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Show Solar-Powered Heat System Added to p Park's Rest Rooms ESCALANTE A new solar powered heating system added to shower and restroom facilities at Escalante State Park (formerly Escalante Petrified Forest) promise to make the popular attraction even more up-to-date and efficient says Park Superintendent Carl Davis. The solar hot water heating system was purchased and installed for approximately $8,000 but Davis expects the system to be paid for within four years simply from savings realized on the park's average water heating bill of $200 a month. The park is one of few in Utah offering hot water showers for h" park visitors. i The funds to provide the new system were gleaned from those not used on other proejcts and sent to Escalante State Park. Escalante State Park is located one mile west of Escalante and less than a half-mile North of Utah Highway High-way 12. It is an all-year park open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m or later. A "geologist's haven", the unusual park features petrified wood in a beautiful natural setting. Geologists have estimated, said Davis, that the park contains ap proximately 6.5 million tons of petrified wood. The petrified wood - ranges from near perfect to run-of-the-mill specimens. The minerals, if sold at a "street value" price of $1 a pound would have an estimated value of over $13 million. It is against the law to harvest petrified wood and Indian artifacts, reminds Davis, but he says that there are still unprincipled visitors to the park who try to pick up pieces of the beautiful and prized mineral. Much of the petrified wood at the park is of priceless value, said Davis, and theft could make the mineral unavailable for future visitors to enjoy. Finds are still being made at the park, and Indiain artifacts and bone fragments and other native ruins are yet to be housed in a secure structure for all to enjoy. Escalante State Park was added to the state park system because it provides camping, picnicking, boating and fishing on Wide Hollow Reservoir, sightseeing and other activities, in addition to establishing preservation for important ancient Indian ruins and petroglyphs. (Please See SOLAR Page 7) |