Longhorn Cavern State Park

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Longhorn Cavern State Park
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Tourists at Longhorn Cavern climb down steps built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Map showing the location of Longhorn Cavern State Park
Map showing the location of Longhorn Cavern State Park
Location Burnet County, Texas
Nearest city Kingsland in Llano County, Texas
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Area 645.62 acres (261 ha)
Established 1976
Governing body Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Designated 1971

Longhorn Cavern State Park is a state park located in Burnet County, Texas, United States. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is administrator of the facility. The land for Longhorn Cavern State Park was acquired between 1932 and 1937 from private owners. It was dedicated as a state park in 1932 and in 1938 was opened to the public. In 1971, the park was dedicated as a National Natural Landmark.[1]

Human history

The park is named for Longhorn Cavern, a limestone cave formed by the cutting action of an underground river that receded thousands of years ago. Before the cave became a tourist attraction, it was used over the years by Indians, Confederate soldiers and outlaws, including outlaw Sam Bass.[2]

In the 1920s, during the prohibition period, the cavern was used by Burnet County residents as a speakeasy. Performing musicians would entertain through the night. The popular spot was known as Sherrard's Cave before it was dedicated as Longhorn Cavern State Park in November 1933.[3]

A blue-grey map of a road, covered with assorted lines
A Civilian Conservation Corps planning map of a parkway connecting the park to State Highway 66

From 1934 to 1942, Company 854 of the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed Texas Park Road 4, residences, pavilions and an observation tower in the National Park Service Rustic architectural style.[2] They also explored the cavern and made it accessible by removing some 2.5 tons of silt, debris, and guano and building stairs and walkways both into and inside the cavern.[4]

In 2006, Steven Kurtz, current curator of Longhorn Cavern State Park, re-introduced chamber music to the cave with the creation of the Simple Sounds concert series.[5] The return of chamber music was featured on an episode of Bob Phillips' syndicated television series Texas Country Reporter, with Kaye Barlow as the travel guide. Not until February 14, 2008, did dancers return to the cave floor when local Burnet County band Redneck Jedi performed.[citation needed] On April 4, 2008, Redneck Jedi returned to the cave and recorded their fifth album, Unplugged and Underground, the first such recording inside the cave.[6]

In 2008, Fantastic Fest hosted an after party for the premiere of City of Ember.[7] In 2012, the cavern tour area received a new lighting system.[8]


Selected images

  • Longhorn Cavern sign IMG 2005.JPG

    Longhorn Cavern entrance portal

  • Longhorn cavern administration building rear.jpg

    The former administration building built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

  • Longhorn Caverns view of a hole.jpg

    Longhorn Caverns natural entrance

  • Natural opening at Longhorn Cavern IMG 2017.JPG

    One of the natural openings at Longhorn Cavern

  • Longhorn Cavern constructed entrance

  • Longhorn cavern entrance steps.jpg

    The grand staircase leading to the cavern entrance was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

  • Anson J. Hahn at Longhorn Cavern IMG 2016.JPG

    Anson J. Hahn of Burnet is among the guides at Longhorn Cavern who conduct 90-minute tours for cave guests

  • Queen's Watchdog at Longhorn Cavern State Park IMG 2022.JPG

    "Queen's Watchdog" formation at Longhorn Cavern

  • Nature Trail, Longhorn Cavern, Burnet County, TX IMG 2012.JPG

    Backbone-Ridge Nature Trail at Longhorn Cavern

See also

References

  1. ↑ Longhorn Cavern State Park History. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Steely, James Wright. Parks for Texas: Enduring Landscapes of the New Deal. Austin: U of Texas, 1999. Print.
  4. ↑ The Look of Nature: Designing Texas State Parks During the Great Depression. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Caverns offers concert series". Burnet Bulletin, November 19, 2008, p22a.
  6. ↑ "Redneck Jedi to kick off". Gonzales Inquirer. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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