The next delÂuge of ice cave visiÂtors to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore could be charged some cool cash to see the froÂzen natÂuÂral wonÂders.
Park adÂminÂisÂtraÂtors are conÂsidÂerÂing charÂging a $5 SpeÂcial RecÂreÂaÂtion PerÂmit fee for visiÂtors 12 and oldÂer, to be colÂlectÂed at Meyers Beach, where ice cave exÂplorÂers beÂgin their trek to the caves across froÂzen Lake SuÂpeÂriÂor near the shore.
Last seaÂson, an unÂprecÂeÂdentÂed 138,000 visiÂtors flocked to the ice-draped caves and cliffs over the course of about 10 weeks. The caves were acÂcesÂsiÂble for the first time in five years, and word of their beauÂty went viral on soÂcial meÂdiÂa.
The only fee charged was $3 per car for parkÂing. But the area was so crowdÂed that most visiÂtors parked on the highÂway or in temÂpoÂrary lots nearÂby, so the park colÂlectÂed only $47,000, "a fracÂtion of what it acÂtuÂalÂly cost to manÂage this eÂvent," acÂcordÂing to a park news reÂlease.
PeoÂple worked seven days a week takÂing phone calls and e-mails, diÂrectÂing trafÂfic, plowing and shoveling snow and cleanÂing restrooms as well as resÂcuÂing visiÂtors who hurt themÂselves on the ice and warmÂing up visiÂtors who hadn't dressed well for the cold. OthÂer groups pitched in with serÂvices and cash, but that isn't susÂtainÂaÂble in fuÂture years, park staff said.
Park ofÂfiÂcials beÂlieve that last year's pubÂlicÂiÂty will mean reguÂlar throngs of tourÂists from now on, in years when it's safe to walk on the ice.
"We're getÂting phone calls and e-mails alÂreadÂy," Ranger Myra Foster said WednesÂday.
The $5 per perÂson fee would help fund staff and inÂfraÂstrucÂture for fuÂture ice cave frenÂzies.
"ReÂalÂly, what we're looking for is cost reÂcovÂerÂy," Foster said.
The park will host two public hearÂings on the proÂposed fee:
• 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 22 at the Northern Great Lakes VisÂiÂtor Center in Ashland, Wis.
• 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore HeadÂquarÂters, 415 Washington Av., BayÂfield, Wis.
Pam Louwagie • 612-673-7102