Is Doghill-Donahue still open?

[reac777]

I am taking some youth in June to Southern Ind. for a youth group trip and in the past we have used CRV and Henderson Park to cave. Unfortunately, both are now closed.
Is it still possible to access Doghill from the culvert?

We are planning on only caving one day to avoid contamination issues (and one cave)

Patty Fasbender M.Ed. W-EMT
#NSS 28219
Reed City MI

[Indymonkey]

kinda

[Grandpa Caver]

Patty,
I believe I can help. PM sent. I just noticed your a new poster. Please check "New Messages" in the page header next to "User Control Panel".

[wyandottecaver]

Henderson Park is Closed?

[Grandpa Caver]

Henderson Park is Closed?

I tried to gain access last spring and was told by the Salem PD that the park was closed to all traffic. The person I spoke to could give no reason for the closure. I was not asking to visit the caves but only wanted permission to visit the park. I have no further info but suspect the TNC may be behind the closure?

[wyandottecaver]

I will definately follow up with Allen Purcel. TNC does manage that property for the City of Salem, but part of that management agreement specifically requires allowing cave access. It is possible TNC or more likely the USFWS has convinced them to close due to WNS, or the City may have closed it due to vandal type problems.

[Grandpa Caver]

It was just a phone call to the Salem PD. I simply asked for permission to visit, like I always have, and was told the park was closed for reasons unknown. I then explained I was not planning to cave, asked if it was WNS related and got the same answer. Could have been several reasons but it doesn't seem likely they would completely close the park for WNS. Maybe it was a temporary thing?

[wyandottecaver]

I have confirmed with TNC that Henderson Park is closed to vehicular traffic but open to people hiking in. (you still need to check in with Salem PD) However, The caves within the park have been closed (according to my TNC contact) at the request of the owner, the city of Salem, who desired to "follow the State's lead" in closing the caves due to WNS. This despite the fact that the caves remained open several years after the State had closed it's caves and despite the fact that none are significant bat caves in any way. It also seems (not yet confirmed) that TNC policy in IN is now of the blanket closure variety regarding their own caves.