What kid isn't fascinated by elevators? I know I was probably still am. My oldest

son was obsessed when he was younger.

Is it glass? How many floors are there? Is it fast? Can I push the button?

Elevators might seem like a strange topic for a National parks podcast, but today we're going to talk about a special elevator.

In 1931, the National Park Service constructed what was then the second highest, or shall

we say deepest, elevator shaft in the world.

Descending tourists 754 feet into the wonders of Carl's Bad

Caffrons, and it's been at the center of some pretty wild incidents.

Here is Abigail Trebue.

Deep below the surface in the Guadalupe Mountains at the border of Texas and New Mexico lies one of the world's greatest wonders.

Carl's Bad Caverns

When the park opened the only way to enter the cavern was to be lowered in a large bucket that had been previously used to harvest Bat Guano. Shortly after, a staircase and trail were constructed to take visitors in through the natural entrance.

A 1 1.5 mile strenuous hike down winding switchbacks.

The 30s brought innovation to the caverns, allowing one of the more difficult parks to enter to become one of the easiest.

An elevator shaft was blasted 750 feet into the ground. On December 29, 1930,

around the clock excavation began from both above and below.

It took 12 tons of explosives to clear out the 4,000 cubic yards of rock.

On December 23rd, 1931, the state of the art Otis elevator was

finished. It costs an additional 50 cents, causing usage to be limited until the end of the Great Depression.

On January 25, 1939 at 1231 PM, Ranger Leslie Thompson was working the elevator shift,

and had just returned to the surface where a group of 11 visitors were buying tickets.

Assistant electrician Claude Carpenter took control of the elevator from Thompson to bring the chief clerk and the auditor down ahead of the tourist party.

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