Longhorn Caverns State Park
Beyond the iron gate, darkness formed a black canvas devoid of contour, depth, or definition. Then the gate swung open, the lights came on and we stepped into the underground world of Longhorn Caverns.
January 20th was a Bridge Maniac’s Play-Day break from bridges, trails, hard labor and sweat. By unanimous vote our destination was Longhorn Caverns about 120 miles from Bastrop just outside of Burnet. Our guide was a retired geologist who, upon greeting us, immediately ask if there were any geologists in the group. Jim spoke up and was promptly told he was not allowed to comment or contradict any part of the guide’s spiel — Jim Estes being quiet? Not a chance! That was the first of many laughs of the tour, our guide being a seasoned comedian as well as an expert on the geologic and human history of the caverns.
Ronnie Lanier, Jim Estes, Larry Gfeller, Audrey Ambrose, Frank May, Guide
Once we stepped through that gate, tunnel by tunnel, room by room became transformed from that blank black canvas to fascinating formations, twists and turns, and tiny bats peacefully sleeping in crevices.
The sleeping bat was not disturbed by our passing beneath it.
Nature’s eclectic architecture ranged from smooth flowing rock to jagged outcroppings, low passageways to towering ceilings, a bear head sticking out of a wall and a large stone eerily shaped by nature to look like a dog, which was found in the bowels of the caverns.
The cave’s guard dog, sculpted by water flowing through the caverns.
Rough walls, jagged rocks, and deep holes.
Circular alcoves and rounded ceilings attest to the influence of converging waterways and underground whirlpools.
Rounded ceilings, flowing archways, and circular ceiling holes.
Smooth walls and flowing tunnels.
Before the caverns were opened as a State Park the rooms were partially filled with mud and debris. The CCC spent the early 1930s clearing it out by hand, wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow. The caverns opened to the public in 1938, but prior to that it had a colorful history vastly different from any other cave system that I know of.
“Wow, would you look at that!”
But wait! The intention of this blog is not to tell the whole story causing readers to yell, “Spoiler Alert,” but to entice others to make Longhorn Caverns a day trip to get “the rest of the story.” Suffice it to say the human history part of the story includes a Speak Easy and a ghost story. Go check it out!
For more information about Longhorn Caverns State Park see:
www.longhorncaverns.com
Guided Walking Tours, Daily
Wild Cave Tours by appointment only, January 16 – April 30
Paranormal Cave Tours, February 27 – July 30