GCF62D Roy's Place (Traditional Cache) in Tennessee, United States created by Feros Family

This cache has been archived.

Wild_Bill: Please see the previous log. This cache has had a good run. Thanks to all who've hunted it over the years.

GCF62D ▼

A cache by Feros Family - maintained by Wild_Bill Message this owner

Hidden : 4/10/2003

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Located in Dunbar Cave State Park.

This Cacher Served Honorably in the United States Army and is a Proud Member of the MAGC:

This cache was originally placed by the Feros family and formerly known as the Clarksville coin depot, I'm honored to maintain it in their absence. Cache maintenance remarks are always appreciated. Entries here may be deleted if there are no corresponding logbook entries. Please return this cache as you found it and HAPPY HUNTING. I've often observed water fowl, lotsa turtles, and some fair sized bass here.

Wild_Bill };-{)>

The Scene
Dunbar Cave's varied history revolves around entertainment. In the early 1900s, the area served as a mineral springs resort, complete with hotel and spa. By the 1930s and the heyday of the big bands, swinging weekend dances had replaced the retreat. In 1948, country star Roy Acuff purchased the land. A pavilion where Acuff performed remains at the cave mouth. It wasn't until 1973 that the state acquired the land. Now, the outdoors provide the entertainment.

The Experience
Swan Lake dominates the park's landscape. Turtles emerge onto lakeside logs to heat themselves in the sun as it burns through an early morning fog. Canada geese and other waterfowl frequent the lake, as well as the grassy areas near the park office. Dunbar Cave itself contains 10 miles of passages adorned with beautiful mineral formations. Recently, archaeologists discovered that the cave once served as shelter for prehistoric native Americans. Now, it harbors rare species of cave-dwelling animals, such as the eyeless, albino cavefish.

Dunbar Cave State Park is a 115 acre (450,000 m²) park in Clarksville, Tennessee, situated around Dunbar Cave. Dunbar Cave is the 280th largest cave complex in the world, stretching 8.067 miles (13 km) inward. In front of the cave entrance is a large concrete poured structure with three distinct arches. The cave is located in an area of karst topography, including sinkholes, springs, and limestone bedrock. The manmade Swan Lake also sits in front of the cave.

The History
The entrance to Dunbar Cave was inhabited by local prehistoric peoples for thousands of years before settlers arrived. These peoples also left enigmatic drawings on the cave walls, perhaps as part of religious ceremonies. By 1790 it had been claimed by Isacc Rowe Peterson, however the cave's namesake belonged to a man named Dunbar. During the Mexican-American War, the cave was used to mine saltpeter for gunpowder. In 1858, developers saw the potential in the area, along with nearby Idaho Springs, and the first cabins were built there. After the Civil War, the springs and the cave were acquired by J. A. Tate, who constructed a two-story hotel on the site.

By 1931, the area had hosted numerous social events, including dances, concerts, and fairs, and was in need of repair and renovation. At the time, the state had just completed a new road in front of the hotel and an opportunity arose. A couple of local businessmen cleaned up the site, adding additional recreational facilities, including a concrete swimming pool, bathhouse, and tennis courts, and restoring and expanding the size of the hotel. The existing lake was also dammed up increasing its size to 20 acres (81,000 m²).

During the latter half of the 1940s, Dunbar Cave was purchased by Roy Acuff and was the site of musical festivities and entertainment shows, which would host big bands like Benny Goodman's and Tommy Dorsey's. Acuff also added a golf course adjacent to the lake. Over time the popularity of the cave and surrounding area declined, and the hotel closed in 1950. The pool was shut down and buried in 1967.

In 1973, the State of Tennessee, under then Governor Winfield Dunn, purchased the land from Acuff, and classified it a State Park. The purchase was to repay Acuff for being a political "sacrificial lamb" during his run for the governorship in 1948. In 2002, the park shut down briefly during the state's budget cutting crisis.

The Petroglyphs
On January 15, 2005 park specialist Amy Wallace, geologist and author Larry E. Matthews, local historian Billyfrank Morrison, and history professor Joe Douglas discovered Indian glyphs in Dunbar Cave. These rare glyphs are now being shown to the public on the cave tour. Their existence was announced to the public by the State of Tennessee on July 29, 2006, during the Second Annual Dunbar Cave Day, held at the Park.

In 2008, Dunbar Cave staff member Nathan Smith discovered another type of prehistoric art in the cave, known as a mud glyph. The mud glyph was drawn with three fingers that formed a square box, with the opposite corners connected by straight lines also drawn with three fingers. The previously known cave art consisted of petroglyphs, images carved into the rock walls, and pictographs, images that were drawn on the walls with charcoal.

This cache had two names previously, was formerly called Clarksville coin depot and was a coin swap cache. This is also the park the Feros' were married in. The cache was approved by Park manager and Ranger Amy under a different name.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

whfg unatva nebhaq

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)