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How do you take pictures in a cave?

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Especially a WILD cave?

Taking stunning photos inside a cave is usually as easy as taking out your cell phone. Most modern cell phones have strong enough low-light settings which make it easy to catch the cave’s good side. It can be a little tougher to include yourself in the photo since our formations are carefully and artfully lit, and you standing in front of them are not. It’s a problem we usually solve by encouraging guests to use their flash or a second phone with a flashlight on to add your own spotlight.

The Cathedral Room's colors are significantly more visibile thanks to the new lighting on the Hidden Wonders tour at Natural Bridge Caverns
The Cathedral Room’s colors are significantly more visibile thanks to the new lighting on the Hidden Wonders tour at Natural Bridge Caverns

But when you go into the wild parts of the cavern system like our expedition team there are no multi-million dollar lighting systems showcasing the formations. Plus in our cave there is so much mud, it can be tough to get a clean shot (pun intended).

Muddy boot in the foreground of photo while two cavers look at a pool lit with a bluish light.
From a recent expedition to the Dome Pit. Note muddy boot in the foreground.

Fortunately we’ve worked with amazing professional cave photographers that have traveled the world capturing these incredible dark places and they’ve shared some tips and tricks for catching images deep in the dark underground.

Caver on rope
WildCat Expedition – Descending into the Cave to recover ancient wildcat bones. photo by Chris Higgins

Chris Higgins (https://www.instagram.com/chrishigginsphoto/) has captured stunning images on several of our expeditions and we’ve noted several key techniques:

Stunning pool of blue water in the wild area of the cavern is in the foreground as a caver stands in the background.
Stunning pool of blue water in the wild area of the cavern is in the foreground as a caver stands in the background. Photo by Chris Higgins

First you have to bring in lights. We carry in LED panel lights that are battery operated and capable of varying “warmths” which is rated on a Kelvin scale (fun article on that topic here). We also have smaller lights that can be placed under water which is critical to get a shot like the one above.

Caver descends into pool
Travis Wuest jumps into the pool at the bottom of the northern passage.

Next you have to be an experienced caver to recognize cool moments that are there to be captured like this descent into a watery area. Having an artist’s eye for framing a shot helps too, with enough light to capture the splash, the dark cave and shadow drawing your eye to the action and another caver in the background for perspective.

Cavers exploring
Brad Wuest watches as T. Dexter Soechting descends from the entrance squeeze into the room.

Next you need patience all the way around. Setting up lights takes time and getting everyone in the perfect position isn’t always easy. When you can “see” what isn’t quite there, you still have to paint (and repaint) the scene with light. Having a deep understanding of your camera’s capabilities is critical.

Skill, experience, a patient crew, and a beautiful cave. That’s all it takes! Curious about the wild areas of the cave? We do lead adventure tours through parts of it – learn more on our website.

Here’s a few more of our favorite shots from the wild areas in our cavern.

Searching for cave critters in the upper passage in a wild cave section of Natural Bridge Caverns
Searching for cave critters in the upper passage in a wild cave section of Natural Bridge Caverns
Flowstone and pools at the end of the northern formation passage.
Flowstone and pools at the end of the northern formation passage.
T. Dex Soechting among the sodastraws and stalactites in the northern passage.
T. Dex Soechting among the sodastraws and stalactites in the northern passage.
Caver and fossilized bones
J Morettie examining wildcat bones in Natural Bridge Caverns during Wildcat Expedition

Deeply in Love – Valentines Underground

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Natural Bridge Caverns once again takes Valentine’s Day underground with a return of its celebration: Deeply in Love. The event offers Valentine couples a four-course gourmet dinner 180 feet underground in the Hidden Cavern. The dinner will start with a wine pairing above ground followed by a stroll through the cavern and live music in one of the state’s most spectacular caverns.

Tickets will be extremely limited for both the 5 pm and 7 pm dinner. For a full menu and more information visit NaturalBridgeCaverns.com

Valentines in Ballroom in cave
Valentines Dinner in the Cave

Cavern Cat Update!

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Scientists Closing in on Answers About ‘Lost’ Prehistoric Cats of Natural Bridge Caverns – an update from the University of Texas at Austin

Last January, a team of cavers along with a paleontologist from The University of Texas at Austin rappelled into two deep chambers at Natural Bridge Caverns to retrieve rare fossil finds: the bones of two small prehistoric cats, each about the size of a house cat.  

A year later, the bones of the Natural Bridge Cats are beginning to reveal their secrets.

Wild cat bones
This is part of the original wildcat bone discovery from the 1960s found in Natural Bridge Caverns

Researchers have determined their age – about 11,500 years old – and have successfully extracted fragments of ancient DNA. They have also determined the cats are not a common bobcat, as was previously proposed, but likely a species of Neotropical cat, such as an ocelot, margay or jaguarundi.

“This puts these cats into a Neotropical group, which are all endangered today. Only ocelots are left in Texas,” said John Moretti, a doctoral student at the UT Jackson School of Geosciences leading the research. “This gets us into a really interesting group of cats – including a species that is now possibly extinct.”

Although the researchers don’t yet know what species of small cat slinked through the cave’s passageways thousands of years ago, they are closing in on answers.

Moretti is working with UT Assistant Professor Melissa Kemp, who is part of the Jackson School and the College of Natural Sciences, to apply state-of-the-art methods to prepare the ancient DNA fragments for sequencing that can definitively identify the cats. He is also conducting a systematic comparison of the bones from the Natural Bridge Cats to bones from Neotropical cats living today.

Close-up of two small bone fragments in clear display boxes, believed to be jawbones of ancient Ice Age cats. The bones are resting on a black surface, with a weathered yellow book partially visible nearby.
Ancient remains of Ice Age cats, recently discovered at Natural Bridge Caverns, offer scientists a rare glimpse into Texas’ prehistoric wildlife. These jawbones, carefully preserved and studied, help piece together the fascinating story of the region’s ancient ecosystem.

Discovering the cats’ identity could reverberate beyond the Texas cavern and popular tourist destination. The Natural Bridge Cats could serve as a literal skeleton key – providing a reference that could help with identifying the bones of ancient small cats around the world.

“They are prompting us to revisit questions about old specimens that have just been sitting on the shelf,” said Moretti. “Without them, there’s not an impetus to wrestle with these problems.”

The remains of the Natural Bridge Cats were found in two chambers called the Dungeon and the Inferno Room which are almost a mile from the current entrance of the cavern and 200 feet underground. Portions of the Dungeon cat were discovered in 1963 and brought to the UT collections for study and safe keeping.

Paleontologist and bones in cave
John Moretti, with UT Jackson School of Geosciences, was part of the retrieval expedition at Natural Bridge Caverns

But in 2022, cavers discovered more cat bones in the Dungeon and a brand-new cat specimen in the Inferno Room. The openings into those two pit-like chambers are surrounded by small muddy pawprints that indicate it’s possible the cats fell into the chambers from above – and couldn’t get out.

“For decades, we’ve wondered about these bones – then we discovered the second cat. We have so many questions, including how these cats could have gotten so deep in the cave,” said Brad Wuest, president and CEO of Natural Bridge Caverns. “Discovery and exploration is at the heart of everything we do here at the caverns. Being involved with John and the team at UT Austin in this process of understanding more about the Natural Bridge Cats has been both rewarding and fascinating.”

In January 2023, Moretti led a recovery mission to bring the cats back to the surface after thousands of years underground. Research over the past year has helped to uncover some of the cats’ secrets.

Moretti matched the newly discovered bones in the Dungeon to the specimen sitting in the UT collections the past 60 years, showing that the two sets of bones came from the same skeleton. And two different dating techniques have placed the age of the cats in the ballpark of about 11,500 years ago. Radiocarbon dating on collagen extracted from the bones has the specimen at slightly older than that age. Uranium-thorium dating led by Jackson School scientists Staci Lowey and Alex Janelle on flowstone covering part of the specimen has it slightly younger.

But most important for figuring out the identity of the ancient cats is the successful extraction of ancient DNA. As expected, the DNA is in rough shape after spending thousands of years in a cave. But Moretti is hopeful about eventually being able to get a species identification.

“Like bones and other organic materials, DNA breaks down over time into smaller and smaller pieces,” Moretti said. “There’s still information stored in those fragments but it takes a lot of work to reconstruct and read the genetic code again.”

The DNA and collagen samples came from the Dungeon cat. The Inferno Room cat did not have DNA or collagen preserved. But based on the bones, Moretti thinks that what’s learned about one cat can be applied to the other.  

“They’re the same shape and size,” Moretti said. “I feel confident that what we learn about the age and molecular identity of one skeleton is applicable to the other.”

Having two ancient cats of the same kind found together – not to mention, with pawprints nearby – is incredibly rare. The cat from the Dungeon is the most complete specimen of a small Neotropical cat from the last ice age in North America. And together the two specimens make up a nearly complete skeleton with all its major parts in place.   

An illustration of an ancient cat skeleton with specific bones shaded in red, indicating the bones retrieved intact. The red-shaded bones include parts of the spine, skull, shoulders, and leg bones, while the rest of the skeleton is outlined without shading. The cat skeleton is depicted in a walking stance, showing the full skeletal structure from skull to tail.

Illustration of the skeletal remains of an ancient cat discovered at Natural Bridge Caverns, estimated to be around 11,500 years old. The red shading highlights the bones that were found intact, providing valuable insights into the physical structure of this possibly extinct Ice Age feline.

If the Natural Bridge Cats can be definitively identified as a certain species, their bones could help with classifying other ancient cat fossils – which are notoriously few in number and look very similar to one another.

For example, the bones brought back from the Dungeon in 1963 were identified in the UT collection as belonging to a bobcat until the additional bones brought back by Moretti disproved that.

The new bones are also raising interest around an old hypothesis that the Dungeon specimen is an extinct species of margay called a ‘river cat.’ The hypothesis was proposed by Lars Werdelin, a world-renowned expert on extinct cats based out of the Swedish Museum of Natural History, who examined the bones while conducting a national survey of small wildcat fossils in 1985.

Moretti is closely comparing the bones of the Natural Bridge Cats to skeletons from margays and other Neotropical cats on loan to UT from other institutions to identify what’s natural variation versus a distinguishing anatomical feature.

The research team is also deploying a custom-built imaging device designed to capture high-resolution, 3D images of the cat tracks. Data obtained from those images will provide a way of testing if those ancient paw prints were made by the Dungeon and Inferno Room cats.

Ancient wild cat tracks
Ancient tracks of a wildcat found in the mud within Natural Bridge Caverns

But until the DNA sequencing results are in, he expects the Natural Bridge Cats – who are now together in the UT collections – to continue keeping their identity a secret.

Our deepest thanks to John Moretti and Monica Kortsha from UT Austin for this wonderful update on our cave cats – who may have had a tough final journey in the cavern, but who now live on in scientific study!

Christmas at the Caverns Returns with Holiday Joy Above and Below Ground

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Live Music, S’mores, Santa and Mrs. Claus, a Live Underground Concert, and Magical Walking Trail of Lights at Natural Bridge Caverns

Natural Bridge Caverns is once again bringing holiday magic underground with the return of Christmas at the Caverns, starting Saturday, December 7th, and running through December 23rd. The 2024 season is packed with family-favorite holiday traditions, including Caroling in the Cavern, the stunning walk-through Trail of Lights, a giant Christmas tree, holiday treats, and, of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus.

“Each year, we look for ways to make our Christmas event a big part of celebrating the magic of the season,” said Brad Wuest, President of Natural Bridge Caverns. “We’re blessed to give our guests a unique holiday experience that combines the beauty of the cavern with the joyful talents of so many talented musicians from every corner of our community.”

Visitors gather in an underground cavern to enjoy a festive live music performance, with holiday lights and decorations, during Christmas at the Caverns, Natural Bridge Caverns
Families enjoy live holiday music deep within the caverns during Christmas at the Caverns at Natural Bridge Caverns

Christmas at the Caverns will take place on December 7, 8, 14, 15, 20-23. Music has always been a cornerstone of Christmas at the Caverns. Caroling in the Cavern will feature local and regional performers, filling the stunning Discovery Cavern with holiday music. The acoustics within the cavern create a unique setting for these live performances, surrounded by the natural beauty of stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone formations. Caroling often sells out, making it one of the more popular traditions for locals.

This month’s Live Underground Concert will feature Jeremy McComb on December 20th. McComb is a Grammy-nominated artist with five albums to his credit. Concertgoers will not only enjoy McComb’s storytelling gift but will also have access to all above-ground events, including the popular Trail of Lights, Reindeer Round-Up, and more.

Once again, the festive Trail of Lights walk will take visitors on a magical journey through a series of beautifully lit holiday scenes and characters, with hundreds of illuminated Live Oaks and music throughout the trail. The easy one-third-of-a-mile walk ends in Discovery Village under a spectacular 30-foot-tall Christmas tree.

Returning favorites include the Discovery Village Synthetic Skating Rink, a perfect way for families to glide into the holiday spirit, free for children ages 3-11. In keeping with the Caverns’ ranching heritage, the Reindeer Round-Up will entertain kids with a search for Santa’s missing reindeer, and an expanded s’mores campfire area will offer a cozy spot for enjoying winter evenings.

Throughout December, Natural Bridge Caverns will continue its tradition of supporting the New Braunfels and San Antonio Food Bank. “We are committed to giving back to our community, and each year our guests help us make a real difference,” said Travis Wuest, co-owner and vice president of Natural Bridge Caverns. “To date, we have been able to raise enough money to provide over 1.45 million pounds of food, providing essential support for families in need.”

A family sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows and enjoying the holiday atmosphere at Christmas at the Caverns, Natural Bridge Caverns
Families gather to roast marshmallows for s’mores by the campfire during Christmas at the Caverns at Natural Bridge Caverns.

