However, as construction of the rails progressed, the increasing grade became too severe for the train and therefore, it terminated at Deer Creek City now Tibble Fork Reservoir located several miles up the canyon. An estimated eleven sawmills operated in the canyon to supply timber, not only for mining operations but also provide lumber and firewood to the nearby cities.
Although many people worked to keep sawdust and debris from reaching the river, the canyon began to see the results of extensive logging. However, by , the railroad was no longer in use and the rails pulled up. Many of the early visitors to the arearecognized the value and beauty found in American Fork Canyon and found it to be vital to life in Utah Valley. Thus, during the winter of to, the Forest Service concentrated on completing the improvements necessary to allow tours in Timpanogos Cave rather than further exploration and development of Middle Cave.
These improvements included constructing a secured and more accessible entrance, an access trail to the cave, and a tour trail within Timpanogos Cave, as well as installing the lighting system. The final improvement included the construction of a parking area and campground at the base of the cave access trail. Smith, and several other men to blast a new entrance several feet down the hill from the natural opening. Unfortunately, during this project, the powder smoke settled on the cave walls and formations in the Lower Passage near the opening, blackening many of the once beautiful formations, 27 and leaving an unsightly scar that remains today.
The men framed the new entrance much like amine tunnel and installed a locked wooden door between the adjacent support beams. To provide the cave with additional protection from unauthorized visitors and vandalism, the Forest Service stationed Ranger L.
Hammer at the base of the Hansen Cave trail where he and his family lived in a tent. Halliday immediately began work on various improvement projects in the canyon and cave area. During that same month, Ranger Vivian West received authorization to begin construction on an access trail from the canyon floor to the Timpanogos Cave Entrance. Smith, Elmer Bezzant,Elroy West, and Mick Halliday 28 ceased working onthe nearby Mount Timpanogos summit trail and began constructing the cave access trail.
