Travous visited caves in Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Kentucky and Virginia to find out how their operations worked. Answers were surprising. Managers suggested not naming cave features, because names could be lost to future generations. Taking care in laying a trail was another issue. Once a trail is laid in a cave, it can't be moved without damaging other features.
Lighting is another issue that presents numerous challenges in caves.
Travous knew who he wanted for the job, but he wasn't sure if Frank Florentine, the head of the Museum Committee of Illuminating Engineers of America, would be open to it. Florentine joined the project about a year ago. People like Jack Burch who developed the Caverns of Sonora in Texas were there from the beginning when the project started in 1988. Mo. Bob Burnett came from Texas Parks and Wildlife to take charge of trails development for four years. Gurnee is a caving expert who has studied about 180 show caves throughout the world.