1989. Of course, our tour guides loved to take us on brutal hikes anyway, so maybe “forgot” about an easier route.
1989. Of course, our tour guides loved to take us on brutal hikes anyway, so maybe “forgot” about an easier route.
I think they must have done something like that. Although all the facilities that are there now, probably weren't there when I was there (back in the 70s), still, you had a parking lot, a visitor building and the crater was "right there" at the visitor's center... :-)
Located on the rim of the crater, the Meteor Crater Visitor Center is the gateway to discovering the wonders of the best preserved meteorite impact site on the planet.
The fully air-conditioned modern building features an 80-seat widescreen theater, indoor crater viewing area, crater trail access, interactive discovery center, artifacts and exhibits, gift shop, and Subway restaurant. Elevators and ADA accessibility at the Visitor Center entrance are available for guests with special needs.
Visitors are encouraged to begin their Meteor Crater adventure by enjoying a 10-minute movie which explores the origins of Meteor Crater and focuses on its value as a living geological and astrological laboratory.
"Collisions and Impacts" --shown twice each hour--allows viewers to sample the wondrous sound and explosive fury of the meteor's super-heated trip through the Earth's atmosphere and ground-shaking collision with the Earth in Northern Arizona.
Visitors may then choose the view the crater via the air-conditioned indoor viewing area or venture out on the crater's rim on one of several self-guiding observation trails. The trails include interpretive signs plus observation telescopes for a closer look at the details of the huge crater and artifacts left from human exploration.
Guests to Meteor Crater may also put on their hiking boots or good walking shoes for a 1/2 mile guided foot tour of the crater rim which leaves the Visitor Center hourly between 9:15am and 2:15pm, weather permitting.