40th Anniversary Celebration and Ribbon Cutting for Lehman Caves New Lighting System

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 26, 2026

Great Basin National Park Marks 40th Anniversary and Celebrates Completion of Lehman Caves New Lighting System

BAKER, Nev. — Great Basin National Park celebrated its 40th anniversary on Friday, Oct. 23, with an all day event and ribbon-cutting ceremony. U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto joined park officials, park partners, community members, and visitors for the celebration, which included a full day of presentations, free cave tours and celebration activities recognizing the park's history.

The afternoon ribbon-cutting ceremony opened with a performance by the Eskdale Choir. Park Superintendent Ashley Adams welcomed guests and reflected on the park's accomplishments over the past 40 years, including an increase in annual visitation from 40,000 to 160,000.

Adams thanked the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act (SNPLMA) program for funding the $6 million lighting replacement project, as well as numerous other infrastructure improvements throughout the park. She also recognized the staff, volunteers and park partners whose work supports the park's mission.

During the ceremony, Senator Cortez Masto recalled visiting Lehman Caves as a sixth-grade student and later returning with her family. She spoke about the importance of preserving places like Great Basin National Park and the role the park plays in the economy of White Pine County. She recognized the National Park Service employees, Great Basin National Park Foundation, local businesses and community members who support the park and make it a true gem of Nevada.

The day's activities began at Baker Hall with in depth presentations. Louise Hose and Harvey DuChene explained the cave's unique geology and formations, Evan Bowen shared how LiDAR mapping technology is helping researchers locate and explore previously unknown caves in the park, including eight discovered in recent months. Rod Horrocks, Kirsten Bahr and Gretchen Baker discussed the challenges of replacing the cave's aging lighting system. Years of exposure to the cave's cold and humid conditions had caused corrosion and deterioration of electrical fixtures. Crews worked in darkness to remove thousands of pounds of old wiring and grout before installing a new lighting system which is designed to illuminate the cave's beautiful and unique formations while also protecting its delicate ecosystem.

Afternoon presentations focused on the establishment of Great Basin National Park in 1986 and the efforts of those who worked to bring national park designation to the area. Speakers included Jeanne Sharp Howerton, Denys Koyle and past park superintendent James Woolsey.

Established on Oct. 27, 1986, Great Basin National Park encompasses 77,000 acres in eastern Nevada. The park is known for Lehman Caves, Wheeler Peak, ancient bristlecone pine trees and some of the darkest night skies in the country.

For Baker and surrounding White Pine County communities, the park has become an important part of the local economy, bringing visitors to area lodging, restaurants and other businesses. Despite an annual congressional operating budget of approximately $3 million, the park generated an estimated $22.7 million in economic output for the surrounding community in 2025.

"National parks are one of America's greatest ideas," said Aviva O'Neil, executive director of Great Basin National Park Foundation. "We are thrilled to celebrate the amazing park rangers and community members who made and continue to make Nevada's national park such a special place for visitors from around the world. We need to invest in our parks now, and into the future."

The ceremonial reopening of Lehman Caves came just days before the park's official 40th anniversary on October 27. The October 23 event was organized by the National Park Service and Great Basin National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of Great Basin National Park.