ETOWN : TOURING NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA
The interior of one of the caves in Alabaster Caverns , located in
Northwest Oklahoma .
Photo by BILLY HEFTON
“ I ’ d definitely recommend the hiking trails ,” Kelsey said . “ They run north of the park and offer cool sights to see year round and alot of the natural wildlife that are in the area . We also have 10 RV sites and 10 camping sites that visitors are able to rent out , a nature center that gives more information on the area and a rattlesnake exhibit with snakes for visitors to see .”
Kelsey says that the park also is a popular site for wild caving , or spelunking , where permitted explorers can visit four of the caves on their own that range in activity level and distance from 550 ft . to 1,600 ft . For an equipment list , rules and regulations and to obtain a permit , visitors are welcome to visit or call the park office .
Moving forward , Alabaster Caverns State Park seeks to increase its cool attractions , coming in hot with a series of projects as well as a detailed plan for upgrade and expansion .
Sterling Zearley , director of state parks , lodges and golf , has worked to create House Bill 3972 , an emergency maintenance eight-year plan that will restore natural attractions and accommodations to its visitors . Alabaster Caverns State
Park is listed as the fifth park within the plan to see maintenance — specifically , a restoration project of a cave that collapsed in 2018 . Zearley currently is presenting the bill to legislators to be passed , not only for the immediate benefit of an updated state park , but the lasting benefits the state parks have on the community and state in an economical way and generations to come sentimentally .
“ We want to build a legacy with our state parks ,” Zearley said . “ As our children were growing up , we took them to many state parks across Oklahoma and made priceless memories there that we look back on . It ’ s our hope to upgrade the parks to keep those memories growing within families and create places where people can come and enjoy while beneficially impacting our state .”
Alabaster Caverns State Park seeks to build these memories by also hosting events throughout the year to engage visitors , which can be found on the park ’ s Facebook page or by calling the park . Upcoming , the park is seeking to take the heat off the explorer who has the spelunking spirit , but may not know just how to start .
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