Want To Stay 200 Feet Underground With No Escape?
Well, the answer is obvious, so how do you think 5 people felt when they experienced just that near the Grand Canyon!
As The Washington Post reported:
“Five people were rescued Monday night after being stranded 200 feet underground at Grand Canyon Caverns when the tourist attraction’s only elevator broke down, officials said.”
First of all, how cool that you can explore underground caverns? However, what began as a cool trip turned much more serious. As The Post story goes on:
“The group had descended 21 stories in the elevator Sunday for a tour of the caverns in Peach Springs, Ariz., Coconino County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Jon Paxton told The Washington Post on Tuesday morning.“
These caverns are a big tourist attraction for people of all ages – which is ne reason they became trapped! The Post states:
“But when it was time to go back up, the elevator was out of order, so they faced a decision: Climb back up 21 flights of stairs or wait for rescue. Some of the tourists, who ranged in age from their 20s to their 70s, were not in a physical condition to use the stairs, so the group chose to wait underground, Paxton said.”
So the fact is, there are stairs to make sure there is always a non-mechanical way out…but the ages of some of the guests made that option less desirable!
The Post story then shares a comforting note:
“The one bright spot in this deep, dark story is that they didn’t have to sleep on the cavern’s floor. The visitors stayed at a suite located at the bottom of the tourist attraction while they were stuck waiting, Paxton said.”
Luxury Underground!
Yes, you can actually stay in the suite, called the “deepest, darkest, quietest hotel room in the world!”
Up to 6 people can sleep here – here are more details: it costs $1,000 per night for two people, according to the cavern’s website. It includes two queen beds, a fully functioning RV-style bathroom, a kitchenette and a living room area with a television. It also has a small restaurant that served the group of stranded tourists.
A Fast And Happy Ending!
The Post reports that all ended well:
“Authorities used an emergency lift to bring the tourists back to the surface one-by-one on Monday after workers advised them it would take longer to repair the elevator, according to Paxton.”
“We gave them the option,” Paxton told The Post. “They could wait for tomorrow for the crew to fix the elevator or they could to be lifted. They chose to be lifted.”
I hope those stranded people had a sense of humor – especially when this is one of the things you see down there!
Terrific reporting by Andrea Salcedo – I subscribe to The Washington Post and you should too!
I’ve never been to that cavern, but I did go to the Grand Canyon, and it’s almost impossible to capture just how incredible it is – here’s a video:
Click here to check out just how incredible the canyon is, and how you can hike to the bottom of it too!
If you are at the Grand Canyon, then a short drive away is this:
The red rocks of Sedona are incredible – see them all by clicking here:
Also a short drive away is a classic Wild West town with quite the sordid past!
Jerome Arizona was known as “wicked city!”
Click here for the story about how it got that name!
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Categories: Books / Media, Exotic Travel, nature, Real Estate, Travel, Travel Adventures
johnrieber 
Hi John, this isn’t such a bad place to be trapped. The Edinburgh dungeons would be much worse. The Sterkfontein caves don’t have elevators, you have to take the stairs. Whew!!!
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The free night in an expensive hotel suite would have been an attraction. But I would have tried the stairs, resting between floors. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Agree Pete…the assumption was the elevator would be fixed but what if it was’t? Better to just get out now!
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What a story! Your comment about hoping the people have a sense of humor is really important. In a crisis, humor, fortitude, and attitude are everything. I hope all the trapped members are telling their story to others with a good meal and a glass of wine.
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I’m left wondering what the temperature is like underground. Caverns are often cooler, but of course, this was The Grand Canyon, a place known for its hot days. One of my friends hiked in and needed to be carried out by horse as she got heatstroke.
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Yes very hot outside but it sounds like they had electricity therefore a cooling or heating system as need…thanks for commenting!
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What a place to be stuck! I am not sure what my choice would have been, but the cynic in me thinks that maybe it was a publicity stunt for the $1000 a night hotel 😊
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HA! Maybe! Always great to hear from you!
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if i was trapped down there, i would have done the stairs, even if it took a long while, at least i’d feel like i was on my way out )
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Yes indeed! Now, the good news is they were well stocked with food and in nice digs, but still…who wants to be trapped that far underground? Thanks for the comment always great to hear from you!
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right!
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I saw something on TV once about the underground hotel “room”—and have always wanted to stay there. But now…with the only way out breaking down? Yikes! That sounds a bit scary. There’s a restaurant down there? Marvelous!
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I point out that there are stairs to climb out but you have to be in good shape and a few in this group weren’t up for it!
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Oh, I saw that. But I’m NOT in good shape. I have a neuro-muscular disease. Gimpy me would NOT be able to climb 21 flights of stairs… EEEK!
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Luckily the “trapped” time was in a cool space with lots of food! Thanks for the comment, always great to hear from you!
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I think I may have walked up the stairs. My claustrophobia may have kicked in if I felt trapped down there.
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I completely agree – my wife and I love to hike and it would have been an adventure to be sure!
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