MAKC member Mike Kern was instrumental in proposing a lease of this cave for MAKC, to assist the resort with cave management. Since cave management is our area of expertise, the resort was very interested in a lease for management purposes. So now we have one! Mike and Kaleb Hammond have agreed to be the […]
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Bear Cave Management Plan • Cave Closed between October 15 and April 15! Enacted May 1, 2002 (Revised January 10, 2004, February 16, 2019) NOTE: Bear Cave is Now Closed October 15 – April 15 Special Note: Bear Cave Closed was in 2009 due to White Nose Syndrome. While it has been reopened, please contact […]
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The Management Plan for this preserve was adopted by the MAKC Board on November 16, 2019. After reading this plan carefully, cavers interested in visiting the preserve should fill out the free permit available at this link. INTRODUCTION The Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy (MAKC), a non-profit organization incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania completed the purchase […]
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Persons wishing to visit the Barbara Schomer Preserve of the MAKC and Sarah Furnace Cave, should submit the following permit application.
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After much work and persistence, the MAKC and Franklin County Grotto (FCG) negotiated a lease of Cleversburg Sink with Southampton Township (the cave owners) in Cumberland County, PA. Since late in 2006, the cave has been closed until an access policy could be worked out. Cleversburg Sink is a significant geologic and hydrogeological cave.The management […]
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Thanks to the work of member Mike Kern, the MAKC has negotiated a lease agreement for access to the Bedford Springs Cave. Mike Kern and Kaleb Hammond are heading up the preserve management team and can be contacted at BedfordSprings@karst.org. Part of our lease agreement includes notifying the owner and the security team when a trip is […]
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Bear Cave Natural Area • Western PA •Open 4/15 to 10/15 • MAKC Lease • Permit Required • bearcave@karst.org Please read the management plan and mail or email a permit application to visit Bear Cave. While the permit application is below, the management plan should be read before submitting. The plan will be changing with […]
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Shortly after her passing in 2011, the MAKC received a substantial gift from the estate of Barbara Schomer, which was restricted to our cave acquisition fund. We have looked at at least a half dozen cave projects in that time; however, none have come to fruition. Finally, with the option on Sarah Furnace Cave, MAKC […]
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Rupert Cave has never had a large bat population, although four bat species have been found in the cave; Northern Long Eared, Eastern Pipistrelle, Big Brown and Little Brown bats. In 2001 a bat gate was added to the side of the entrance building. Over the following eight years the bat count would climb from […]
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Bear Cave is a privately-owned cave, and always has been. It is owned and managed by cavers, Tom and Kim Metzgar, who permit visitation for those who have read the management plan and agree to abide by certain restrictions. If the owners are taking the time to manage the preserve, and to permit visitation, which […]
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Sarah Furnace Cave By Kim Metzgar The MAKC has been interested in purchasing Sarah Furnace Cave in northwestern Pennsylvania’s Clarion County since 2006 when we learned that the property had changed hands. The cave had been owned by Mary Landi of Clarion, who at one time permitted caving, with permission obtained by cavers through her […]
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INTRODUCTION The Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy (MAKC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania in 1997. The MAKC owns and leases several karst preserves in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The MAKC was established by cavers to preserve and ensure access to caves. We acquire and manage caves and karst areas for conservation, […]
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On May 30, 2002, just two weeks before the final payment was due on Billy Clay Pit, the MAKC got a phone call from Dick Blenz, the Indiana caver who has supported many cave conservation projects from many conservancies and the NSS. Dick bought a whole lot at the Hall Cave Preserve to get us […]
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Here are some photos of the preserve.
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