Guests can support the Food Bank through the Natural Bridge Caverns community food drive or choose to Round Up for Hunger by adding a donation to their ticket purchase. Every guest who brings a non-perishable food item will receive a FREE s’more treat to enjoy at the campfire.

PRICING

  • Jingle All the Way Package (Dec. 7-23): $45.99 for adults and $35 for children ages 3-11. Includes Caroling in the Cavern, Twisted Trails, Trail of Lights, Reindeer Roundup Maze, Story Time with Mrs. Claus, visit with Santa Claus, synthetic skating, campfire, yard games, hay maze, and live music.
  • Live Underground Christmas Concert (Dec. 20): A 90-minute show with Grammy nominated singer songwriter Jeremy McComb. Includes access all above ground activities including the Trail of Lights, Reindeer Roundup Maze, synthetic skating, campfire, and yard games. Visit the concert page online for details and pricing.
  • Christmas Admission with Caroling Tour (Dec. 7-23): $37.99 for adults and $27.99 for children ages 3-11, includes a Caroling tour in the Discovery Cavern, Trail of Lights, Reindeer Roundup Maze, Story Time with Mrs. Claus, visit with Santa Claus, synthetic skating, campfire, yard games, hay maze, and live music.
  • Christmas Grounds Pass (Dec. 7-23): $22.99 for adults and $27.99 for children ages 3-11, includes all above grounds Trail of Lights, Reindeer Roundup Maze, Story Time with Mrs. Claus, visit with Santa Claus, synthetic skating, campfire, yard games, hay maze, and live music.

ADD-ONS

  • Christmas Admission Plus: add either Twisted Trails or Caroling in the Cavern: $15 for adults, $11 for children.

Natural Bridge Caverns will continue to offer daily tours of Texas’s largest cavern system through the Discovery Tour, Hidden Wonders Tour, Lantern Tour, Adventure Tours, private tours, and a range of surface attractions. Visit Natural Bridge Caverns for pricing, park hours, and availability.

PHOTO ASSETS AND B-ROLL

Christmas at the Caverns photos and b-roll are available at:

Photos: https://naturalbridgenews.com/album/christmas/

Broll: https://vimeo.com/1019586999?share=copy

About Natural Bridge Caverns:

26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266
Phone: 210-651-6101
Website

Natural Bridge Caverns, discovered in 1960 by local cavers, is a family-owned and operated natural wonder and the largest cavern in Texas. In addition to two distinct cavern tours, the property features above-ground adventures, including a ropes course, zip rails, a 5,000-square-foot outdoor maze, and interactive gem panning. New areas are still being discovered and explored within this extensive cave system. Natural Bridge Caverns is a State Historical Site, a National Natural Landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Cavern Bat Fest Kicks off in October

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This free fall festival event also celebrates the Hill Country’s beloved night fliers. 

The first ever Cavern Fall Bat Fest kicks off at Natural Bridge Caverns every weekend in October. This free family friendly event celebrates both fall and our favorite local resident – bats! Activities include bat educational displays, a mini-hay maze, a bat-themed scavenger hunt, live music, fun photo stops with pumpkins, scarecrows, and fall themes, and a free AMAZEn’ Ranch Round-Up maze ticket to anyone who comes in a family-friendly costume. In addition, there will also be new seasonal menu items and, on October 26th and 27th even more fun including free Trick or Treating.  

“Cavern Fall Bat Fest not only takes advantage of the gorgeous autumn weather and beautiful Texas Hill Country views here on property,” said Travis Wuest vice president at Natural Bridge Caverns. “It’s also our opportunity to show our love for some of the hardest workers in our eco system – bats! While the Mexican Free-Tail bat gets lots of attention, our most recent biological survey has shown that we have 11 different species of bats that call this area home. We continue to learn about their needs and how we can continue to provide a place where they can thrive.”

Natural Bridge Caverns also offers five different cave tours, a six-story tall zip rails and ropes course, great food and shopping. “Combined with all our free fun activities, folks can stay and enjoy a relaxing fall day in the Hill Country,” said Wuest. 

For more information on all the fun October events, adventures, and available tours, visit naturalbridgecaverns.com. 

Butterflies and Blooms Returns to Natural Bridge Caverns

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Now in its third year, this free event is designed to inspire habitat building for butterflies and other pollinators

Natural Bridge Caverns is celebrating the migration of the Monarch butterflies with its 3rd annual Butterflies and Blooms event on September 21 and 22nd. This free event will include presentations on butterfly habitats from the in-house landscape team, hundreds of free seeds, a scavenger hunt, crafts, educational displays, live music and more. Designed to create more diverse habitats for pollinators like butterflies, bees, moths, and hummingbirds, the event is part of Natural Bridge Caverns’ ongoing mission to connect people with nature.

Butterflies and Blooms chalk art
Celebrating pollinators is the best part of this free Butterflies and Blooms event

“Pollinators rely on native habitats throughout their local habitat and migratory path,” said Joye Wuest, CFO for Natural Bridge Caverns and ardent supporter of pollinator habitats. “We’ve committed to ensuring our landscaping doesn’t just look lovely, but also feeds native pollinators. Now we’re helping people to do the same in their own backyards and gardens.” The seeds gathered by the park’s  in-house landscape team are specifically selected to provide easy to grow plants that support multiple stages of a butterfly’s life cycle. Natural Bridge Caverns also has an extensive guide on their website to both the types of butterflies and the plants they rely on throughout their time in Texas.

Visit NaturalBridgeCaverns.com for more information on Butterflies and Blooms and more events happening this fall.

Natural Bridge Caverns Kicks Off 60th Anniversary on July 3rd

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San Antonio, TX — The largest cavern in Texas is celebrating 60 years of providing tours to millions of people from around the world. As part of the celebration Natural Bridge Caverns is launching a new educational partnership with the Texas Wildlife Association Foundation (TWAF Foundation). TWAF promotes educational and informational activities in support of conservation. Natural Bridge Caverns will be raising money for TWAF through its ticket round up program and partnering to offer additional educational experiences.

[Photos of the ceremony are here]

Rated as the top paid attraction in the region by travelers, Natural Bridge Caverns, a once hidden treasure on remote ranchland in the1960s, today is widely considered one of the most spectacular show caves in the nation. Now visited by millions of guests, the caverns are lit with the most sophisticated lighting system in the country, hosts large underground events and concerts, and are home to the world’s only conveyor ride in a cave.

Still family owned and operated, the property continues to expand, having recently completed the multi-million-dollar expansion of the Hidden Cavern. Today there are five unique tours of the two caverns on the property as well as four above ground adventures with promises of more to come.

“Over the next few years we’ll have a few surprises in store,” said Brad Wuest, President and co-owner of Natural Bridge Caverns. “Every year we discover new ways to celebrate the joy of exploration and fun of family adventure. It’s our goal to continue growing and expanding with the caverns continuing to serve as the highlight of every guest’s experience.”

Through the years the team has ensured that the cavern system is carefully protected, with a focus on balancing access with stewardship of this Natural National Landmark. Thanks to internal expedition teams, the caverns are still being explored with nearly two miles of new cave passage discovered and mapped over the last five years. In addition, scientists continue to expand their knowledge as the cavern serves as a natural laboratory for paleontology, geosciences, archeology, and biology projects both below and above ground.

“As we celebrate this milestone we recognize that we owe a great deal of thanks to the many who came before us. This journey began with our great-great grandparents who started ranching here in 1884. Next our focus shifted to what was below our feet thanks to the four St. Mary’s University students who discovered the caverns. Then our grandmother, Clara Wuest Heideman, risked everything to open the caverns to the public in 1964,” said Wuest. “We’ve inherited that spirit of determination that inspires us continue their legacy of exploration and adventure for another 60 years and more!”

For more information about the 60 anniversary celebrations planned for the year, visit NaturalBridgeCaverns.com.

Natural Bridge Caverns is Hosting an all Staff Reunion on June 1

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It was 60 years ago when the first tours opened at Natural Bridge Caverns, the largest cavern in Texas. To kick off a year of celebrations of the 60th, the cavern crew will have a staff reunion on June 1st for everyone one who has ever worked at the park.

“In the beginning everyone’s job was to be a tour guide, cashier, and grounds keeper. These days our team has grown, along with our knowledge about the caverns system,” said Brad Wuest, president of Natural Bridge Caverns. “Over the years we’ve lost touch with some folks. We’re hoping this reunion will give everyone a chance to visit, share stories, and see how the caverns have changed – even in just the last two years.”

The cavern system itself has been carefully protected, with a focus on balancing access and stewardship of this Natural National Landmark. Key to that effort has been the staff over the years who have also valued this natural wonder.

The Natural Bridge Caverns’ crew is asking for help in spreading the word about the reunion. “If you or someone you know worked with us at the cavern, please know we would love to celebrate together. It’ll be a great day of reminiscing, touring, and fun,” said Wuest.

Former cavern crew members can visit https://bit.ly/Caverns-Reunion to sign up.

Free Hummingbird Homecoming Event at Natural Bridge Caverns

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The hummingbirds are making their way back through Texas and Natural Bridge Caverns is making sure they feel welcome with a FREE event May 11 and 12th. This free family-friendly event will teach kids and adults about the importance of diversity of habitat, how to identify different hummingbirds, and offer guests an opportunity to build their own hummingbird feeder using recycled items. There will also be activity stations for kids, instagrammable photo spots, live music, and a hummingbird scavenger hunt. The event runs from 10 am to 4 pm. PHOTOS HERE

“We are passionate about creating an environment that supports our pollinators – and I admit, I have a special affection for hummingbirds,” said Joye Wuest, CFO of Natural Bridge Caverns. “This event is an opportunity to expand support of these remarkable birds and continue our mission to connect people with nature.”

The Natural Bridge Caverns landscape team will answer questions about the wide array of plants throughout the property that support pollinators and the types of hummingbirds attracted to them. For more information about this free event, visit naturalbridgecaverns.com

Hummingbird homecoming event
The hummingbirds are making their way back through Texas and Natural Bridge Caverns is making sure they feel welcome with a FREE event

About Natural Bridge Caverns

26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, Natural Bridge Caverns, TX 78266 

https://naturalbridgecaverns.com/  l 210-651-6101   

Natural Bridge Caverns is one of the world’s premier show caverns. Discovered in 1960 by local cavers, this family owned and operated natural wonder is the largest cavern in Texas. More than two cave tours of two distinct and stunning caverns, the property also features above ground adventures of a different kind including a ropes course, zip rails, a 5,000 square foot outdoor maze, and an interactive “gem panning” activity. Natural Bridge Caverns is also home to the deepest venue in Texas, the Ballroom, with regular concerts and events. More of the cavern is still being discovered; the Wuest family along with their caving team are still actively exploring new areas in the massive system. Natural Bridge Caverns is a designated State Historical Site and National Natural Landmark of Historic Places.

Frog Count Reveals Great News: Diverse Species Thrive at Natural Bridge Caverns

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Blackland Environmental and Natural Bridge Caverns announce exciting results of a year long survey to celebrate Earth Day

The land surrounding Natural Bridge Caverns is hopping with a diverse set of frogs according to the results of a recently completed environmental survey. The yearlong effort by the Wuest family and Blackland Environmental identified ten different species of frogs including the Cliff chirping frog, Cope’s gray tree frog, and the spotted chorus frog – to name a few “anurans.” Anurans, which are amphibian species including frogs, toads, and tree frogs, are the most diverse order of amphibians documented across the globe in a wide array of habitats. Local volunteers joined the hunt over the last year, armed with flashlights, recording devices, and muck boots.

“To find this diverse number of species just a few minutes’ drive from the urban areas of San Antonio is remarkable,” said biologist Jeremiah McKinney, operating manager of Blackland Environmental. “These results highlight the importance of the aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats as they clearly support a wide variety of species.”

Counting frogs is an excellent measure of the health of an eco-system. “We had several goals with the project including a better understanding the habitats present on the land surrounding the caverns,” said Brad Wuest, president of Natural Bridge Caverns. “Our mission includes responsible stewardship. To that end, we have a goal to serve as a safe haven for a wide range of wildlife. These amphibians are indicator species, this study will help steer our future management practices and provide a valuable opportunity to educate family, friends, neighbors, and our community.”

Since much of an anuran’s life cycle occurs in or near water, they are sensitive to environmental changes. This is why scientists consider Anurans an indicator species. Indicator species are those whose presence, absence or abundance can be evaluated to assess the quality or condition of the surrounding habitat. Accordingly, a survey of anurans was an ideal start to the overall biodiversity assessment.

Listen to the frogs here: Frog Chorus (90 seconds)

Listen to conversations with Jeremiah McKinney during our frog hunt (5 minutes, 40 seconds)

Listen to What’s up with cricket frogs? (3 minutes)

Volunteers scour land around Natural Bridge Caverns for frogs.

Green tree frog counted during Natural Bridge Caverns biological survey

Green tree frog counted during Natural Bridge Caverns biological survey.

Cope’s grey tree frog calls out for a mate during the frog hunt at Natural Bridge Caverns.

This baby Northern Cricket frog found a helping hand during one of the frog hunt survey expeditions at Natural Bridge Caverns.

Location of frog hunt

Natural Bridge Caverns biological survey above ground hunted for frogs in an effort to better understand and care for habitats surrounding the cavern system.

VIP Eclipse Viewing Party at Natural Bridge Caverns

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Natural Bridge Caverns is celebrating the April 8th total eclipse with a VIP party in the wide-open skies of the meadow in the park. Given the success of last fall’s annular eclipse, organizers are anticipating another busy day for the “big one.”

