Natural Bridge Caverns

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Largest commercial cavern in Texas.

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Natural Bridge Caverns

Natural Bridge Caverns are the largest known commercial caverns in the state of Texas. The caverns' name is derived from the 20-m natural limestone bridge spanning the main entrance to the cavern. This "natural bridge" was the result of collapse in and around the entrance area over a period of time extending back some 10,000 years. The most recent collapse phase ended around 5,000 years ago.

The caverns were discovered on March 27, 1960 by Orion Knox, Jr., Preston Knodell, Al Brandt and Joe Cantu. The four men were students at St. Mary's University in nearby San Antonio. Over a series of visits during the early part of 1960, the explorers found an increasingly complex series of passages. Then in March of 1960, the main group credited with discovery found a narrow crawlspace which led them into two miles of previously unknown passage. This section of the cavern became known as the "Discovery Passages" and includes some of the largest underground chambers in Texas.

Development of the cavern started in 1963 and continued up until opening day, July 3rd of 1964. Orion Knox temporarilly suspended his college studies to assist in development along with Jack Burch and the Wuest family. During excavation of the entrance tunnel, a number of artifacts were unearthed. Many of these arrowheads and spearpoints dated back between 5,000 to 10,000 years. Other paleontological remains were found, most notably an 8,000 year old jawbone and femur of a species of black bear which had since gone extinct in the area.

In 1968, speculation on a southern extent to the Discovery Passages was confirmed when test drilling indicated the presence of a large void some 7 meters below the surface. An area photographer sent a camera down the shaft and photographs revealed a large chamber filled with speleothems. The original shaft was enlarged and three men were sent into the ground. They discovered a large breakdown chamber and numerous formations. The first three men to enter this room were Jack Burch, Reggie Wuest, and Myles Kuykendall. By combining the first two letters of each man's name, they arrived at JAREMY, and thus this newly discovered room was called the Jaremey Room.

Further investigation near the bottom of the Jaremy Room revealed the possibility of additional passages beyond a pile of rocks and boulders. Drillers were once again brought out to the property and another exploratory shaft was sunk into the ground. This shaft also penetrated a large void and led to the exploration of another extensive section of cavern known as the Hidden Passages.

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