In this newsletter: Road Updates, Store Updates, and Thank Yous!
Update from CalTrans on Highway 180
CalTrans has posted July and August updates detailing the situation on Highway 180.
Redwood Creek, Site 3
Many of you may recognize the Redwood Creek area from your drive down into the canyon. Some years it’s merely a thin line of water; some years, it is flowing enough to encourage folks to stop and take photos! Redwood Creek is just above Convict Flat, about 1.5 miles from Boyden, and near one of the turnouts with water for overheating vehicles. The winter storms have caused significant damage to the road at Redwood Creek. Initially, a tiny portion of the road remained (about 6 feet, including the shoulder). Unfortunately, after those initial inspections, the water flowed heavily again, and with the culvert blocked, the water washed over the remaining 6 feet, resulting in a complete washout. What remains is an 80-100 feet gap in the roadway. In many of our tours, we talk about the power of water inside the cave – this incident vividly showcases the power of water on the roadway! Typically, a washout would be backfilled and repaired to its original state, but the large canyon that has formed will likely need to be repaired with a new bridge instead. Since this washout occurred, no one has been able to travel past this section. While we hope the road closer to Boyden is doing well, we won't be able to check on things until this repair is completed. Caltrans will be sending out new updates when the design work is completed.
In some respects, this update brings encouragement; in others, it raises concerns about the possibility of opening on time in 2024. While uncertainties remain, we are actively exploring alternative funding options to ensure our business's survival until we can once again welcome you to the cavern.
Online Souvenir Store
Exciting news – we've added new items to our online store! We're expanding our offerings to include items we personally selected during the Tucson Rock and Gem show over the winter. These unique pieces are now available for shipping. Additionally, we're showcasing artwork from local artists and smaller designers we've collaborated with. Through our partnership with Printful, we bring you print-on-demand merchandise. One such artist, from a tour guest, is behind Little Coffee Pup – her creativity has brought forth captivating items that are now part of our store. We're also thrilled to introduce new wildflower watercolors created by my personal friend from Australia, Coral Pea Designs. These exquisite interpretations of local flora capture the essence of the canyon and its surroundings. If you're interested in seeing more merchandise featuring these designs, don't hesitate to request additions to our shop! Throughout the year, we'll continue adding items, maintaining the online shop even as Boyden Cavern reopens its doors.
We appreciate your support!
Following our last newsletter, we were humbled by the outpouring of gift card purchases and supportive emails. Your gestures mean more to us than words can express. Some of you also inquired about alternative donation methods, leading us to set up a GoFundMe page for your convenience. And don't forget, you can still purchase gift cards at a 10% discount using the code FUTURE180. As a for-profit business, we appreciate both gift card purchases and GoFundMe donations alike – your support matters to us, no matter the method you choose.