How Natural Bridge Caverns was Discovered!

There are several cave systems across the Texas Hill Country. Many are open to the public but most lie within private ranches. This is the story of how the most popular and arguably the most impressive was discovered!

The Wuest Family Ranch

The Wuest family Ranch started out with livestock and wildlife thriving across the property and just so happened to have a cave included. At first glance the cave didn’t have much to show but a sixty foot natural Limestone Bridge crossing the entrance leaving the impression that there wasn’t much beneath it.

Clara Wuest, (the owner and grandmother of Travis Wuest), was always weary about having people explore her property but would occasionally feed her curiosity to find out if there was anything more to it.

Early on, folks from the University of Texas, boy scouts, and spelunkers set out to discover the small cave only to find no more than two rooms, deciding there was not much in it.

It wasn’t until 1960 that 4 college kids, who had already visited 6 other properties searching for caves, stumbled upon the Wuest Ranch and discovered a surprise that would change the Wuest Family’s fate forever.

The Discovery of Natural Bridge Caverns

In March of 1960, Orion Knox Jr., Preston Knodell, Al Brandt, and Joe Cantu, four college students from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, obtained permission to explore the area now known as Natural Bridge Caverns.

After their first visit, the students were convinced that large underground passages existed under the amazing 60-foot limestone bridge. They had squeezed through an 11in crawl space and edged their way down a long narrow passage, which would later become known as the South Fall, until they ran out of time. 

On their fourth expedition, March 27, Orion felt a cool draft from a rubble-filled crawlway. Such air currents often indicate the presence of additional rooms or passages. The students then split up into two groups making their way carefully climbing and crawling with rock hammers battering things out of way.

One group went back down the South Fall to try and find its termination, the other group decided to take the tightest path from the second room and see where it would lead.  Squishing through the tight walls the four crawled until all of a sudden they started funneling out of the passage with no more rock left to push through.

The tight tunnel opened up to an enormous room of stalactites and stalagmites.  Adrenaline coursed through their veins as they knew that because they had pressed their way into a cavern that no one had ever seen, here were no footprints.  The discoverers then made their way to room after room each time revealing it with light for the first time ever. 

In their zeal of discovery, the group of four was 8 hours late returning to the surface, leaving Mrs. Wuest frantic with worry.  When the young men finally surfaced muddy and grinning ear to ear, she knew there was something special down there.  The discoverers knew immediately what an astonishing find they had made.

Developing Natural Bridge Caverns into a Public Park

Clara explored the option of leasing the land to state park system. She was turned down with the answer they didn’t have an interest. She soon took charge of an entrepreneurial opportunity to run her own “Mom and Pop” business and began to turn caves into tourist attractions.

The landowners decided to develop the first 1/2 mile, the most spectacular part of the caverns, for the enjoyment of guests from around the world. The first 1/2 mile is now known as the Discovery Tour.

 Natural Bridge Caverns is so much more than one of the most treasured natural attractions Texas has to offer. This beautiful and historical cavern system offers an experience that is high energy, educational, fun and family oriented. Whether you are a first timer, an avid caver or someone in between, Natural Bridge Caverns awaits with a once in a lifetime experience you’ll never forget.

Pan for precious stones, take the ultimate leap of faith from the Canopy Challenge, go caving on one of our adventure tours or simply experience nature on the original Discovery Tour. Bring your family, your church group or your classroom. With so much to do, see and learn, once you’ve experienced Natural Bridge Caverns, we promise you’ll be coming back for more.

Natural Bridge Caverns Discovery Tour was developed with two main goals in mind: preservation of the caverns’ environment and comfort of its guests. The result is one of the world premier show caverns, and one of the most popular attractions in Texas.

Natural Bridge Caverns – Discovery Tour

This tour is the original and Natural Bridge Caverns’ most popular tour, it introduces you to an underground world of natural beauty and amazement. Travel through a half-mile of the largest and most spectacular show cavern in Texas. You’ll walk 180 feet below the ground, while listening to our knowledgeable tour guide.

See awe-inspiring, ancient formations centuries in the making and still growing today, such as amazing stalagmites, stalactites, flowstones, chandeliers and soda straws. Take pictures along the way because this is one walk through time that you will never want to forget.

Natural Bridge Caverns is truly spectacular known as the most extensive cavern within the San Antonio area and one of the largest caverns within the state of Texas, making it one of the top attractions in Texas.

Natural Bridge Caverns – Hidden Passages Tour

Natural Bridge Caverns has two world class caves for you to explore. On the Hidden Passages Tour, light and darkness combine to enhance your exploration of huge underground chambers decorated with some of our most rare and delicate formations.

The Hidden Passages are highly decorated with unusually long ‘soda straw’ stalactites, waves of ‘cave ribbon’ and a profusion of intriguing ‘welt and turnip shields.’ Another unique experience only offered on this tour occurs when all the lights are turned off and you experience total darkness.

You haven’t seen all of Natural Bridge Caverns until you have experienced the Hidden Passages. Tours leave every 40 minutes and take approximately 70 minutes.

There are 4 different tours and activities including, Canopy Challenge, a Maze, Gem & Fossil Mining!

Geology of Natural Bridge Caverns

Visitors to the caverns walk through different layers of limestone, a sedimentary rock. Geologists theorize that during the Cretaceous period, a warm, shallow sea covered much of Texas. Sediments and dead marine organisms collected on the ocean floor, compacted and formed the different limestone layers.

Geologists give different names to the various layers, and visitors to Natural Bridge Caverns will find the Glen Rose and the Kainer (Edwards) layers. The Glen Rose, as the oldest rock layer, contains the lowermost chambers, while the Kainer forms the Natural Bridge.

Perhaps around 20 million years ago, a number of faults formed in Texas due to settling of the costal regions. These movements created an extensive series of faults known as the Balcones Fault Zone. The eroded face of the Balcones Escarpment marks both the fault zone and the beginning of the Texas Hill Country.

In addition to creating the faults, the tectonic stresses also created joints, or cracks in the rock. Underground water moving along the joints eventually carved the passages at Natural Bridge Caverns, one of the main sources of San Antonio fun.

You can visit their website to learn more about their attractions, history, and watch the spectacular video from 2009 when Preston Knodell and Orion Knox reunited to discuss and celebrate this historic day.