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Accessible RV Checklist
Access Travel Rights
Handicapped Travel Club
Rolling Down The Trail
Family RVing
Schooling Options for RVers
Kartchner Caverns State Park
Oscar Scherer State Park
10 RVing Tips for Newbies
The Accessible RV Site
Riding The Rails
The Enabled RVer Resources
Access Travel Guides
Selecting a Cane for Travel
Fulltime RVing Challenges
Campground Access
HTC Accessible Park List
Arizona Day Drive
Touring Arizona
Columbia River Region
RVing with Kids
Volunteering and RVing
RVing and Children
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| Destination: Arizona |
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| Along The Way by Mike and Carlyn Drew Destination: Kartchner Caverns State Park, Arizona We heard that Kartchner Caverns State Park was to open almost as soon as we were to arrive in Arizona. November 12th was the Grand Opening, and an article in The Arizona Republic, November 13th by Michael Novack, a handicapped staff artist for the paper said, "It's one of the few natural wonders where being in a wheelchair is no obstacle to going where other visitors do." Our interest was peaked. We decided to have a look. We stayed at the Saguaro SKP Co-op just south of Benson. (There are many RV parks around the Benson area, and also at the Hwy. 90, I-10 (Exit 302) area. We took the road west from Benson to Exit 302 (Hwy 90) south for about 10 miles to the park entrance (west side of the highway). Once in the park, we found ample handicapped parking along with 16 RV pull-through slots long enough to accommodate our 57'. After the Grand Opening is completed, a 63 site RV camping area will be open at a cost of $15.00 per night per site with electric and water. A dump station is in the campground. There doesn't appear to be a step in the park-- it's either flat or ramped. The Visitor Center has accessible rest rooms and Carlyn reported having no problems in the rest rooms in her wheelchair. The Visitor Center also has several interactive and static displays in addition to a gift shop. A short movie is worth the stop either before or after taking the tour. There is NO food service in the park. Since the cave is active, great pains have been taken to preserve its ecology. Double environmental doors, stainless steel railings, and barriers along the lighted walkways keep the visitors and cave separated. The walks are non-slip concrete, and are ample width for a wheelchair. Power chairs are also permitted, and as the Pusher, I recommend them. Slopes along the tour have +12% grades for short distances. After several, a breather is needed. This is one of the most diverse caves in such a pristine state we've seen. The package is rather pricey with $10.00 to enter the park with up to four in the vehicle. Additionally, it is $12.00 each for the tour ($14.00 if you make reservations). Of course, reservations are encouraged. We went on a Friday, mid-day, with no reservations and got on the next tour. We think the time and money was well spent! For more information call: 520-586-4100. For reservations call: 520-586-CAVE(2283). Their web site is: www.pr.state.az.us. Reprinted with permission by The Handicapped Travel Club and H.T.C. News. January/February/March 2000. The Handicapped Travel Club www.handicappedtravelclub.com The Handicapped Travel Club (HTC) encourages people with varying kinds of disabilities to travel, meet, and share information on camping spots and adaptive equipment for recreational vehicles. Formed in 1973, the 260+ member club publishes a quarterly newsletter (H.T.C. News), has local get-togethers, and holds an annual rally, which rotates among various sections of the country.The club motto is "For Fun and Fellowship." For more information contact Merle Young, 12555 Lantern Road, Fishers, IN 46038. E-mail: KB9PDM@ARRL.net. |
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