Onondaga Cave State Park reopens cave with new lighting system July 19…

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JULY 17, 2024 - Join the team at Onondaga Cave State Park for the much-awaited reopening of the cave Friday, July 19 at 10 a.m. with a lighting ceremony. The cave had been closed due the installation of a new LED lighting system.

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. The cave 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 had been 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 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.

Missouri contractors were used to complete the project, with Roger-Schmitt Engineering designing the lighting project and Meyer Electric doing the installation.

Onondaga Cave State Park is located at 7556 Highway H in Leasburg.

For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.