This spring’s total solar eclipse viewing party will feature three guest favorites: food, loungers, and discounts on tours. This time the park will offer lunch and other activities for participants including family lawn games and live music. Natural Bridge Caverns will charge for parking on the 8th (parking is usually free).

With three levels of packages, it will be easy to reserve a spot to enjoy the eclipse without having to run around trying to find parking and the perfect open sky spot. In addition to cavern tour discounts, all packages include parking, reserved seating area, and of course, eclipse sunglasses. Guests can also enjoy a lunch buffet, loungers, and beverages throughout the eclipse.

“We’re one of the few places you can see the eclipse, then go underground for another incredible wonder of nature,” said Travis Wuest, vice president of Natural Bridge Caverns. “We hope to see friends and family gathered for excellent viewing of this beautiful natural phenomenon – with food, music, and fun.”

For specific information on the Natural Bridge Caverns VIP Eclipse packages, visit naturalbridgecaverns.com

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Photos here

About Natural Bridge Caverns

26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, Natural Bridge Caverns, TX 78266 

https://naturalbridgecaverns.com/  l 210-651-6101   

Natural Bridge Caverns is one of the world’s premier show caverns. Discovered in 1960 by local cavers, this family owned and operated natural wonder is the largest cavern in Texas. More than two stunning cave tours, the property features above ground adventures of a different kind including a ropes course, zip rails, a 5,000 square foot outdoor maze, and even an interactive “panning” activity. More of the cavern is still being discovered; the Wuest family along with their caving team are still actively exploring new areas in the massive cavern. Natural Bridge Caverns is a designated State Historical Site, National Natural Landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.    

Media Contact: Winter Prosapio 512-888-6570 wprosapio@naturalbridgecaverns.com

  

Four New Acts Announced for Live Underground at Natural Bridge Caverns

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Joey Green, Stephanie Urbina Jones & The Honky Tonk Mariachi, The Billie Jeans, and Jeremy McComb are all part of the 2024 Live Underground concert series at Natural Bridge Caverns.

February 22, 2024  San Antonio  –  Natural Bridge Caverns’ popular Live Underground concert series continues to welcome a diverse set of artists in the deepest venue in Texas. From rock and roll to honky tonk to singer/songwriter style, there’s a concert for every fan.

Joey Green will perform in the Ballroom on March 28th. Best known for his show stopping performance on The Voice, Green has eight albums to his credit. His music combines his brand of storytelling with a powerhouse vocal range. Green has become a household name in Texas and beyond for his rock ‘n’ roll to soul country rollercoaster ride of a live show.

Stephanie Urbina Jones & The Honky Tonk Mariachi brings her mix of classic country rock with the joy-filled sounds of Mexico to the Ballroom on April 18th. Her style is fondly called “country music with chili peppers.” Jones brings a fiesta platter of love sharing culture, stories, and songs to bring people together.

The Billie Jeans’ gorgeous four-part harmony will fill the Ballroom on September 20th. Made up of four accomplished artists, their music ranges from Texas country to folk to soul and pop. Loved by fans in the area, they are on the rise, recently playing the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.

Jeremy McComb, Grammy nominated artist with a triple platinum movie soundtrack, will bring his Cowboy Style Christmas show to the Ballroom on December 20th. McComb has a growing international fan base with a long list of sold out shows overseas, he is proudly and fiercely independent in both spirit and style, born in Idaho as a sixth-generation musician.  

Tickets for all shows are on sale now at Natural Bridge Caverns. Shows start at 7 pm and doors open at 6.

Live Underground concerts take place in the Ballroom, the natural underground chamber in the second of the two caverns discovered at Natural Bridge Caverns, has become popular with artists and audience alike. It’s the deepest concert venue in Texas, complete with a bar and restrooms for concert goers. Only two hundred tickets are sold for each performance, making it an intimate and unique experience.

For more information and tickets visit NaturalBridgeCaverns.com

Natural Bridge Caverns Launches the Lantern Tour on March 1st

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Feb 15, 2024, San Antonio – In 1960 the only way you could see Natural Bridge Caverns’ stunning formations was with the light from a carbide headlamp. Even with those relatively dim lights, the rooms were spectacular. Now, 64 years later, that experience of early exploration has been recreated with a new, reimagined Lantern Tour of the Discovery Cavern.

Over the years, Natural Bridge Caverns has become one of the nation’s most popular caves to tour with the most advanced lighting systems in North America. “We’ve invested millions of dollars in state-of-the-art lighting, so the incredible formations of both caves can be seen in detail that was never before possible,” notes president and co-owner Brad Wuest. “Still, for many guests there is something magical about exploring the cavern as it was when it was first discovered.”

In 1960 four college students first entered what was then considered an unpromising opening under a little-known limestone rock bridge – an opening that soon revealed one of the most stunning discoveries in the state. The Lantern Tour takes guests on a recreation of that first exploration of the Discovery Cavern with only the light of handheld lanterns. Unlike the first explorers who had to climb through mud and scale over rocks, guests on the tour will walk on paved paths complete with handrails. During the tour, guests will hear the story of the original discoverers who, on their fourth expedition, uncovered what would be revealed to be the largest cavern in the State of Texas.

Last year when Orion Knox, one of the four discoverers of the cavern and a key member of the first cave development team, passed away, the team at Natural Bridge Caverns was determined to bring back this unique tour. “Our reimagined Lantern Tour is in part a celebration of Orion’s life and in part homage to cave explorers everywhere,” said Wuest.

Our cavern system continues to be actively explored, with 1.13 miles of passage having been discovered since 2019. The current known length of Natural Bridge Caverns is now 4.18 miles. We hope to give our guests a little sense of the thrill of discovery on this tour.”

Advance online reservations are required for the Lantern Tour which will be available every day as the first tour of the day starting March 1. For more information visit Natural Bridge Caverns online at naturalbridgecaverns.com.

PHOTOS AND VIDEO ASSETS

MEDIA: For pre-open access contact Winter Prosapio at wprosapio@naturalbridgecaverns.com

Leap Day Concert Scheduled at Natural Bridge Caverns 

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Nashville recording artist Jessee Lee brings her picturesque songwriting, unique vocal and quirky bass line guitar playing to the deepest venue in Texas. 

Natural Bridge Caverns’ popular Live Underground concert series kicks off 2024 with a unique Leap Day concert. Jessee Lee will bring her soulful Americana style on February 29th into Natural Bridge Caverns Ballroom, the deepest venue in Texas. Lee put out her first single in November of 2022 titled “Dive Bar Superstar” which earned her “Texas Song of the Week” on the TIR charts and another in January of 2023 called “You’re Gonna Be Your Mama.” Both are original songs that showcase her humor as well as her ability to seamlessly blend Country and Soul music. Doors open at 6pm.  

The Ballroom, the natural underground chamber in the second of the two caverns discovered at Natural Bridge Caverns, has become popular with artists and audiences alike. It’s the deepest concert venue in Texas, complete with a bar and restrooms for concert goers. Only two hundred tickets are sold for each concert, making it an intimate and unique experience. 

Lee’s passion for writing songs extends beyond writing songs for her records and for other artists to working with Veterans. In 2022, she began working with “Operation Song” writing the stories of active and retired military Veterans with PTSD as a form of music therapy at a rehab center called Warrior’s Heart.  

Monthly concerts are being scheduled for the remainder of 2024. For more information and tickets visit NaturalBridgeCaverns.com 

Broll (photos only) https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/888457809

The Caverns Start a Solar Journey

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Natural Bridge Caverns (the Caverns) is now powered by the one resource never seen underground – the sun! In Phase One of a multiphase project, the Caverns has installed their first 108-kilowatt Mission Solar Modules with a potential annual solar production of 155,321 kWh. This green energy production replaces the burning of 123,299 pounds of coal, reducing our carbon footprint by 110 metric tons. The installation will offset 80% of the power needed for the entire Discovery Village above ground complex – the equivalent of 15 homes.  Mission Solar Modules are engineered and built in San Antonio. Big Sun Solar worked with the team on the design and installation of the solar array which also serves double duty as a solar canopy. (video here)

To our knowledge Natural Bridge Caverns is the first show cave in the Texas to adopt solar power for its above ground operations. The Caverns also employs robust backup systems from Caterpillar to ensure complete power generation capabilities year-round. These systems operate even when the power grid goes down so guests will not be in the dark while enjoying the spectacular beauty of the cavern.

The solar install itself was not without its challenges. The in-house team had to trench 620 feet through solid rock to connect to CPS Energy service from the array.  Location of the array and trenching was carefully chosen to avoid impact on the cavern below ground.

Future phases of solar projects are in the planning phases now.

UPDATE: SOLD OUT Deeply In Love – Valentines Underground

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Natural Bridge Caverns takes Valentine’s Day underground with a new celebration: Deeply in Love. Both nights – February 13 and 14 – sold out in less than 24 hours.

The event offers Valentine couples a four-course gourmet dinner 180 feet underground in the Hidden Cavern. The dinner will start with a wine pairing above ground followed by a stroll through the cavern and live music in one of the state’s most spectacular caverns.

Tickets will be extremely limited. For a full menu, tickets, and more information visit NaturalBridgeCaverns.com

Couple in cave

December Live Underground Concerts at Natural Bridge Caverns

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Natural Bridge Caverns is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Christmas at the Caverns with a December Live Underground Concert Series. Artists range from regional favorites to up and coming artists. All concerts take place in the Ballroom, the natural underground chamber in the second of the two caverns discovered at Natural Bridge Caverns. It’s also 150 feet underground, making it the deepest concert venue in Texas, complete with a bar and restrooms for concert goers.

December 21: Zack Walther Band playing songs from their newly released Christmas album

December 26: Scotty Alexander, 8-time Texas Country Music Nominee

December 27: Case Hardin – TCMA New Male Vocalist  and SXSW Emerging Artist winner

December 28: Matt Castillo – 2023 Texas regional Radio’s New Male Vocalist of the Year

December 29: Payton Howie – 2023 TCMA Emerging Artist of the Year

December 30: Clay Hollis –  RGV native, Hollis has four top ten singles under his belt and more on the way.

Due to the size of the room, only two hundred tickets will be sold per concert, making it an intimate and unique experience for both the artists and the audiences. For more information visit NaturalBridgeCaverns.com/live-underground.

Natural Bridge Caverns Show Nominated for Hollywood Music in Media Award

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In 2023 Natural Bridge Caverns opened its Hidden Wonders tour with something special – a sound and light show inside a box canyon passage in the Hidden Cavern. Now the original score composed for that show has been nominated for a Hollywood Music in Media Award (HMMA). This premier awards organization honors original music in all visual media from around the globe, and many previous year nominees have gone on to win Oscars, Golden Globes, Grammys, and more.

The Hidden Wonders Box Canyon show was scored by Chris Thomas, a well-known composer for many theme parks as well as television and film. The show was a collaborative effort between Thomas and Slovakian lighting designer Jan Ptacin, as well as the German lighting team, Cave Lighting, which specializes in state-of-the-art light installations in cave environments.

Composer Chris Thomas and Lighting Designer Jan Ptacin during the installation of Natural Bridged Caverns Hidden Wonders Show
Composer Chris Thomas and Lighting Designer Jan Ptacin during the installation of Natural Bridged Caverns Hidden Wonders Show

“It’s truly an honor to be nominated,” said Brad Wuest, president of Natural Bridge Caverns. “We fell in love with the score and the story it tells about the caverns’ formation. It’s been a high point for guests as well. The show is something that brings together so much of what we love about the cavern system: its origin story along with our discovery and commitment to preserve it for future generations.”

Other nominees for this year’s HMMA awards include “I’m Just Ken” from BARBIE, “Am I Dreaming” from SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE, and the score for the series SILO. In the theme park and special projects category other nominees include the Los Angeles children’s Chorus and Sea World Abu Dhabi: Antarctica. Winners will be announced at a ceremony on November 15th.

An excerpt of the score and show can be seen here.

Natural Bridge Caverns Announces 10th Anniversary of Christmas at the Caverns with an Extended Season and New Concerts

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NEW: Extended Season, Live Underground Concerts, and an Expanded Trail of Lights planned for this year 

PHOTO ASSETS AND B-ROLL: Christmas at the Caverns photos and b-roll is available here.

November 2, 2023 – In honor of the 10th anniversary of the Christmas at the Caverns, Natural Bridge Caverns is extending the season of celebration another week with the addition of a series of Live Underground Concerts and more through December 30th. 

Texas’ favorite underground Christmas tradition returns starting Saturday, December 2nd and continues for the first time through the 30th, with holiday favorites including Caroling in the Cavern, a stunning walk thru the Trail of lights, giant Christmas tree, holiday food and drink and of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus. Following Christmas Day, this year’s holiday celebration will continue with a series of Live Underground Concerts in the newest event space at Natural Bridge Caverns: the deepest underground event venue in Texas.

Holiday scene at NBC
The holidays are bright at Christmas at the Caverns at Natural Bridge Caverns

“Our Live Underground concerts have been so popular, when we were looking for a way to celebrate our 10th anniversary, it seemed like the perfect way to extend the festivities,” saidBrad Wuest, President of Natural Bridge Caverns.

Christmas at the Caverns will take place on Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, 15-23, and 26-30th. During the week of 26th through the 30th all the outdoor elements (walking trail of lights, holiday food and drink, and synthetic ice skating) will continue, however, instead of Caroling in the Cavern five different artists will take that stage for Live Underground Concerts in the Ballroom, the deepest venue in Texas. Additionally, neither Santa nor Mrs. Claus will be in attendance, having returned to the North Pole after Christmas. The Caverns will also continue its tradition of collecting food, financial contributions, and donating a portion from every ticket sold to the New Braunfels and San Antonio Food Bank to help families in need.

