176. Longhorn Caverns
Longhorn Caverns is a limestone cave formed by the cutting action of an underground river that receded thousands of years ago. The cavern is one of the few river-formed caverns in Texas. Fossil remains show that many Ice Age animals once occupied the cave. It was used over the years by Indians, Confederate soldiers and outlaws, including Sam Bass, who died of injuries sustained in a shootout with Texas Rangers in Round Rock, Texas.
The cavern is located within Longhorn Cavern State Park, in Burnet County, Texas. 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.
From 1934 to 1942, Company 854 of the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed residences, pavilions and an observation tower in the National Park Service Rustic architectural style. They also explored and developed the cavern and built walkways.
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. 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. The return of chamber music was featured on a episode of Bob Phillips' syndicated television series Texas Country Reporter,
with Kaye Barlow as the travel guide. Not until February 14, 2008, did
the dancers return to the cave floor when local Burnet County rock and
county band Redneck Jedi performed. On April 4, 2008, Redneck Jedi returned to the cave and recorded their fifth CD Unplugged and Underground, the first such recording inside the cave at Longhorn Cavern State Park.
If you like hiking while at Longhorn Cavern State Park, there is a nice trail that is 1.5 miles long. Backbone Ridge Nature Trail has vegetation typical of the Hill Country along with points of interest that are pointed out by signage along the trail. The caverns offer a number of different kinds of tours such as the wild cave tour, geology tour, photography tour and paranormal tour.
There are picnic areas and restrooms outside the cavern and one of the most interesting observation towers. The observation tower was built during the depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps along with other historic buildings out of native limestone and timber. The tower has iron spiral stairs to the top where you can get a fantastic 360-degree view of the Texas Hill Country. On a nice clear day you can see 45-60 miles away.
Longhorn Caverns is one of my favorite day trips because there is so much to see and do at the state park.
Location: Longhorn Cavern State Park
6211 Park Road 4 South
Burnet, TX 78611
When: Summer Hours, Mon-Sun 10 a.m.-4 p.m. hourly tours
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