In 1979, armed men took control of one of America’s most famous national parks — 750 feet underground.

More than 100 visitors were trapped inside the Big Room at Carlsbad Caverns while gunshots echoed through the darkness. The hostage takers demanded money, a flight to Brazil, and a reporter to tell their story. What happened next became one of the strangest and least-known incidents in National Park Service history.

The National Park Service announces Arches and Yosemite will not use timed-entry reservations in 2026, Rocky Mountain will continue timed entry from late May through mid-October. Glacier will not require vehicle reservations anywhere, but will pilot a ticketed shuttle to Logan Pass starting July 1. Yosemite’s Firefall weekend saw full parking, gridlocked traffic, overcrowded shuttles, long lines in near-freezing temperatures, President Trump nominates Delaware North executive Scott Socha to lead the National Park Service, a federal judge orders the National Park Service to restore removed slavery-related exhibits at Philadelphia’s President’s House site, and more. 

00:00 Headlines

THIS WEEK’S STORIES:

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Comment on the LA Coastline National Park Study: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/documentsOpenForReview.cfm?projectID=133718&parkID=415

Comment on the Memphis Lynching Site Study: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/documentsOpenForReview.cfm?projectID=124261&parkID=415

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At the turn of the 20th century, the American Chestnut tree was the most important plant in the eastern United States, accounting for over 25% of the forest canopy. But in a period of just 50 years, a mysterious blight, an imported fungus, swept the country and killed over four billion trees.

Join Jason Epperson for Parkography as we explore the rise and fall of the majestic American Chestnut and the incredible, ongoing effort to bring the species back. A major part of this mission is taking place on one of our nation’s most hallowed grounds: the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Learn about the tree's vital role in the American landscape and economy, the devastating chestnut blight, and the pioneering "backcross" technique scientists and volunteers are using to plant blight-resistant seedlings in the memory of American heroes.

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This week on Parkography, we look at the Trump administration’s directive that’s leading to the removal of exhibits and signs about slavery, Native American displacement, labor history, and climate change at national parks across the country. We also examine new polling showing strong bipartisan opposition in Western states to the nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management, and a lawsuit challenging new federal rules that limit public input on logging, drilling, and wildlife management projects in national forests.

We’ll also cover new policies making it easier to lease public lands for oil and gas development — even as recent federal lease sales in Colorado draw zero bids — and a major reorganization of federal wildfire programs with the launch of a new U.S. Wildland Fire Service.

On the ground, we’re tracking a record year for search and rescue at Yosemite, recent vandalism near Bridalveil Fall, illegal off-road driving that damaged rare desert plants at Death Valley’s Eureka Dunes, and adaptive reopening plans for the Grand Canyon’s North Rim after last year’s wildfire.

And we’ll end with some good news: a surprise dinosaur fossil discovery at Dinosaur National Monument and major restoration projects underway at memorials and fountains across Washington, D.C. ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.

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The video on explaining passes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBfqPOoEu4w&t=357s

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00:00 Intro

When Toni Henthorn fell to her death during an anniversary hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, it was first reported as a tragic accident in rugged terrain. But almost immediately, park rangers noticed that the scene didn’t match the story. The location was far from the trail, the drop was steeper than described, and photographs taken just minutes before the fall raised troubling questions.

As investigators began to dig deeper, they uncovered another death years earlier — one that had also been ruled an accident, and that now looked disturbingly similar. What followed was a long and complex investigation that would ultimately lead to a murder conviction and expose how a carefully planned crime unfolded in one of America’s most visited national parks.

In this episode of Parkography, we examine the evidence, the investigation, and the critical role that park rangers and forensic analysis played in uncovering the truth behind a case that shocked both the National Park Service and the public.

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In this episode, I'm again breaking down the various types of passes available for national parks and other federal recreation areas, now updated with the new non-resident pass and non-resident fees. We have all of the details about how that will work for residents and non-residents alike.  I'll explain the America the Beautiful Pass, the Senior Pass, the Access Pass, and the Military Pass, detailing their benefits and eligibility criteria. Learn which pass is right for you, how to obtain it, and how to maximize your visits to federal lands. 

Order your passes online here: https://store.usgs.gov/recreational-passes

Get the Every Kid Outdoors 4th & 5th Grade Pass here: https://everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm

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00:00 Introduction to National Park Passes

The Grand Canyon's South Rim has closed lodging due to significant waterline breaks, while Theodore Roosevelt National Park completed a $51 million road rehabilitation project. The Interior Department is reviewing park merchandise to remove DEI themes, and the 'American Products in Parks Act' was introduced to mandate that all products sold in National Park Service gift shops be American-made. Additionally, Arkansas is creating a new state park at Blanchard Springs, and Florida State Parks need $760 million in repairs. New Jersey is rebranding its state parks in preparation for the USA's 250th birthday. Finally, there are concerns about reduced wildfire mitigation efforts on US Forest Service land.

Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography

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The video on explaining passes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBfqPOoEu4w&t=357s

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00:00 Introduction

In this episode, how three young boys petitioned the Department of the Interior to open the gates to Yellowstone National Park each Christmas Eve, in anticipation of Santa's annual visit. 

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In this episode: National park entrance is about to get much more expensive for foreign visitors, plus digital passes are here, and more. 

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Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

The video on explaining passes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBfqPOoEu4w&t=357s