Temporary Mine Closure, Black Diamond Mines

October 2011 – early 2012 TBA

Black Diamond Mines Regional Park in Antioch usually offers public tours of the historic Hazel Atlas mine from March to November. Due to scheduled maintenance, the Hazel Atlas mine tours and museum will be temporarily closed from October 3, 2011 until a date yet to be determined in early 2012.

This project entails improving the Greathouse Visitor Center portal, which has been closed since 2007. The portal and 120 feet of access tunnel will be widened, and a modern ground support system will be installed to allow improved public access underground.

Since the portal serves as an emergency exit for mine tours and will be unusable, no mine tours will be offered, beginning in October.

The trail immediately below the Greathouse portal will also be closed for re-grading. Black Diamond Mines park, trails and naturalist programs unrelated to the mine will remain open during regular operating hours.

The District anticipates re-opening the mine tours in early 2012, and the Greathouse Visitor Center in summer 2012. The project is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

To check the status of the maintenance project, go to www.ebparks.org/closure or call Black Diamond Mines park at (510) 544-2750.

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