Music has always been at the heart of Christmas at the Caverns. Caroling in the Cavern featuring talent local and regional performance groups will be back inside the beautiful rooms of the Discovery Cavern. The acoustics in the cavern are spectacular for live performances, and the ancient formations of stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, and drapery that fill the cave serve as incredible natural backdrops.

The Holiday Live Underground Concert series performers include Zack Walther Band on December 21st, Scotty Alexander on December 26th, Matt Castillo on December 28th, and more to come. Concert attendees will have access to all above ground events including the popular Trail of Lights, Reindeer Round-Up, and more. 

This year the popular Trail of Lights is being expanded. This spectacular walk thru of lighted holiday scenes and characters feature hundreds of towering Live Oaks, filled with lights. There is music throughout the trail, and it’s an easy one third of a mile walk beneath the Live Oaks. The trail ends back in Discovery Village with a 30-foot-tall Christmas tree.

Family during Christmas at the Caverns
Designed for families, brightly lit walking trails, story time, and Santa are just some of the events during Natural Bridge Caverns’ Christmas at the Caverns.

Back by popular demand is the Discovery Village Synthetic Skating Rink, a perfect way to glide into the season and is free for children, ages 3-11. In keeping with the Cavern’s ranching heritage there will be a Reindeer RoundUp search for missing reindeer and an expanded s’mores campfire area. And no Christmas at the Caverns would be complete without Santa and Mrs. Claus! St. Nick will be on hand for photos and Mrs. Claus will host a special story time for kids. 

Throughout December a portion of proceeds support the work of the New Braunfels and San Antonio Food Bank, which serves residents in the region. Travis Wuest, co-owner and vice president of Natural Bridge Caverns serves on the New Braunfels Food Bank’s Advisory Board. “We are blessed to continue our support of the Food Bank and its mission of feeding hungry families in our community,” said Wuest.

To date guests and Natural Bridge Caverns have given more than $125K. “This money provides more than 1.25 million pounds of food. We are grateful to do our part to restoring food security to families in our community.”

Guests can lend their support for the Food Bank this year through a Natural Bridge Caverns community food drive or take the option to Round Up for Hunger by adding a donation to their online ticket orders. In addition, every guest who brings a non-perishable food item will receive a FREE s’more treat to roast over the campfire. Finally, a portion of each ticket sold will be donated to the Food Bank.

PRICING

Jingle All the Way package includes all Christmas at the Caverns activities from December 2nd – 23rd, running $46.99 for adults and $36.00 for children 3-11. This full package sells out early, buy in advance online. Includes: Caroling in the Cavern, Twisted Trails, the Trail of Lights, Reindeer Roundup Maze, Story time with Mrs. Claus, visit with Santa Claus, synthetic skating, campfire, yard games, and live music.

Live Underground Christmas Concert package will be available on select nights. Visit the concert page online for details and pricing. All concert tickets include: Live Underground Concert, the Trail of Lights, Reindeer Roundup Maze, synthetic skating, campfire, and yardgames.

General (park only) admission for Christmas at the Caverns through December 30th is $23.99 for adults and $17.99 for children aged 3-11, which includes the Trail of Lights, Reindeer Roundup Maze, campfire, synthetic skating for kids 3-11, yard games, and livemusic.

Twisted Trails or Caroling in the Cavern can be added to any ticket for $15 for adults and $11 for children.

Natural Bridge Caverns will continue offering daily tours of the largest cavern system in Texasthrough the Discovery Tour, Hidden Wonders Tour, private tours, Adventure Tours, and amazing surface attractions. Visit the Natural Bridge Cavern website for pricing, park hours,and availability.

PHOTO ASSETS AND B-ROLL

Christmas at the Caverns photos and b-roll is available here.

About Natural Bridge Caverns:

26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266 https://naturalbridgecaverns.com/l 210-651-6101

Natural Bridge Caverns is one of the world’s premier show caverns. Discovered in 1960 by local cavers, this family owned and operated natural wonder is the largest cavern in Texas. More than two cave tours of two distinct and stunning caverns, the property also features above ground adventures of a different kind including a ropes course, zip rails, a 5,000square foot outdoor maze, and even an interactive “gem panning” activity. More of the cavern is still being discovered; the Wuest family along with their caving team are still actively exploring new areas in the massive system. Natural Bridge Caverns is a designatedState Historical Site, National Natural Landmark, and is listed on the National Register ofHistoric Places.

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VIP Eclipse Viewing Party at Natural Bridge Caverns

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[San Antonio, TX September 14, 2023] Natural Bridge Caverns is celebrating the October 14th eclipse with a VIP party in the wide-open skies of the meadow in the park.

This fall’s annular eclipse will undoubtedly have people seeking out the perfect viewing spot. At the caverns the open meadow area provides great viewing. There are options to book loungers, enjoy brunch, and score discounts on tours. Natural Bridge Caverns will charge for parking until 1 pm (parking is usually free).

With three levels of packages, it will be easy to reserve a spot to enjoy the eclipse without having to run around trying to find parking and the perfect open sky spot. In addition to cavern tour discounts, all packages include parking, reserved seating area, and of course, eclipse sunglasses. Guests can also enjoy a brunch buffet, loungers, and beverages throughout the eclipse.

“At Natural Bridge Caverns, we are all about celebrating nature, adventure, discovery, and wonder,” noted Travis Wuest, vice president of Natural Bridge Caverns. “The opportunity to experience the eclipse in totality is a very unique occurrence.  It’s going to be a great day in the meadow with food, music, and fun.” 

For specific information on the Natural Bridge Caverns VIP Eclipse packages, visit naturalbridgecaverns.com

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About Natural Bridge Caverns

26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, Natural Bridge Caverns, TX 78266 

https://naturalbridgecaverns.com/  l 210-651-6101   

Natural Bridge Caverns is one of the world’s premier show caverns. Discovered in 1960 by local cavers, this family owned and operated natural wonder is the largest cavern in Texas. More than two stunning cave tours, the property features above ground adventures of a different kind including a ropes course, zip rails, a 5,000 square foot outdoor maze, and even an interactive “panning” activity. More of the cavern is still being discovered; the Wuest family along with their caving team are still actively exploring new areas in the massive cavern. Natural Bridge Caverns is a designated State Historical Site, National Natural Landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.    

Media Contact: Winter Prosapio 512-888-6570 wprosapio@naturalbridgecaverns.com

Natural Bridge Caverns Concerts in the Caverns Series Continues

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September will feature Alex Meixner and Brett Cline and October will feature the Topo Chico Cowboys aka Drew Kennedy and Josh Grider.

After selling out the first Concert in the Cavern show in two days, Natural Bridge Caverns announced the next two shows in the series. On September 14th Alex Meixner and Brett Cline will take the stage in The Ballroom, the deepest concert venue in Texas. Topo Chico Cowboys, Drew Kennedy and Josh Grider, will play on October 5th.

The Ballroom, the natural underground chamber in the second of the two caverns discovered at Natural Bridge Caverns, has incredible sound quality making it a perfect space for musical performances. It’s also 150 feet underground, making it the deepest concert venue in Texas, complete with a bar and restrooms for concert goers. “We knew concerts would be a great addition to the Ballroom, but we had no idea how excited fans would be,” said Brad Wuest, president of Natural Bridge Caverns. “Our goal is to give musicians in the region and their audiences an experience that is like no other.”

Alex Meixner and Brett Cline will bring their repertoire of jazz and more to the Ballroom in the Hidden Cavern.
Alex Meixner and Brett Cline will bring their repertoire of jazz and more to the Ballroom in the Hidden Cavern.

Alex Meixner and Brett Cline are seasoned musicians rooted in New Braunfels offering a dynamic musical venture. Their repertoire spans jazz, pop, polka, folk, and classical genres, providing a rich and varied listening experience. Drew Kennedy and Josh Grider, both considered among the most highly regarded songwriters in the country, will perform as the Topo Chico Cowboys. Their show will be part performance and part picking party. Doors for both performances open at 6.

Due to the size of the room, only a few hundred tickets will be sold, making it an intimate and unusual experience for both the artists and the audiences. For more information visit NaturalBridgeCaverns.com

Natural Bridge Caverns Concerts in the Caverns series kicks off with Monte Montgomery

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On the heels of the grand opening of the largest investment in Natural Bridge Caverns history, the caverns announced the first ever live underground concert in the Ballroom, part of the recently expanded Hidden Cavern. The new concert series will begin with renowned guitarist and song writer, Monte Montgomery on August 18th. (photos here)

The Ballroom, the natural underground chamber in the second of the two caverns discovered at Natural Bridge Caverns, has incredible sound quality making it a perfect space for musical performances. It’s also 150 feet underground, making it the deepest concert venue in Texas. “From the day we first decided to open this area to the public, we imagined the possibilities for live music,” said Brad Wuest, president of Natural Bridge Caverns. “This is the first of many concerts we plan on having in this unique venue.”

Monte Montgomery, who has been named the best acoustic guitar player by the Austin Chronicle Austin Music Awards for seven straight years, will be performing a solo show. Doors open at 6.

Due to the size of the room, only 200 tickets will be sold, making it an intimate and unusual experience for both the artist and the audience. For more information visit NaturalBridgeCaverns.com

Concerts in the Cavern Monte Montgomery venue
Concerts in the Cavern Monte Montgomery

We have gotten some questions about doing concerts in the cavern and we want to respond to those thoughtful concerns.

First we deeply appreciate concerns about the cave. This area has been under careful development for more than six years and this particular area of the cave has little to no formations. It is specifically for this reason we selected this area of the cave for events because while sound can carry through large open spaces, the structure in this area dampens any impact of noise through the rest of the cave.

We think it’s important for everyone to understand that only 20% of our cave is actually open to the public at all. The rest of the cave is still wild, explored only by professionals and we take great care to keep it that way, above ground and below. Of the 20% that is open to the public we’ve spent more than 60 years leading the way to both preserve the cave formations and environment while sharing it with people. In this way, we hope to inspire ongoing support for cave environments.

One last bit of information: our concert series is geared to acoustic sessions, not huge concerts with giant speakers. We know at these sound levels we can ensure the experience is positive for our guests and artists and will allow the cave to continue to grow as it has for millions of years.

Natural Bridge Caverns is now Certified Sensory Inclusive

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The first commercial cave in the state to earn the designation, the goal is to increase access for individuals with sensory sensitivities.

San Antonio (July 5, 2023) Natural Bridge Caverns, the state’s largest cavern, has partnered with KultureCity to make visiting the park a sensory-inclusive experience. This new initiative is designed to promote an accommodating and positive experience for all guests with a sensory issue.

Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with autism, dementia, PTSD and other similar conditions (1 in 6 individuals). One of the major barriers for these individuals is sensitivity to over stimulation and noise, which can be part of the experience during tours and in some activities at Natural Bridge Caverns. By working with KultureCity, cavern team members have been trained in how to recognize guests with sensory needs and how to handle a sensory overload situation. In addition, new sensory bags equipped with noise canceling headphones, fidget tools, disposable gloves, and verbal cue cards will be available to all guests who may feel overwhelmed by the environment. The team has also designated a quiet space for guests who may need a spot to get away from crowds and noises.

“Our goal from the start has been to create access to this beautiful and rare environment for people who would otherwise never see it,” said Brad Wuest, president of Natural Bridge Caverns. “We have always done what we could to help guests with unique needs during their visit. Now with this new set of tools and training we are ensuring even more guests can feel comfortable during their visit.”

Prior to attending an event, families can download the free KultureCity App to view what sensory features are available at Natural Bridge Caverns and where they can access them. Also, the app contains a Social Story which will provide a preview of what to expect.

“Our communities are what shapes our lives and to know that Natural Bridge Caverns is willing to go the extra mile to ensure that everyone, no matter their ability, is included in their community is amazing.” said Uma Srivastava, Executive Director, KultureCity.

For more information on the sensory features at Natural Bridge Caverns visit https://venue.kulturecity.org/venues/natural-bridge-caverns.

Photo available here. General photos available here.

About Natural Bridge Caverns:

26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, Natural Bridge Caverns, TX 78266

https://naturalbridgecaverns.com/   210-651-6101  

Natural Bridge Caverns is one of the world’s premier show caverns. Discovered in 1960 by local cavers, this family owned and operated natural wonder is the largest cavern in Texas. In addition to multiple tour experiences through two distinct caverns, the property features above-ground adventures of a different kind including a ropes course, zip rails, a 5,000 square foot outdoor maze, and even an interactive “gem panning” activity. More of the cavern system itself is still being discovered; the Wuest family along with their caving team are still actively exploring new areas in the massive cavern. Natural Bridge Caverns is a designated State Historical Site, National Natural Landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.   

About KultureCity:

KultureCity is a leading non-profit recognized nationwide for using its resources to revolutionize and effect change in the community for those with sensory needs, not just those with autism. Since the program’s inception, KultureCity has created over 1,000 sensory-inclusive venues in 6 countries: this includes special events such as the NFL Pro-Bowl, NFL Super Bowl, MLB World Series, and MLB All Star Weekend. KultureCity has won many awards for its efforts, including the NASCAR Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award in 2017 and the 2018 Clio Sports Silver for social good in partnership with Cleveland Cavaliers/Quicken Loans Arena. The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Quiet Space Sensory Room at Quicken Loans Arena was a finalist for the 2018 Stadium Business Award, KultureCity was named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2019 and 2020 by FastCompany and recently won the Industry Partner Award in TheStadiumBusiness Design & Development Awards 2019.

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Known Length of the Deepest Cave in the Western Hemisphere Surpasses 100 Kilometers

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The PESH Expedition survey of Sistema Huautla added length to the already record-breaking cave as well as preparing for more explorations in 2024.

