Longhorn Cavern, a Registered Natural Landmark since 1971, is the focal point of 639-acre Longhorn Cavern State Park. Formed by tremendous underground water flows, the cave has attracted man and animal alike since prehistoric times. Around the turn of the century, an entrepreneur even built a dance hall deep in the belly of the cave! When the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began work at Longhorn Cavern in the 1930s, many of the cavern's chambers were filled with dozens of feet of silt and debris. To protect the cavern and its ecosystem, the CCC blocked off the four natural entrances to the cave, leaving one (gated) entrance--it is through this entrance that visitors pass to begin their subterranean tour. Once home to over two million Mexican freetail bats, Longhorn Cavern now has a small population of solitary eastern pipistrelle bats.
The cave has been used as a shelter since prehistoric times. Among legends about the cave is one that the outlaw Sam Bass hid a $2 million cache of stolen money inside. Confederates made gunpowder in the cave during the Civil War. Legend also says Texas Rangers rescued a kidnapped girl from Indians in the cave.
The cave was first formed when the ground levels of water began to drop. As this downward movement occurred, the water began to dissolve the limestone. This downward drainage continued until great underground stream beds were cut out of solid rock. It is this unusual combination of dissolving and cutting by water that makes Longhorn Cavern one of the most unique caves of the world.
To get credit for this find you must do the following at the time you log the find:
1. In your online log, upload a photo of the thing that most impressed you either in or outside of the cavern.
2. Send via email or message the oldest date inscribed on a rock in the "Throne" room and give the correct name for this room.
3. In the same email or message identify the geological formation that makes up the cavern.
And finally enjoy a very interesting tour of the underworld.
As I was reminded by a visitor there are concerts held in the caverns that are fantastic.
The schedule for these events are available at Cavern Concert Series
Summer Hours
Monday - Friday
Hourly Tours:
10 am - 4 pm
Saturday - Sunday
Hourly Tours: From 10 am - 4 pm
Congrats to jwillis on FTF