Visitors walk up the newly lit walkway, marveling at the flowing formation known as the “Queen’s Canopy.”
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The Missouri State Parks team flipped the switch at Onondaga Cave State Park for a much-awaited reopening of the cave, which had been closed due the installation of a new LED lighting system. The previous cave lighting system used for tours was more than 30 years old.
The new lighting provides visitors with a more enjoyable cave tour, illuminating more of the cave formations and natural beauty.
“The new upgrade benefits the cave’s ecosystem by reducing invasive algae growth and providing a more suitable home for the cave’s inhabitants, who are accustomed to the dark,” said Ken McCarty, director of Missouri State Parks’ Natural Resources Management Program.
This project marks the completion of the first of many revenue bond projects for Missouri State Parks. The cave, discovered in 1886, was first opened for tours in 1904, coinciding with the timing of the World’s Fair in St. Louis. It has continued to captivate tourists for 120 years. Drawing more than 20,000 visitors annually, Onondaga Cave is a National Natural Landmark, hosting some of the most rare and majestic speleothems in the world.
Incandescent lighting was originally installed in the 1950s and was upgraded throughout the years, with Missouri State Parks making expensive repairs yearly to keep the old system functioning. Over the years, many of the system’s parts became obsolete, making the lights difficult to shut off, which was harmful to the cave’s natural state.
“The cave electrical and lighting system was at the end of its useful life and we were in jeopardy of having to shut down the commercial cave operation without a new system,” said David Kelly, director of Missouri State Parks.
The new lights impress visitors, highlighting what had formerly been left in the dark.
“I thought Onondaga Cave State Park was amazing!” said Sheri Cerame, a first-time visitor to the area. “Such a gem and so close to home – only 90 minutes from St. Louis! The cave boasts all kinds of formations. Max, our tour guide and geologist, was a wealth of knowledge.”
Missouri contractors were used to complete the project, with Roger-Schmitt Engineering designing the lighting project and Meyer Electric installing.
“The tour operation at Onondaga Cave State Park is the most popular and oldest cave tour operation in Missouri State Parks,” said Kelly. “Cave tours at Onondaga Cave have been offered for more than 100 years and the operation brings in more than $400,000 annually.”
The new electrical upgrade cost almost $2.1 million. Not including interest, the annual projected revenue will allow a complete payback in five years.
In 2021, Missouri State Parks proposed a total of 28 revenue bond-funded projects at 22 different parks across the state. The total cost for all potential projects is estimated to be $68 million and the projects will be completed over a five-year period. A total of $60.2 million in revenue bonds were sold in October 2021 to fund the projects.
Most of the projects fall into two main categories: campground upgrades and expansion (with a lifespan of up to 40 years); and the development of new cabins (with a lifespan of up to 80 years). Missouri State Parks identified the revenue bond projects using occupancy data for camping and lodging, visitor comments and recommendations from park team members.
Onondaga Cave State Park is located at 7556 Highway H in Leasburg.
For more information about Onondaga Cave State Park and other state parks and historic sites, visit the Missouri State Parks webpage.