Huautla de Jimenez, Oaxaca, Mexico (June 6, 2023)  –  Cave explorers from around the world hit a milestone during their exploration and survey of the deepest cave in the Western Hemisphere, Sistema Huautla, this Spring. The international team of 37 cavers and support staff added 222 meters to the known length of the cave system during the most recent Proyecto Espeleologico Sistema Huautla, or PESH expedition. The known length of Sistema Huautla is now just over 100 kilometers or 62.27 miles. Teams also added three kilometers to the Cueva Elysium, a nearby but currently unconnected cave system. The accomplishments were announced as part of the celebration of International Cave Week, June 4-10.

Caver traversing a watery section of a cave
Brad Wuest makes his way over water on a taut line and slack line rigging in Sistema Huautla – photo credit Chris Higgins

In addition to continued exploration and surveying, the April 2023 PESH Expedition had several objectives including rigging 2,000 feet of rope in two other nearby caves. Both caves are far deeper than any cave in the United States. The rigging in these caves were left in place (although the ropes were pulled to prevent damage from seasonally rising waters) for next year’s expedition. The 2024 expedition will focus on these other two caves for exploration and surveying, which will enable the team to add these caves to the overall cavern system.

Discovered by Texas cavers in the 1960s, the caves in Huautla de Jimenex, Oaxaca, Mexico, have been the center of annual expeditions starting in 2014. PESH co-leaders and renowned cavers, Tommy Shifflett from Virginia and Bill Steele from Texas, have planned the April expeditions from the start.

PESH 2023 Matt Tomlinson - Multi-day stay at Camp Berta in Elysium Cave - DSCF1867co-ps-c
PESH 2023 Matt Tomlinson – Multi-day stay at Camp Berta in Elysium Cave

“We plan the expeditions in April because it’s the driest month of the year in the mountains,” said Steele. “With teams camping deep underground with no way to contact the surface, we are always keeping an eye on water levels. This April it was wetter than normal; that hampered our exploration somewhat.”

PESH-2023-Jessica-Pruitt-Tommy-Shifflett-descends-into-Elysium-Cave
PESH 2023 Jessica Pruitt – Tommy Shifflett descends into Elysium Cave

PESH expeditions are made possible by sponsorships of various organizations, and this year the foundation of the largest cavern in Texas, Natural Bridge Caverns, joined the effort. Natural Bridge Caverns is considered Texas’ most actively explored cavern system, an effort Steele has participated in with co-owners Brad and Travis Wuest.

“We were pleased to both support PESH and to journey to Huautla ourselves,” said Brad Wuest. “Discovery is at the heart of our work here at Natural Bridge Caverns and we appreciate the efforts of cavers around the world to further explore and understand these incredible natural wonders.”

The current surveyed depth of Sistema Huautla is 5,118 feet, equivalent to four Empire State buildings. Cave geologists estimate the vast natural underground labyrinth is as old as 15 million years. All data collected is shared with Mexican cave scientists including information on cave adapted lifeforms, paleontological remains of extinct animals (which are photographed but left in the cave), and ancient climate patterns through analysis of stalagmites. The 2023 expedition also achieved another significant milestone – it carried the flag of The Explorers Club, an award granted to the top expeditions in the world. With the system now over 100 kilometers, excitement for further exploration continues to grow.

“We are grateful to the people of Huautla and the international community of cavers who continue to encourage us to keep exploring,” said Steele. “It’s one of the most magnificent caves in the world and it’s a privilege to uncover more of its beauty and wonders.”

Photos and maps.

About PESH: PESH Expedition is a 501(c)3 non-profit created to support the exploration, survey, and comprehensive speoleological study of the Sistema Huautla area caves. Annual expeditions have been underway since 2014, and the results of each expedition supports the ongoing underground research of Mexican scientists. For more information about the PESH Expedition as well as updates on plans for 2024, visit http://www.peshcaving.org/

About the Natural Bridge Caverns Heidemann – Wuest Foundation: Established by Natural Bridge Caverns founder Clara Wuest Heidemann in 1997, Heidemann – Wuest Foundation (HWF) supports not-for-profit charities that focus on youth and agriculture, education, heritage, faith, wildlife, conservation, exploration, law enforcement, and veterans. Each year the HWF contributes more than $100,000 to charitable organizations in the San Antonio and New Braunfels area. For more information on the philanthropic work of both the HWF and Natural Bridge Caverns, visit  https://naturalbridgenews.com/about-us/.

Largest Cavern in Texas Opens Multi-Million Dollar Expansion

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Widely considered a leader of commercial show caves in the world, Natural Bridge Caverns doubles down on stewardship and technological advances with new tour experience.

After years of careful development and millions of dollars invested in design, engineering, technology, construction, and guest experience, Natural Bridge Caverns will open its latest and most ambitious tour: Hidden Wonders. Already the state’s largest and most visited commercial cave, this new multi-million-dollar tour experience features state-of-the-art lighting, a sound and light show, and expansion into never before toured areas of the property’s Hidden Cavern. Development of the new tour experience and careful development of new areas of the cavern has been underway since 2017 and will open to the public on May 12th.

Hidden Wonders reveals new areas never before available on public tours.
Hidden Wonders reveals new areas never before available on public tours, like this canyon.

In developing this area of the cavern system, we have both pursued and established best case practices for working in this delicate environment. Our goal is to give visitors a stunning view of the cavern like never before, without impacting its beauty.

Brad Wuest, president, Natural Bridge Caverns

The Hidden Cavern is a second cavern at Natural Bridge Caverns and part of the same geologic system. This distinct and unique environment never had a natural opening to the surface. As a result, incredibly delicate and beautiful formations were able to grow in a completely sealed environment.

“In developing this area of the cavern system, we have both pursued and established best case practices for working in this delicate environment. Our goal is to give visitors a stunning view of the cavern like never before, without impacting its beauty,” said Brad Wuest, President of Natural Bridge Caverns. “Developing this tour has been challenging due to many things – including the depth of the new public tour area. This expansion required the construction of a 710-foot exit tunnel – double the length of anything done before – and to do so with minimal impact on the cavern. We used best in class techniques and developed new ones to make it work. We took the time to do it right. The result speaks for itself.”

ASSETS: Fact sheet, photos and b-roll.

Fully programmable state-of-the-art lighting is one of the dramatic changes in the cavern as well as a 1100 foot long expansion of the public passageways beginning with a stainless steel bridge across the cavern’s deepest point. Now guests will tour through an area that was only previously accessible by cavers. This addition will showcase an underground canyon, more formations, and a large 5700 square foot dome chamber called the Ballroom which serves as an event space. A new viewing area overlooking a massive passage called the Box Canyon is now a natural theater for a unique sound and light show finale. Exiting the Hidden Wonders tour will also be a one-of-a-kind experience as guests effortlessly ride from underground to the surface on the 700-foot long BAT (Belt Assisted Transport) through the newly constructed exit tunnel. The Bat is the world’s first conveyor system ride out of a cavern.All in all, these innovative features will combine to deliver a completely new experience of this Historic National Natural Landmark.

“We plan to showcase the science behind the beauty of this once hidden cavern on our tour,” said Wuest. “With Hidden Wonders’ many enhancements we have an opportunity to both educate and entertain.”

For more information on the Hidden Wonders Tour and future expansion efforts planned at Natural Bridge Caverns, visit NaturalBridgeCaverns.com or connect with Natural Bridge Caverns social media channels for exclusive behind the scenes photos and interviews.

Facts about Natural Bridge Caverns New Multimillion Dollar Hidden Wonders Tour

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Key Stats:

  • Under construction since September 2017.
  • Hidden Wonders tour length: ½ mile.
  • Number of LED Lights installed: 3,366 lights, with 8,704 LED Bulbs
  • Miles of Cable installed (for lighting and WIFI): 5 miles
Photos
B-roll

 NEW:

  • The world’s only BAT “belt assisted transport” conveyor ride exiting a cave, carrying guests out of the cave, saving each person a 700 foot long hike back up to the surface.
  • Proximity sensors for lighting activation and deactivation along with many lighting zones provides automation and greater lighting control. This allows us to illuminate the beautiful speleothems and chambers at just the right moments then turn the lights down or off after the guests pass by to reduce energy consumption, heat, and environmental impact on the cavern ecosystem. Natural Bridge Caverns is always seeking ways to enhance the protection and preservation of the cavern environment.
  • A bridge constructed entirely of stainless-steel built by RCI Adventure Products (who also built the Natural Bridge Caverns Twisted Trails, one of the largest challenge courses in the world) spans Cathedral Canyon, the deepest point in the cave. The bridge spans 42 feet of the Canyon connecting to a tunnel on the other side. The bridge provides safe and effortless passage as well as a spectacular view. Stainless steel is highly corrosion resistant and minimizes environmental impact in the cave.
  • Fiber optic cable and WIFI are installed throughout the cave to allow for computerized and mobile device lighting control, audio system and communications as well as internet access for guests to post their favorite photos real time to social media while underground in a place where cellular service is impossible. This enhances safety, the guest experience, and operational efficiency.
  • The Ballroom. This 5,700 square foot grand underground ballroom has been enhanced to host special events, concerts, performances, meetings, weddings, parties and more.
  • 1100-foot-long expansion of the tour pathway through the cave including paths, bridges, rooms and tunnels.
  • An exit plaza and pavilion designed to blend into the karst landscape and provides a comfortable transition for guests emerging from the sub-surface with soon to be added amenities including souvenirs photography, food and drinks. The Hidden Wonders Plaza also serves as a beautiful special event venue.
  • Weather stations installed at various locations in the cavern and on the surface to monitor and compare climatic conditions.
  • Air locks are installed at the entrance and exit of the cavern to assist efforts in maintaining the natural cavern climate of approximately 70 degrees and 99% humidity year-round.
  • Guests will be given new interpretation and insights into the natural processes that led to the creation of the passage and its formations that date back millions of years.
  • Throughout the tour guests will find “discoverable moments” consisting of special lighting on features that are unusual or of particular interest.
  • In a new interior cavern tunnel nicknamed “critter corridor” the team has added educational information about the cave adapted species found inside the Natural Bridge Caverns system by biologists.

History:

  • As the Discovery Cavern beneath the natural bridge was being explored to the north, the Wuest family who owns this land asked themselves – what if there is another cavern to the south? They searched but there were no other entrances or any evidence on the surface of another Cavern. The decided to explore, this time by drilling.
  • In 1967 the Wuest family drilled six-inch pilot holes several hundred feet deep, searching where they expected to find the continuation of the cavern system. It wasn’t until the fourth hole they found something of interest – a void. When they lowered a camera, they got back a black image, indicating a room so immense that the flash did not reflect off any surfaces. They then drilled a larger hole and lowered themselves into the room. That was the first time anything larger than an insect had been in the cavern.
  • Original development of the Hidden Cavern occurred in phases with the first phase accomplished by Reginald Wuest, Weldon Preiss, Robert Preiss and cave developer Jack Burch in 1984.
  • Initially there were “Flashlight Tours” of the Jaremy room, the first room in Hidden Cavern.  
  • Subsequent development projects extended the Hidden Cavern trail and lighting to Cathedral Canyon and guests began experiencing the Hidden Passages tour from 2010 to 2023.
  • Hidden Passages Adventure Tour involved being lowered down a different shaft and going on to explore some of the area that is now part of the Hidden Wonders Tour.
  • The Hidden Cavern has also served as a film set and training area multiple times including:
    • Location of a Spike Lee’s 1990 Levi’s 501 jeans commercial.
    • The Airforce filmed a training video in the Cathedral Room, using the setting as a magician’s laboratory.
    • A US special operations team trained in the cave prior to deploying to Afghanistan.
    • In 1972 famous French caver Michel Siffre and an associate chimneyed down the #5 shaft to evaluate the cave for a location to experiment the effects of spending long term underground. Due to the high humidity, they selected another Texas cave, Midnight Cave, where Siffre spent 6 months.

Scientific Research:

  • Hidden Cavern has been the site of ongoing studies by the Department of Geological Sciences at the Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin. Currently a test plate is in place in the cathedral room, measuring calcite deposition.
  • A five-foot section was cut out of a large piece of flowstone. Through a process of microdrilling the section provided weather data spanning thousands of years.

Hidden Wonders: Never Before Toured Area of Natural Bridge Caverns Set to Open May 12th

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 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                    

Hidden Wonders Tour Experience showcases a never before toured area of the caverns and represents the largest investment in cavern history.

San Antonio, TX (March 23, 2023) – Owners of Natural Bridge Caverns announced the upcoming opening of  Hidden Wonders: a multi-million-dollar tour experience featuring state-of-the-art lighting, a sound and light show, and expansion into never before toured areas of the Hidden Cavern. Development of the new tour experience and opening of new areas of the cavern has been underway since 2017. Still under final construction, the opening date for the new tour experience is set for May 12th.

[ASSETS : Fact sheet, video, and photos]

Top of Hidden Cavern with stalactites
The roof of the Jaremy Room in the Hidden Wonders Tour is newly visible thanks to state-of-the-art lighting.

“The Hidden Wonders Tour experience is going to showcase this cavern like never before,” said Brad Wuest, President of Natural Bridge Caverns. “Many people don’t realize we have two distinct caverns available to tour: our Discovery Cavern and the Hidden Cavern. The Hidden Cavern is a unique environment which  never had a natural opening to the surface. As a result, incredibly delicate and beautiful formations were able to grow in a completely sealed environment.”

