved up to three days in advance by visiting recreation.gov. As visitation ramps up, more tours will be offered.

The visitor center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with new exhibits and the park store run by the Black Hills Parks and Forests Association.