Case in point. Camps Gulf Cave in Falls Creek Falls State Park, was in very good shape before the park took it over. Previously,
only a few locals and cavers visited the cave and the cave was in near pristine condition. After the park took over the cave, it
began shuttling people (mostly non cavers) to the cave in droves. It is unknown what if any kind of conservation lesson was
preached on those trips, but the cave has suffered a great amount of graffiti since the park took it over. Now there is a permit
system in place, but that basically amounts to doing nothing to prevent further harm, as obviously, vandals are going to visit
the cave without getting a permit. Had the park not shuttled large numbers of non trained non cavers to the cave, very few
people would likely know of it and therefore, the cave would most likely still be in excellent shape. The exact same thing is
happening now to nearby Lost Creek Cave. The park took it over, they are shuttling visitors to the cave by the van load
and the cave is now suffering a considerable amount of graffiti since. Yet, the state of TN continues buying up cave land
by the thousands of acres and shutting it off to conscientious, trained, cavers who did more to protect caves than the
state of TN does. To make matters worse, one of the primary caving areas called Big Bottom is now subject to a $15 a DAY
permit charge for vehicles traveling on the rough old road that has existed in the area for decades. It has nothing to do
with caving but everything to do with money and control. The public pays for the purchase of most of these lands but
most of it is closed off or a fee or permit required once the land is opened back up. Counties should oppose these purchases,
because once the state buys the land, the property taxes on the land cease to exist. The counties not only lose any say so in how
the land is managed but also the tax base those lands once provided. Most of the time, these lands are bought up and closed
off with no benefit to the citizen tax payers.