Calaveras entrepeneur collects caves

By Phillip Gomez

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Posted: Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:23 AM CDT

Stephen Fairchild with “T-Rex,” his patented invention that allows “zippers” to ride the cable without the trolley wheel wearing out from repeated use. Enterprise photo by Phillip Gomez.

Stephen Fairchild, 69, is a modern caveman, adventurer and astute businessman. Combining his love of science with that of exploring caves, Fairchild’s interests lie in the quest for certain knowledge and then putting it to use. A practical man, he follows his curiosity down dark trails to find out where they gonand what discoveries they might lead to.

Last week Fairchild won the Calaveras County Tourism Association’s Innovation in Tourism Award for his continuing work in making the county of the celebrated frog a place people want to visit.

“I collect caves,” he said understatedly. As the owner of Moaning Cavern, California Cavern and Black Chasm Cavern near Volcano, Fairchild uses the basic attraction people have for caves to enlarge upon and capture that natural curiosity for other adventures he has on offer at his attractions. And there’s always something new he’s working on, or has in the planning stages or has just opened up to the public.

For the complete story, see Tuesday’s print edition of the Calaveras Enterprise or our e-Edition.

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