Salt Plains Re-Opens After 2-Year Closure

Families across Oklahoma will be digging their way to a better economy this weekend in Alfalfa County, where a muddy mess is proving to be a big money maker.

Friday, May 29th 2009, 8:32 pm

By: News 9


By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

CHEROKEE, Oklahoma -- Families across Oklahoma will be digging their way to a better economy this weekend in Alfalfa County, where a muddy mess is proving to be a big money maker.

Locals are excited about the grand re-opening ceremony of the Crystal Dig area at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Cherokee.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony with Lt. Gov. Jari Askins is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday. A crystal digging contest is also scheduled from 10:30 a.m. To 3:00 p.m.

The recent re-opening following a two year closure is good news for local businesses that thrive on tourist dollars.

"Without the salt flats being open for the past two years, we saw a lot of businesses closings and it just really hit the community really hard," said Becky Wolff, Outdoor Recreational Planner at Salt Plains.

The digging area was closed after a chemical vial was found in April 2007 by a Boy Scout.

Dozens of vials of blistering solutions were found by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which believes the area is now safe.

The vials have since been removed and the public is once again invited to resume digging for hidden treasures, including the Brinlee family from Claremore. They travelled to the plains last year, only to be turned away.

"We already had our trip mapped," Kristine Brinlee said. "We didn't know.

The digging area at the salt plains will be open to the public until mid-October.


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