Recently, friends we made while staying in Aransas Pass came to visit us in Blanco for a week. The guys – Zack and Dave – wanted to put their fishing skills to the test. They spent their week fishing at Blanco State Park. The gals – Susan and I – were much more interested in exploring the area. One of our excursions included a trip to Cave Without a Name. Intrigued by the name and the idea of exploring a cave we set off for a day of adventure! It proved to be a hidden gem in Texas Hill Country!
What Kind of Name is That?
We were curious about how it came to be known as “Cave Without a Name” – I mean, who doesn’t scratch their head at that name? When the owner wanted to start having tours of the cave, he realized the cave didn’t have a name. The owner decided to hold a state-wide contest in 1940 to submit names for the attraction. A 9-year-old elementary school boy submitted “Cave Without a Name” stating that the cave was too beautiful for a name. That became the winning entry earning the boy a $50 cash prize – quite a bit of money back in the 1940s! But the history of the cave began long before that.
Goats, Sheep, and Moonshine
The sinkhole was first noticed when German settlers began moving into the area in the mid-1800s. They noticed their goats and sheep were falling into the hole and as a solution placed a huge boulder over the opening. The opening was forgotten for a number of years, but rediscovered by bootleggers during the prohibition years. Evidence of their still are apparent in the uppermost cavern in the form of ashes on the ledge that held the still and the soot stains trailing up the wall.
Discovery of the cave is credited to a trio of local farm siblings – Harold, James, and Mary McGrath – in 1935. They were only 14, 10, and 6 when they happened on the sinkhole. The brothers lowered Mary down into the hole with a rope and a lantern first. She landed on the level where the moonshine still was located. The three then crawled through a small opening into an interior chamber of the cave now known as the Thrown Room.
A National Natural Landmark
The National Park Service designated Cave Without a Name a National Natural Landmark in February, 2009. It is a living limestone solutional cave so as you are moving through the chambers you might experience the droplets of water dripping down. These are cave kisses and said to bring good luck. The chambers display magnificent formations of stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, cave drapery, rimstone dams, flowstones (cave bacon), and more.
Fortunately, exploring Cave Without a Name is much easier now than when the McGraths made their discovery. The cave is about 80 feet down and accessible by the pathway and 126 steps leading into the six public chambers. It remains a constant 66 degrees Fahrenheit year round, but as cold natured as I am I was comfortable in a light shirt. Each chamber is well lit, but the lighting is turned on and off as you enter and exit each chamber to limit the growth of algae. This gives some sense of just how dark the chambers were when the McGraths first explored.
Come On Down!
The staff of Cave Without a Name suggest making reservations for your tour to ensure availability of your desired day and time. Each tour lasts approximately 60 minutes and begins at the top of the hour. Tours are from 9am – 5pm starting the Saturday of Memorial Day through Labor Day and 10a – 4pm the rest of the year. You should arrive for your tour about 20 minutes early to purchase your tickets. Should you not have reservations, they put you on the next available tour.
There are a variety of activities there in addition to the cave if you find yourself having to wait for a tour. There are several hiking trails, panning for gems and other items, and a gift shop. Susan and I went during the week (Thursday) in the “off” season for the 11a tour without a reservation and were the only two on our tour. The tour before and after had 6-8 people in each group so you never know.
In addition to the tours, the cave hosts monthly concerts in the Throne Room. The acoustics there are phenomenal and I can only imagine how captivating it is to attend a concert.
You can call (830) 537 – 4212 or email [email protected] for more information or to make reservations.
Susan and I both thought the tour was well worth the price of admission and even left with a souvenir geode.