There is a cave in the Texas Hill Country so pretty they couldn’t find a name good enough, so they didn’t name it. Now it’s called “Cave Without a Name.” Texas may not be great at naming caves, but they sure are great at having them. They report having over 7,000 caves throughout the state. You know Texas, go big or go home.
I was skeptical but intrigued when I heard about the cave too pretty to name. Since it was only an hour and a half drive from where I was staying, I hopped in my van and set off to explore this National Natural Landmark. Here’s what I found.
Texas Hill Country
First off, you must drive through the Texas Hill Country to get to the cave. I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat it: The drive alone is worth it wherever you’re going.
The hill country is so called because it’s primarily made up of granite and limestone hills that rise, one after the other, 400 to 500 feet above the surrounding plains and valleys.
Once you get beyond the San Antonio area, where I was staying, the change in geography rolls over you. Colorful flowers pepper the landscape, llamas graze in fields, and the roads become narrower. Most of all, the hills emerge.
After a while drive on these gently sloping hills that remind me of a child’s rollercoaster – smooth yet impressive – I found the site of the cave.
Cave Location
The cave is located in a remote area of Boerne, Texas. Bourne was named for its German founder Ludwig Bourne, which still honors its German roots. You’ll find a few small diners selling German food. But, at only 11 square miles, if you blink, you’ll miss it.
On the outskirts of Boerne, the cave is adjacent to a small campground popular for the RV set. You enter the grounds through a dirt road. You’ll find a small shack to take the $20 admission to the cave. I thought it was a steep fee for a hole in the ground, but things cost what they cost.
I was the only person waiting for the tour to start at 3 pm. I’d shown up almost an hour early and David and Mike, the cave guides, seemed pretty rigid about the set, guided tour times.
You’re not allowed to go into the cave alone, and for a good reason: people who touch and damage the cave are something they no longer tolerate.
How they discovered Cave Without a Name
During prohibition, local farmers only explored a small portion of what they thought was just a sinkhole. They decided it was perfect to use for their illegal alcohol operations! They used to store the illicit booze in the entrance to the cave but had no idea was hidden right there.
There is a covered hole on the property, which used to be the only entrance to the cave. People had to be lowered down the narrow hole by rope. Lucky for us, they’ve since built a stairway.
We walked down a narrow, limestone staircase about eight stories deep. There the opening led to a massive cavern, extending over a quarter of a mile.
Inside the cave were the prerequisite stalagmites and stalactite, curtain, straw and column structures you’d see in any cave. However, the sight and particular formations are new each time. There are unusual 19-foot-long draperies referred to as “Texas-sized cave bacon” and a group of stalagmites Mike said to resemble the nativity scene. They did.
What Makes it so Beautiful
What was unique about this cave is the underground river.
In the back of the main area is an extensive set of caverns linked to the underground portion of the Guadalupe River. Cave explorers say the river flows through more than 2.7 miles of caverns. That might sound like a lot, but it’s only the 7th longest cave in Texas. Can you believe that?
The water has a few entry points from a natural spring-fed pool that forms shallow waterfall features in those caverns. The water is as cool and clear as glass. Mike said the cave floods and water would be deeper than our heads sometimes. That was a daunting thought.
Concert in the Cave
There was a stack of about 100 chairs in one corner of the Queen’s Throne room. The chambers have spectacular natural acoustics from the three domes on the ceiling. Mike thumped on his chest, and it echoed throughout like a drum.
Why it’s called Cave Without a Name
They called it “Cave Without a Name” because they said it was too pretty to name.
But I ask, “too pretty to have a name?” I mean, even the world’s most argumentatively amazing people have at least one name. Take, for instance, Oprah, Beyoncé, Björk, Bono, Fabio, Jewel, Liberace, Madonna, or Cher. They’re so fabulous they have just one name. Did I think this cave was better than Oprah? Well, no, I don’t think anything is better than Oprah. But it was pretty. I would have probably named it the “Sparkling Waterfalls Cave” or maybe “The Rene Cave,” but you know, that’s me.
The tour lastest and hour, and it was a lovely hour indeed. This was only my second cave visit in Texas, but it really was the prettiest. I also toured the Natural Bridge Caverns, which are the biggest in Texas. There are also a lot more people, so plan accordingly.
Read more stories about Texas here.
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