New lighting is one of the dramatic changes in the cavern as well as a 1100 feet long expansion of the public passageways through the cave. Now guests will tour through an area that was only previously accessible by cavers. This addition will showcase an underground canyon, more formations, and a large 5700 square foot dome chamber called the Ballroom which will serve as an event space. A new viewing area overlooking a massive passage called the Box Canyon will serve as a natural theater for a new sound and light show. Exiting the Hidden Wonders tour will also be a one-of-a-kind experience as guests effortlessly ride from underground to the surface on the 700-foot long BAT (Belt Assisted Transport through a newly constructed exit tunnel), the BAT is the world’s first conveyor system ride out of a cavern. All in all, these innovative features will combine to deliver a completely new experience of this Historic National Natural Landmark.

A new light and sound show will tell the story of the formation of the cavern during the Hidden Wonders Tour.
A new light and sound show will tell the story of the formation of the cavern during the Hidden Wonders Tour.

 “We plan to showcase the science behind the beauty of this once hidden cavern on our tour,” said Wuest. “With Hidden Wonders’ many enhancements we have an opportunity to both educate and entertain.”

For more information on the Hidden Wonders Tour and future expansion efforts planned at Natural Bridge Caverns, visit NaturalBridgeCaverns.com or connect with Natural Bridge Caverns social media channels where there will be exclusive behind-the-scenes photos and interviews of construction.

About Natural Bridge Caverns:

26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, Natural Bridge Caverns, TX 78266

https://naturalbridgecaverns.com     210-651-6101  

Natural Bridge Caverns is one of the world’s premier show caverns. Discovered in 1960 by local cavers, this family owned and operated natural wonder is the largest cave in Texas. In addition to multiple tour experiences through two distinct caverns, the property features above-ground adventures of a different kind including a ropes course, zip rails, a 5,000 square foot outdoor maze, and even an interactive “gem panning” activity. More of the cavern system itself is still being discovered; the Wuest family along with their caving team are still actively exploring new areas in the massive cavern. Natural Bridge Caverns is a designated State Historical Site, National Natural Landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.   

Fact Sheet, photos and b-roll are available.

Backgrounder: Ancient Wildcats in Natural Bridge Caverns

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The Back Story of Discovery of Wildcats in Natural Bridge Caverns

Overview

The University of Texas Jackson School of Geosciences and Natural Bridge Caverns and are launching a joint expedition in January to solve an ancient mystery: what kind wild cats left tracks/paw prints one mile from the entrance inside Natural Bridge Caverns – and are they the same wild cats whose bones lie at the base of a sheer drop in the cave?

The expedition to recover the bones, examine the trackways, and begin the process of study will be led by John A. Moretti from the Jackson School and Brad Wuest, president of Natural Bridge Caverns. It will involve complex ascending and descending rope work and crawling through tight muddy passages to get to the three sites where the bones have been undisturbed. The team will then carefully extract the bones and encase them to ensure they survive the trip back through the Cavern.

New Wild Cats Found
In June of 2021, Wuest led an expedition to rig access pits and re-survey a large chamber and passage complex called the “Dungeon”. On that expedition the team found fossilized bones embedded in calcite formation. The team knew a wild cat skeleton had been discovered in the past on the Dungeon floor eighty feet below a series of pits however, the newly found bones were in a different location at the top of a slope of rubble and flowstone. Wuest contacted paleontologists with the Jackson School to learn more about the bones previously collected in Natural Bridge Caverns during the early 1960’s, to see if photos of the newly found bones could be identified and coordinate plans for their retrieval.

Finding Tracks

Following that outreach to the Jackson School, a highly unusual set of cat tracks were discovered in March of 2022 during a biological survey of the cavern, some tracks only ten feet from the mouth of the pit about eighty feet above the wild cat bones originally found on the Dungeon floor. The tracks are a full mile from the only known natural entrance into the cavern through completely dark and muddy passage, giant chambers, and many potential pitfalls and ½ mile from the closest commercial trail in Discovery Cavern. Within one week of discovering the cat tracks even more wild cat bones were discovered at the bottom of a sixty-foot-deep pit in a huge chamber called the Inferno Room. Tracks were also found not far from the top of this pit. Later yet, a third wild cat partial skeleton was found in a completely different area of the cave, closer to the entrance. The partial skeleton is nearly complete, a rare occurrence in specimens of small cats in the fossil record, and includes a partial skull, upper dentition, left and right dentaries, and all major limb elements.

History: Bones from 1960s

These are not the first set of wild cat bones discovered at Natural Bridge Caverns. The first were extracted in 1963 by early cave explorers, and initially identified by the University at Texas as a bob cat. However further research on wild cats has indicated that it’s possible that the bones are likely to be from an extinct form of a river cat, or potentially, a jaguarundi (which is now considered extinct in Texas). The 1963 recovered bones are part of the Jackson School’s collection; these new bones will be as well.

Additional photos and video available here.

Media Alert: Passing of Orion Knox, Jr. one of the original discoverers of Natural Bridge Caverns

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Orion Knox, Jr., legendary cave explorer and gentleman, passed away on December 31st at the age of 81. In addition to being one of the discoverers, he helped develop Natural Bridge Caverns, the largest show cave in Texas, with tens of millions of guests experiencing the nature, wonder, and majesty he found in 1960.

Knox never stopped discovering, continuing to explore, photograph, and survey the massive Natural Bridge Caverns system over the years, as well as many other spectacular caves around the world. Orion was a gifted photographer and surveyor producing many award-winning cave maps. He also was a leader in the caving community on a state and national level.

He met his wife, Jan, through the local grotto at University of Texas in Austin. Together they became a surveying team and worked on Harrison’s Cave in Barbados and Kartchner Caverns in Arizona, Natural Bridge Caverns plus numerous others. Knox worked for Texas Parks and Wildlife as a park planner and later becoming the head of the Historic Sites branch in Texas Parks.  He worked on the first restoration for the Battleship Texas. He said that crawling in the battleship was similar to caving. A special commemoration will be held in the near future at Natural Bridge Caverns to honor Orion’s legacy.  Memorial donations can be made to Texas Cave Management Association (which helps preserve caves in Texas) or the Texas Nature Conservancy.

Caverns, Carols, and the Clauses – Great Holiday Fun at Natural Bridge Caverns

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NEW THIS YEAR: Professional Santa Photos, Story time with Mrs. Claus, Expanded S’mores and Hot Chocolate Experience, and Free Kids Synthetic Ice Skating

Natural Bridge Caverns announced the return of “Christmas at the Caverns” for the 9th year starting Saturday, December 3rd and runs for 12 nights through December 23rd. Filled with carols in the caverns, a stunning walk thru light stroll, giant Christmas tree, and of course, Santa Claus, this year’s event is shaping up to be bigger than ever. New this year: professional photos with Santa, Mrs. Claus story time with kids, a hot chocolate station and BBQ.

“Creating the perfect Texas Hill Country Christmas tradition has been our goal,” said Brad Wuest, President of Natural Bridge Caverns. “We want to bring the spirit of the season alive for families and friends with a twist that makes this a unique Cavern celebration.”

Christmas at the Caverns will take place on Dec. 3  and 4, 10 and 11, and 16-23. The Caverns will also continue its tradition of collecting food and donations at the event for the New Braunfels and San Antonio Food Bank to help families in need.

This year’s Christmas at the Caverns returns with everyone’s favorite elements. The most popular – Caroling in the  Caverns – will be back with live musicians and choirs performing holiday classics inside the beautiful rooms of the Discovery Cavern. The acoustics in the cavern are spectacular for live performances, and the ancient formations of stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, and drapery that fill the cave serve as incredible natural backdrops.

Other popular elements are returning, like the popular Trail of Lights. This spectacular walk thru of lighted holiday scenes and characters feature hundreds of towering Live Oaks, filled with lights. There is music throughout the trail, and it’s an easy one third of a mile walk beneath the Live Oaks. The trail ends back in Discovery Village where the 30-foot-tall Christmas tree lights up in synch with holiday music.

Back by popular demand is the Discovery Village Synthetic Skating Rink, a perfect way to glide into the season and free for children, ages 3-11. In keeping with the Cavern’s ranching heritage there will be an AMAZEn’ Reindeer RoundUp search for missing reindeer and an expanded s’mores campfire. And no Christmas at the Caverns would be complete without Santa Claus! The jolly old St. Nick will be on hand for photos and to hear every little explorer’s Christmas wishes.

Throughout December a portion of proceeds support the work of the New Braunfels and San Antonio Food Bank, which serves residents in the region. Travis Wuest, co-owner and vice president of Natural Bridge Caverns serves on the New Braunfels Food Bank’s Advisory Board. “We are blessed to continue our support of the Food Bank and its mission of feeding hungry families in our community,” said Wuest.

To date guests and Natural Bridge Caverns have given more than $107,800 dollars. “This money provides more than 754,600 meals for people who are struggling to feed  their families. We are grateful to do our part to restore food security to these families in our community.”

Guests can lend their support for the Food Bank this year through a Natural Bridge Caverns community food drive or take the option to Round Up for Hunger by adding a donation to their  online ticket orders. In addition, every guest who brings a non-perishable food item will receive a FREE s’mores treat to roast over the campfire. Finally, a portion of each ticket sold will be donated to the Food Bank.

PRICING

Online General Admission for Christmas at the Caverns is $21.99 for adults and $16.99 for children aged 3-11, which includes the Trail of Lights, AMAZEn’ Reindeer Roundup, Storytime with Mrs. Claus, visit with Santa Claus, S’mores campfire, yard games, and live music.

A Caroling in the Cavern tour or the Twisted Trails may be added to any ticket for $15 for adults and $11 for children. Caroling sells out early; buy in advance online.  Skating is free for children, ages 3-11.

Natural Bridge Caverns will continue offering daily tours of the largest cavern system in Texas through  the Discovery Tour, private tours, Adventure Tour, and amazing surface attractions. Visit the Natural Bridge Cavern website for pricing, park hours, and availability.

Christmas at the Caverns photos and b-roll is available here.

Biological Survey Underway at Natural Bridge Caverns

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 A new expedition is set for August 6th in Natural Bridge Caverns, and this time the effort is focused on developing a better understanding of this unique environment. A biological inventory, conducted by Texas based Zara Environmental, began earlier in 2022 so far has produced a picture of a thriving ecosystem in the cave and discovered six new species not found in the caverns previously. The search is now on to find more in a newly discovered hidden stream of water deep below the surface and follow it to where no person has ever been.

Among the thriving cave adapted species the researchers have found so far are non-endangered top predators including Chinquipellobunus madlae, an orange cave-adapted harvestman, as well as tiny snails that live in the groundwater deep within the cave and are the size of sand grains. [Video and photos here]

The six new species recorded for the cavern and a few species collected required taxonomic work under the microscope to identify. Two of the new species to Natural Bridge Caverns were groundwater crustaceans; a Cirolanid isopod and an amphipod (Stygobromus russelli) that looks like a small shrimp without eyes and pigment. Hundreds of snails were collected and sent to Dr. Kathryn Perez at U.T. Rio Grande Valley, an expert in aquatic snails. Dr Perez identified a groundwater snail, Phreatodrobia plana, collected amongst mostly freshwater snails, Phreatodrobia nugax. The team at Natural Bridge Caverns plans to showcase these new species, as well as others previously found in the cavern system, in a new educational exhibit scheduled to open in 2023.

“Our guests are fascinated by the adaptations necessary for animals of all types to live in a cave,” said Brad Wuest, president of Natural Bridge Caverns. “As stewards of this cavern system we know the more we understand about the species that inhabit the cave, the better we’re able to track our efforts in safeguarding the environment all around it. A biological sampling is one step in that effort. As cave explorers we’re also fascinated by life in these beautiful, dark places.”

In the world of cavern dwelling species, the cave adapted Chinquepellobunus in Natural Bridge Caverns is the equivalent of a grizzly among the tiny creatures of the cave world. It looks to us like a thin-legged spider with a body smaller than the end of a Q-tip, but when scientists look closely, they can see arm-like mandibles that have a row of long spiny teeth. Chinquepellobunus is not a spider at all – it is a different group of arachnids altogether. This is one of the cave-adapted species guests could be lucky enough to see during a public tour of the caverns. The Cicurina varians and Araneae are two types of spiders found in the cavern along with a common cave insect, the Texoreddellia, which is a subterranean silverfish.  In the water within the cave the team found two types of springtails:  Collembola and Symphypleona. Biologists also snapped a photo of an eyeless amphipod that is yet to be identified.

“It’s important to understand the biodiversity of the cave system because a healthy cave means healthy groundwater,” noted Liza Colucci, project manager and ecologist from Zara Environmental. On August 6th, the team plans on pushing into newly discovered areas to determine if identical species to those found in earlier expeditions exist there as well and also to see if additional aquatic species exist in the new areas.  The team is also considering conducting a dye trace to confirm the water flow throughout the cave. Surveys indicate that the newly discovered Popcorn Pit River is upstream of the River Styx and other locations, but a dye trace will prove it definitively.

For more information about adventure caving tours, walkable public tours, and above ground adventures at Natural Bridge Caverns, visit NaturalBridgeCaverns.com.

About Natural Bridge Caverns:

26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, Natural Bridge Caverns, TX 78266

https://naturalbridgecaverns.com/  l 210-651-6101

Natural Bridge Caverns is one of the world’s premier show caverns. Discovered in 1960 by local cavers, this family owned and operated natural wonder is the largest cavern in Texas. In addition to multiple tour experiences through two distinct caverns, the property features above-ground adventures of a different kind including a ropes course, zip rails, a 5,000 square foot outdoor maze, and even an interactive “gem panning” activity. More of the cavern system itself is still being discovered; the Wuest family along with their caving team are still actively exploring new areas in the massive cavern. Natural Bridge Caverns is a designated State Historical Site, National Natural Landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.   

