Caverns new visitors' center near completion

CARLSBAD — Although the new visitors' center at Carlsbad Caverns National Park is functional and open to the public, there are still many items on the contractor's to do list, a park official said. The visitors' center has undergone a $9 million renovation that started in May of 2007, and is now nearing completion. "There are still a bunch of items that have to be corrected by the contractor," said John Benjamin, park superintendent, who stressed that "no matter what," the grand opening of the facility is still set for Oct. 25 — the 85th anniversary of the park's first designation as the Carlsbad Cave National Monument.