Natural Bridge Caverns’ Newest Off Trail Experience St. Mary’s Adventure Tour 

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Inspired by recent expeditions, St. Mary’s Adventure Tour will take guests on a real caving adventure.

St. Mary’s Adventure Tour, the newest adventure tour at Natural Bridge Caverns, is a unique caving expedition through a beautiful wild cave area of the Discovery Cavern. Sections of these passages, never seen by guests, include rare formations including black calcite and beautiful box work. Guests will learn and use some professional rope techniques used by cavers when traversing, ascending, and descending within the cave, necessary skills for this exciting new adventure tour experience. Knowledgeable guides provide the training and no prior caving experience is needed. [Broll, maps, and photos]

“This wild area in our cavern has always been one of our favorites,” said Brad Wuest, president of Natural Bridge Caverns. “The challenge has been that experiencing it also requires some specialized equipment and training. Now, thanks to the work of our Expedition Team we have the equipment and rigging in place to make the experience accessible to guests who are ready for adventure.”

With the addition of this new off trail tour, Natural Bridge Caverns will now have two Adventure Tours available, both of which are great for people with no previous training or experience in caving.  The new St. Mary’s Adventure Tour is a more technical tour with no crawling, more climbing, and takes 2.5-3 hours. The Discovery Adventure Tour is a more physically demanding, involves muddy and tight crawlways and takes 3.5-4 hours. Prior to both adventure tours, specially trained Adventure Tour Guides (ATs) ensure guests are properly outfitted with everything from gloves to helmets and headlamps – guests bring their own clothing and footwear. ATs take each guest through a detailed training on how to navigate the unique environment of the wild area of the cave.

An all-day adventure is also available as a premium combo experience: guests can take St. Mary’s Adventure Tour in the morning and, after a lunch break, a Discovery Adventure Tour in the afternoon.

There is evidence that this area of the cave was explored by cavers as far back as the 1950s. This area is filled with formations that cannot be seen on other tours at Natural Bridge Caverns. Several areas of flowstone and delicate crystals along with stalagmites and stalactites decorate this area. Beautiful lace-like calcite formations exposed by ancient waterflows at the end of the passage is known as “box work” and has been long considered the finest example of this type of formation in the state according to famous caver James Reddell.

“Experiencing these passages just expands your appreciation for the astonishing wonder of the natural world,” said Travis Wuest, vice president of Natural Bridge Caverns and fellow expedition team member. “Our hope is these experiences will inspire our guests to learn about and then advocate for protection and responsible stewardship of these delicate environments.”

For more information about adventure caving tours, walkable public tours, and above ground adventures at Natural Bridge Caverns, visit NaturalBridgeCaverns.com.

About Natural Bridge Caverns: 

26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, Natural Bridge Caverns, TX 78266  

https://naturalbridgecaverns.com/  l 210-651-6101    

Natural Bridge Caverns is one of the world’s premier show caverns. Discovered in 1960 by local cavers, this family owned and operated natural wonder is the largest cavern in Texas. In addition to multiple tour experiences through the caverns, the property features above-ground adventures of a different kind including a ropes course, zip rails, a 5,000 square foot outdoor maze, and even an interactive “gem panning” activity. More of the cavern system itself is still being discovered; the Wuest family along with their caving team are still actively exploring new areas in the massive cavern. Natural Bridge Caverns is a designated State Historical Site, National Natural Landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.   

Connection to Wild Cave Remains Elusive but Exploration to Continue

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Natural Bridge Caverns to Share Recent Discoveries and Host Cave Demonstrations During International Day of Caves and Subterranean World Celebration on June 4-5

The Natural Bridge Caverns expedition team returned after a 16 and half hour trip attempting to make a connection between Natural Bridge Caverns’ Hope’s Mantel to the south and the Wild Cave to the north. Photos from the expedition will be shared at International Cave Day events at the Cavern on June 4th and 5th.  It’s how Natural Bridge Caverns’ will join cave enthusiasts from around the world to celebrate the International Day of Caves and the Subterranean World (aka International Cave Day) on June 6th. The goal is to inspire greater appreciation and stewardship of cave and karst landscapes.

“After about seven hours of hard caving we arrived at Hope’s Mantel excited to discover what lay below. After rigging the pit, we descended and surveyed a beautiful room, however the passage beyond that point was filled with flowstone formations and breakdown rubble,” said Brad Wuest, one of the expedition leaders and president of Natural Bridge Caverns. “We pushed every lead in the area but couldn’t make it through, although we could feel airflow indicating a small connection somewhere through all that breakdown. In all we were able to close the gap by 50 feet this time, so now the two caves are only 250 feet apart.”

The expedition teams are not giving up on finding a connection but are shifting focus to continued exploration of other areas of both the Wild Cave to the north and promising unexplored sections of Natural Bridge Caverns in an area around the room called The Dungeon. Every exploration has the potential to add to the known size of both caverns. Expeditions are in the planning stages, with the first scheduled for later this month.

Natural Bridge Caverns is unusual in comparison to other unexplored caves in Texas in that expedition teams have repeatedly discovered previously unknown massive chambers throughout the system. So, the potential to find additional “big cave” is strong.  Several leads (leads are pits, crawlways, and passages that may be hidden or hard to get to and have not been explored yet) have been identified and are there, waiting for expedition teams to explore. The Wild Cave also continues north, and during the last expedition there the team had to limit the final part of their exploration that day to an upper passage – the lower passage was filled with water. Then Wild Cave exploration was stopped only by the clock – they had reached their “turnaround time,” a hard and fast rule followed by explorers to ensure safe returns during exploration. It’s possible, if the water in that area has receded, that there are additional lower-level leads there that are worthy of pursuit on future expeditions this year.

It’s both the unknown and incredible finds of the last two years that drives the desire for exploration for the Natural Bridge Caverns expedition team. More people have walked on the moon than have seen some of the remote areas known in Natural Bridge Caverns, not to mention the areas being discovered that no one has ever seen. “Caves are not always ready to reveal their wonders,” noted Brad. “But that doesn’t stop us from gearing up for more exploration to search for these hidden wonders.”

Travis Wuest, Natural Bridge Caverns vice president and expedition member, agreed. “We’ll never stop exploring, especially given there is still so much to learn and discover. Just in the last two years we’ve found large chambers filled with breathtaking speleothems, crystal clear travertine pools of water, pits that go down to the aquifer, and beauty never before seen by anyone in the world. We know there are more big discoveries waiting beneath our feet.”

For the team, it’s not just about finding unknown areas of the cavern system. Understanding the cavern, its history, and its eco-system are equally important. Archaeologists just finished a dig in the area, examining burn rock middens. Bio-diversity expeditions have begun an extensive study of the cave adapted species that call this subterranean world home. A future trip is planned to recover fossilized wild cat bones from the cave with the help of a paleontologist. The Wuest family just received the Lone Star Land Steward Award from Texas Parks and Wildlife for their efforts to preserve, restore, and protect the habitat all around Natural Bridge Caverns, all in an effort to be strong stewards for both the land and the Cavern.

Saturday and Sunday the public will have a chance to see the results of the latest exploration as well as take part in cave crawls and learn about rope techniques used in caving. Natural Bridge Caverns will also launch an Explorers blog this summer, giving fans an inside view of the efforts by our team to better understand this incredible natural wonder, sharing videos and photos of trips, and providing education on biodiversity, paleontology, and so much more. To stay up to date, visit the Natural Bridge Caverns website or connect on the Caverns social channels.

Photos and Assets HERE.

About Natural Bridge Caverns:

26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, Natural Bridge Caverns, TX 78266

https://naturalbridgecaverns.com/  l 210-651-6101

Natural Bridge Caverns is one of the world’s premier show caverns. Discovered in 1960 by local cavers, this family owned and operated natural wonder is the largest cavern in Texas. In addition to multiple tour experiences through the caverns, the property features above-ground adventures of a different kind including a ropes course, zip rails, a 5,000 square foot outdoor maze, and even an interactive “gem panning” activity. More of the cavern system itself is still being discovered; the Wuest family along with their caving team are still actively exploring new areas in the massive cavern. Natural Bridge Caverns is a designated State Historical Site, National Natural Landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

New Cave Discovered That Could Connect to Natural Bridge Caverns

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Currently the most active cave exploration effort in the state,
recent discovery of a new cave could increase the length of the cavern system substantially.

A highly specialized caving team is embarking on a journey through unexplored cave passage at Natural Bridge Caverns in an attempt to find a connection between a newly discovered cave and the northern reaches of Natural Bridge Caverns. Led by brothers Brad and Travis Wuest, owners and operators of Natural Bridge Caverns, the next expedition is an epic push to try to discover connecting cave passage. The expedition is set for Friday, May 27th, 2022, and could take 24 hours to complete.  

New Cave DISCOVERED – Wild Cave 

The new cave was first hinted at in 2019 when steam was spotted rising from a narrow crack along a dry rocky creek bed surrounded by thick cedar. The warm air rising from the crack indicated the possibility of a large void somewhere below. The narrow crack proved to be the beginning of a deep pit that aligned with but was beyond the furthest reaches explored in Natural Bridge Caverns. In 2020, T. Dexter Soechting, great grandson of Natural Bridge Caverns founder Clara Wuest Heidemann, was the first explorer to enter the pit. At the bottom he found a small hole blowing air so forcefully it caused his shirt to flap. Early in January 2021, a team of Natural Bridge Caverns cavers descended what is now known as Simian’s Pit. After a day of hard digging the cavers were able to open the airway into a tight crawlway that led to the top of a giant room, Goliath’s Dome. “I was not old enough to remember my great-grandmother before her passing,” noted T. Dexter Soechting, the first explorer of Wild Cave.  “So, to be part of the exploration team is not only exciting but a connection with my heritage.” 

Exploration of what is now called the Wild Cave has turned out to be a stunning discovery in and of itself. The team uncovered virgin passage – areas where no human had ever set foot – breathtaking chambers filled with incredible formations (never before released Wild Cave 2021-2022 exploration photos and video are available here).  

Natural Bridge Caverns’ cavers spearheaded exploration of the Wild Cave in 2021 with hopes for more than discovery of a new cave. In the southernmost reaches of the Wild Cave, a room called the House of Cards is within a tantalizing 300 feet from the end of Natural Bridge Caverns northern most surveyed location, Hope’s Mantel.   

Today the caving team is gearing up for an incredible expedition. The team is planning to push through from the Natural Bridge Caverns side in one of the longest expeditions yet. If the team does find a connection from Natural Bridge Caverns’ Hope’s Mantel area to the Wild Cave’s House of Cards room, the Natural Bridge Caverns system could add another 1,398 feet, bringing the total to 20,475 feet or 3.88 miles. This would make Natural Bridge Caverns the 6th longest cave in the state. 

Exploration Restarted in 2019 

A new era of exploration began in 2019 resulting in major discoveries of new, unexplored chambers. By February 2020 the caving teams had ventured to the northern most surveyed location of the cavern at Hope’s Mantel, a ledge overlooking a four-story tall room filled with beautiful formations and cavern passage extending beyond and out of sight. Unfortunately, at the time the team had no more rope to continue exploration. It had been a grueling effort to get to this area of the cave (some trips took 23 hours). Up to that point all combined they’d added 1.13 miles of cave passage to Natural Bridge Caverns. Then exploration paused in March 2020 when COVID required the team to focus their energies on navigating the pandemic for their families, business, and employees instead of exploration (a release covering exploration along with photos of exploration prior to 2020 is here. Animated map showing timeline of exploration is here). 

 Currently the explored and mapped area of Natural Bridge Caverns (without the Wild Cave) is 3.61 miles long, making it the 8th longest cave in the state, moving up from 13th on the list due to recent discoveries. Natural Bridge Caverns remains the largest cave (in terms of volume) in Texas and the cave with the most active exploration in the state.  

 “No other cave in Texas is being explored to the degree that’s happening at Natural Bridge Caverns,” said world renown cave explorer Bill Steele. “The discoveries have been nothing short of incredible.”  

For more information about the expedition and future explorations, please refer to NaturalBridgeCaverns.com and social channels. Interviews with expedition leaders Brad Wuest and Travis Wuest are available upon request. 

About Natural Bridge Caverns: 

26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, Natural Bridge Caverns, TX 78266  

https://naturalbridgecaverns.com/  l 210-651-6101    

Natural Bridge Caverns is one of the world’s premier show caverns. Discovered in 1960 by local cavers, this family owned and operated natural wonder is the largest cavern in Texas. In addition to multiple tour experiences through the caverns, the property features above-ground adventures of a different kind including a ropes course, zip rails, a 5,000 square foot outdoor maze, and even an interactive “gem panning” activity. More of the cavern system itself is still being discovered; the Wuest family along with their caving team are still actively exploring new areas in the massive cavern. Natural Bridge Caverns is a designated State Historical Site, National Natural Landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.   

International Year of Caves & Karst 2021-2022

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Celebrate with us all year!

You may be thinking; what is karst? why do caves matter? Hold on to your hats! It is the International Year of Caves and Karst. Over the course of the year, Natural Bridge Caverns along with other industry partners will be supplying you with all the fun and astonishing facts. We are planning partnerships, presentations, fun events, contests, experiments and much much more. Our goal in 2021-2022 will be to promote exploration, understanding and protection of our caves and karst landscapes. Click here to learn more!

2021-2022 is the International Year of Caves and Karst. We will be celebrating all year long.

Natural Bridge Caverns Unveils Multimillion Dollar Technology Expansion to Enhance Popular Discovery Tour

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Upgrades Include Programmable LED Lighting, Underground Wi-Fi and Weather Stations to Monitor Cavern Environment.

New Braunfels, TX (August 31, 2020) – Natural Bridge Caverns continues to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the discovery of Texas’ largest cavern system by giving visitors the gift of experiencing their popular Discovery Tour with a brand-new, multi-faceted, multimillion-dollar lighting, communications and technology enhancement.

Guests now have the opportunity to see Natural Bridge Caverns in a whole new light. Literally. The popular, original cavern tour, known as the “Discovery Tour” was lit by cave developer Jack Burch in 1963, which at the time was very progressive incorporating some 319 light fixtures and burning approximately 34,580 watts of power. Over time, the original lighting and communications system became challenging to maintain and repair. This new fully programmable, computer-controlled LED lighting installed by the Germany-based cave lighting experts at Cave Lighting, CL., who have installed more cave lighting systems than any other company in the world, now incorporates over 1,200 fixtures and uses less than 5,000 watts of power while illuminating and showcasing the giant chambers and formations of Natural Bridge Caverns in a way never before seen in North America.

The vision for the project has been years in the making. Natural Bridge Caverns President and CEO Brad Wuest began talking with world-renowned lighting specialist Cave Lighting, CL. in 2014, with the physical installation beginning in October 2019.

“While serving as president of the International Show Caves Association, I have had the opportunity to see some of the best examples of show cave lighting systems around the world,” said Brad Wuest, president and co-owner of Natural Bridge Caverns. “The original Discovery Passages lighting system served us well for the past 56 years, but since then there have been significant advancements in lighting, communications technology and equipment. The goal was to replace our old system with the very best state-of-the-art lighting and communications system that would be better for the cavern environment, safer, more energy-efficient, low maintenance, dynamic, programmable, and enhance our guests experience by providing superior illumination of our spectacular cavern system.”

“There are other systems like this in place in show caves throughout the world, but our new lighting system is the first of its kind in North America. Having toured our caverns thousands of times, I am amazed how some speleothems that were never before visible, now look so beautiful and chambers and formations I already loved look even better than before,” noted Travis Wuest, vice president and co-owner of Natural Bridge Caverns.

A crew of seven highly experienced multinational caving specialists from Germany, Romania, and Spain, along with the team at Natural Bridge Caverns designed the system and performed the installation, often having to use vertical gear and rope to climb to reach the highest points or descending to depths throughout the cavern to place light fixtures in the best locations. This is essentially like rock climbing underground while carrying the additional weight of the lighting equipment. Their depth of knowledge, skill, and experience enabled them to place lights in superb locations to highlight the truly world-class features that Natural Bridge Caverns offers.

The cooler color temperature LED lamps show off the beautiful contrast of true colors inside the caverns.  Scenes are brighter with more definition and clarity and showcase additional features of the chambers and formations never seen before. In contrast to its brightness, the programmable and dynamic lighting also utilizes moments and areas of shadow and darkness to provide mystery and dramatic effects when lights fade on and off.

More than 10.5 miles of electrical wiring and 3,000 feet of fiber optic cable was installed in the cave. This state-of-the-art system includes Wi-Fi which greatly improves communications for both safety and operational efficiency. Underground visitor Wi-Fi along the tour now gives guests the opportunity to immediately upload selfies and images from their smartphones all while 180 feet below the earth’s surface.

Along with the environmental and economic benefits of low energy consumption, the new low voltage LED lighting system is safer for guests and the cavern. LED fixtures produce less heat and have a longer life. The project’s other environmental enhancements include the installation of weather stations both inside and outside the cavern system that measure temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, and water levels for times when the aquifer rises into the cavern system. A central computer hub collects data throughout the day and will alert the team of any significant changes. Data collected will be used to establish a seasonal baseline and monitor any significant changes over time which can be shared with the scientific community.

 Before the new installation, old static lighting had to be turned on with switches inside the cavern.  Now guides carry handheld remotes to operate the lights in each room based on set programs. The old static lighting systems zones turned on and off large sections of the cavern which required leaving the lights on all day.

The new programmable lighting system allows formations and zones within chambers to be highlighted (turned on and off) as a tour guide takes guests through the cavern, which greatly reduces the amount of light cast on the fragile cavern environment and reduces the proliferation of algae growth, known as Lampenflora. The system is backed up by batteries and generators should the cave experience loss of power and lights are fully submersible for times when the aquifer rises into the deeper passages of the cavern.

“With this new programmable lighting system, many of the fixtures are expected to last up to 10 years. This can save us thousands of man-hours in maintenance and replacement costs,” said Travis Wuest. “The quality of the LED light reveals textures and colors in the cave that we’ve never seen before. Programming allows us to create beautiful scenes for guests and allows us to turn off lights as guests move from room to room inside the cave, or to illuminate specific speleothems that guides are interpreting.”

Former guests will experience the familiar Discovery Passages in a dynamic brand-new way and see the beautiful cavern in a whole new light with many more formations now illuminated and showcased throughout the tour. This project comes 60 years after the caverns first discovery and represents the single largest expansion and investment to Natural Bridge Caverns, paving the way for future high-tech opportunities underground.

Special thanks to the team members and partners involved in this project. In total, seven Cave Lighting, CL employees, 10 staff members from Natural Bridge Caverns, and several businesses from the community, listed below, contributed to the installation.

Cave Lighting, CL.: 

Alexander Chrapko (Germany), Vladimir Vashkevich (Germany), Adrian Kondacs (Germany), Dan Ciulpan (Romania), Tudor Rus (Romania), Tudor Marin (Romania), Alejandro Gomez (Spain)

Natural Bridge Caverns: 

Matt Carr, Justin Royce, Dillon Ellis, Nathan Hinkie, Breanna Hild, Claire Rosales, Arnold Bednorz, Brent Thomson, Kelly Eckerle, Cory Garcia.

Additional support: 

M&S Engineering (New Braunfels,) Seguin Electric, Hierholzer Engineering (Marion,) Crawford Electric Supply (New Braunfels,) PassmoreVR (Austin,) and Barcom Technology Solutions (San Antonio)

Click to Download before and after stills, raw unedited b-roll with natural ambient sound and interviews.

ABOUT NATURAL BRIDGE CAVERNS

26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266

https://naturalbridgecaverns.com/ | 210-651-6101 | https://www.facebook.com/naturalbridgecavernstx/ | @NaturalBridgeCaverns | #NBCavernsTX

On March 27, 1960, four college students, Orion Knox Jr., Preston Knodell Jr., Al Brandt, and Joe Cantu from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio began an underground exploration that ultimately would reveal the most extensive, largest cavern system in Texas. After hearing of an incredible 60-foot natural limestone bridge, which later became the caverns’ namesake, the students asked landowner Clara Wuest if they could investigate what laid beneath their family’s ranch. On the cavers’ fourth expedition, they uncovered a long, narrow crawlspace that ultimately opened into 2 miles of virgin caverns. Today, their discovery is recognized as one of the world’s premier show caverns.

Natural Bridge Caverns located between San Antonio and New Braunfels, Texas, offers year-round activities including multiple cavern tours, a maze, an aerial sky adventure, gemstone mining, restaurants, and shopping. Grounds offer several ideal settings for weddings, groups, and birthday parties. Christmas at the Caverns includes holiday light displays, carolers throughout the caverns, and a hill country hayride.

Natural Bridge Caverns is owned and operated by the Wuest family and is a designated State Historical Site, National Natural Landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Natural Bridge Caverns Hires General Manager to Assist with Future Growth

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Former Schlitterbahn Waterparks & Resort® COO Terri Adams Joins ‘Cave Crew’

(San Antonio, TX) May 14, 2020 – Natural Bridge Caverns, the premier Texas Hill Country natural adventure attraction has announced the addition of Terri Adams as general manager. Adams brings extensive experience in growing multifaceted family businesses into multimillion-dollar brands. The Wuest family, which has owned and operated Natural Bridge Caverns for 56 years, recruited her to assist them with future growth.

“Terri’s long career in the hospitality industry makes her the perfect choice to lead us forward,” said Brad Wuest, President/CEO of Natural Bridge Caverns. “We were fortunate that she was available at a critical time in our growth strategy. Terri’s experience working with a family-owned attraction and her experience with building a Texas brand, combined with her business acumen, capable leadership, and industry insight will help with our immediate challenges and our plan for long term growth.”

“Natural Bridge Caverns has been a family and fan favorite for the past 20 years,” said Adams. “To have the privilege of working with this amazing family-owned business is a great honor, and I look forward to helping the team move into the next 60 years of discovery.”

During Adams’ 41 years in hospitality, she helped to grow Schlitterbahn® Resorts and Waterparks from a small local waterpark to a five-city iconic Texas brand that was eventually sold. She is the recipient of the prestigious Milton Guess Hospitality Award from the San Antonio Tourism Alliance, a recipient of the Tall in Texas Award, and was inducted into the World Waterpark Hall of Fame.

ABOUT NATURAL BRIDGE CAVERNS

26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266

https://naturalbridgecaverns.com/ | 210-651-6101 | https://www.facebook.com/naturalbridgecavernstx/ | @NaturalBridgeCaverns | #NBCavernsTX

On March 27, 1960, four college students, Orion Knox Jr., Preston Knodell Jr., Al Brandt, and Joe Cantu from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio began an underground exploration that ultimately would reveal the most extensive, largest cavern system in Texas. After hearing of an incredible 60-foot natural limestone bridge, which later became the caverns’ namesake, the students asked landowner Clara Wuest if they could investigate what laid beneath their family’s ranch. On the cavers’ fourth expedition, they uncovered a long, narrow crawlspace that ultimately opened into 2 miles of virgin caverns. Today, their discovery is recognized as one of the world’s premier show caverns.

Natural Bridge Caverns located between San Antonio and New Braunfels, Texas, offers year-round activities including multiple cavern tours, a maze, an aerial sky adventure, gemstone mining, restaurants, and shopping. Grounds offer several ideal settings for weddings, groups, and birthday parties. Christmas at the Caverns includes holiday light displays, carolers throughout the caverns, and a hill country hayride. Natural Bridge Caverns is owned and operated by the Wuest family and is a designated State Historical Site, National Natural Landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

NATURAL BRIDGE CAVERNS DOME PIT EXPEDITION LEADS TO BIGGEST DISCOVERY IN MORE THAN 50 YEARS

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SAN ANTONIO – May 10, 2019 – Long after the trail of the easily-navigated Discovery Tour ends, there lies a much more difficult-to-reach extension of the cavern system. Known as “The Lake Passage,” this vast stretch includes the “Dome Pit,” a spectacularly large chamber with a ceiling height of more than 120-feet and what appeared to be a significant, yet due to the wall height, inaccessible passageway at the top of the wall.

A team of cave explorers led by Natural Bridge Caverns owner/operators Brad and Travis Wuest, ascended the wall and discovered more than 600-feet of new passage in Natural Bridge Caverns – the largest discovery at Natural Bridge since 1967 in a journey to the center of the earth that took them approximately 13-hours to complete. 

The expedition team also included internationally renowned speleologist Bill Steele, one of the most experienced cave dome climbers in North America, Lee White, and one of four original Natural Bridge Caverns discoverers, Orion Knox, now 78-years-old. After crawling through an extremely tight passage called the “Birth Canal,” and trekking through deep, sticky mud, Knox lost the sole of his boot and made the difficult decision to withdraw one-hour into the expedition. While he was disappointed to miss seeing the ascent to the upper level lead, he is thrilled to know that his original suspicions were spot-on.

To put this incredible discovery into perspective, the length of this new passage is the equivalent of finding a 60-story building laying on its side. In addition to passages, the team discovered several significant finds. Several long-abandoned bat roosts with underlying guano piles were found in areas of the new 600-foot passage. Guano samples were collected from two areas and will be sent to a laboratory for carbon dating to determine approximately how old the roosts may be. Individual bat bones were also collected and will be carbon-dated too. “Locating these roosts so far back from the sinkhole entrance begs the question of the possible existence of another entrance to the cavern, somewhere closer to the Dome Pit or further North in the new passage,” said Natural Bridge Caverns’ staff geologist, Brian Vauter.

After collecting guano samples at the first bat roost, the exploration team found a breathtaking pond of pristine water, surrounded by a crystalline formation known as “cave ice.” These hyper-delicate phenomena are formed from mineral-rich drops of water that attach to each other and grow at the rate of approximately one cubic inch per 100 years, giving the visual impression of frosty “ice” around the surface edge of the pools.

Owner/operators Brad and Travis Wuest consider this a significant moment in history for Natural Bridge Caverns. “For almost 60-years, we thought the passage at the top of the Dome Pit was inaccessible and that we would never know what was beyond that looming, dark opening. Ascending it was an incredibly thrilling experience and knowing that we were about to see and gently place our feet where no human had ever stepped is stuff explorers dream of,” said President/CEO Brad Wuest.

Brad and Travis took turns leading the team and placing those first footsteps. “It was incredibly meaningful for me to share this moment with my brother. As we arrived at a T intersection, we gazed into a crawl passage that extended in either direction, one covered with beautiful “soda straw” stalactites. Of course, we wanted to see more, but we were past due to return to the rest of the team and decided it was a perfect point to end with the knowledge of more cavern passages to lure us back,” finished Brad Wuest.

“Our family is incredibly thankful for the entire team’s support on this journey into a new era of discovery at Natural Bridge Caverns. Without their skill and experience, this trip would not have been possible,” said Travis Wuest, Vice President, Natural Bridge Caverns.

Another landmark achievement on this exploration was the use of drones and drone videography. In what may be the first use of a drone to aid a cavern ascent, the upper level passage lead was scouted and assessed with drone video. Drones were also used to assist with the documentation of the ascent and offer a proper perspective of the actual intensity of the climb.

Photography and video are available:

Video was shot and edited by Passmore VR.

Still photography should be credited to Bennett Lee Photography.