Sham S.Misri
(From: Austin, Texas)
Friday, 8th March, 2002
One of the best ways to escape the heat
of Austin, Texas, is to tour underground caverns. It was Friday, the 8th of March,
2002, when Sandeep, my son proposed to have a tour to a different site- The
Natural Bridge Caverns.
Being new to the USA, perhaps my first
visit to USA, I loved going to see new places here, and today it was the
Natural Bridge Caverns. Having left our residence at Austin, we proceeded
towards the Caverns. I was accompanied
by my wife, Sarla. My son Sandeep along with his newlywed wife Suprigya also
joined me in this tour. The journey from
Austin to Natural Bridge Caverns is nearly seventy miles, and was covered in
around two hours.
On reaching the cave, I, along with my
family members was very much excited and fascinated to see it. The first thing
that I did was I didn’t forget to grab pictures of the new place! After having
purchased the entry tickets we moved in a group to enter the cave.
There is a beautiful story about how
the Natural Bridge Caverns were discovered.
On March 27, 1960, cave explorer Orion Knox and his three friends from
St. Mary's University in San Antonio were in a cave below the Wuest family
cattle ranch. They had explored the caves there three times before. Knox, then
19, was the smallest in the group, so he was often tapped to crawl through
tight spaces. Armed with a rock hammer and carbide light on his helmet, he inched
through a narrow crawl way. Once out, an expanse of darkness greeted him.
"I said, 'Hey, we may have
something here,'" Knox said.
Knox and the others were likely the
first humans to set foot in what is now called Natural Bridge Caverns, the
largest known caverns in Texas and one of the state's top tourist destinations.
The caverns have a unique underground
world of sweeping tunnels and bizarre rock formations that lie as deep as 180
feet below the ground. The caverns are named for a bridge like rock formation
on top of the cave entrance.
Geologists think the cave began to form
about 140 million years ago.
When Knox and fellow students announced
their discovery, Clara Wuest, a widow who farmed cattle and goats on the ranch,
was initially uncertain. The family had always known about the natural bridge,
the sinkhole entrance and the caves within, but, to their knowledge, no one had
ever ventured as deep inside as Knox's group, her grandson Travis Wuest said.
After Travis Wuest’s father confirmed
what Knox and the others had seen, Clara Wuest, who died in 1997, "became
convinced that she had a spectacular natural feature on her property,"
Knox said.
About 1961, Travis Wuest said, his
grandmother remarried and began to discuss ways to develop the property and
turn it into a tourist attraction.
She went to the state and national park
agencies, but for various reasons, they weren't interested in developing the
caves. So Wuest decided to do it herself, mortgaging her ranch to fund the
development. It was very risky. Had the venture failed, Travis Wuest said, the
family would have lost its home and only source of income.
"She transformed herself from a
shy ranch wife into an entrepreneur and businesswoman," Wuest said. He
said he doesn't know how much the development cost.
Knox dropped out of college to help
with the two-year effort to develop the caves. Knox and others worked 14-hour
days to excavate a route into the caverns, creating paths and tunnels for
tourists to move through. The caverns are so large that development didn't
disturb most natural features.
The caves opened to the public in 1964,
quickly becoming a boon to the state's tourism industry, Knox said. They were
made a registered U.S. natural landmark in 1971.
Knox now lives in Central Austin and
likes to reflect on his discovery. "This was a life-changing event for
me," he said. "Any time I go to the cave and see people enjoying it,
it's such a rewarding feeling."
As for the Wuests, the caverns have
become the family business.
Natural Bridge Caverns is one of the
most treasured natural attractions Texas has to offer. This beautiful and
historical cavern system offers an experience that is fun and family oriented.
Whether we are a first timer, or an
eager caver, Natural Bridge Caverns waits with a once in a lifetime experience
we should never forget. My visit to the cave made me so much to do, see and
learn .
Caves are unique and fragile natural
resources that may contain records of archaeological and paleontological
change. Caves provide us useful information about habitat for unique and
endangered species. Calcite mineral formation inside caves preserves record of
earth history. From the caverns San Antonio is nearly tem miles away. If anyone
is in the San Antonio area then this is a must see. The facilities are well
maintained and the caves are spectacular. The experience surpasses all
expectations. The lighting enables to
see the real beauty of the cavern. In addition, we always felt safe on the
stairs and the handrails were very sturdy.
Hear all the names....stalagmites &
tites and straws and what not Regardless of their names, they are stunning to
see. We saw the largest underground cavern in Texas and were amazed by its size.
We also discovered some other fun
activities to do on the grounds, which made for a full day. Texas Travel Facts
for the Natural Bridge Caverns:
We did Lots of walking in the cave. We
were dressed in lightweight clothing and comfortable walking shoes. Strollers
are not allowed in the cave. I had taken my camera with flash and no one
objected to it. We had parked the car in the free parking lot.
First, when we arrived, we wanted to
take the tour for Hidden Passages, but we were told that the wait would be
nearly two hours. To wait for two hours was dropped and we did not go to Hidden
passages. We did not go to the Hidden Passage as we had to wait long for that.
The caverns were cool and spectacular. Once we were inside the cavern we were
told, and it was written “You can't touch anything here! Don't forget to take a picture! “
My experience one of the world's
premier caverns, Natural Bridge Caverns. Millions of others have seen - an
incredible underground world of natural beauty. This 75-minute tour travels
through a half-mile of the largest and most spectacular show cavern in Texas.
Leaving the cavern we proceeded to San
Antonio a distance of nearly ten miles from here.
The
San Antonio River Walk:
Millions of people visit the River Walk
each year to enjoy this unusual urban sanctuary that winds along the San
Antonio River in central San Antonio.
The lush landscapes, old fashioned
pathways, tinkling waterfalls, quiet pools, outdoor art and relaxing outdoor
patios are things to see here.
The River walk in San Antonio is one of
the world's most distinctive meeting places -- old and new friends meet up,
travellers pause, families congregate, lovers gaze; and weddings, reunions,
business meetings spill over into the River Walk. It is a coolest River Walk.
There are many food eating points seen all along the path. Great place to eat
on the River Walk.
Since my son was newlywed, a dinner on
the elegant patio of a River Walk hotel .was due. While I was busy with my own
wife to enjoy the River Walk, I did not disturb my son in having a quiet
stroll, hand-in-hand, along the River Walk, or through the park around.
There is an interesting story about the San Antonio River
Walk. In the 18th century, the Spanish church established five Catholic
missions along the San Antonio River. This was primarily to extend its power
and to convert the native population. The first mission established in San
Antonio was, the Alamo. The Alamo, though strong, was built for a mission, and
not for a fortress. The walls are thick, and of plain stone-work. The main wall
is a rectangle, one hundred and ninety feet long, and one hundred and
twenty-two feet wide. On one corner was attached the old church, a large
building, and containing the soldiers' quarters. Adjoining this on the east
side was the stone house for horses. About midway of the east side of the main
wall, but within it, was a two-story stone building; the upper story being used
for a hospital, and the lower one for an armoury, soldiers' quarters, &c.
There were four pieces of artillery mounted on the side toward the town, and a
like number facing the north; two on the side of the church, and four to defend
the gate which looked toward the bridge across the San Antonio River. The place
was supplied with water from two aqueducts running on either side of the walls.
But it was greatly deficient in men, provisions, and ammunition.
It was already 100 years old when it fell in
the notorious Battle of the Alamo. Rebellious Texans had captured the city of
San Antonio in December of 1835 and had fortified the Alamo, a fortress-like
centre of town. Mexican General came with a massive army and laid siege to the
Alamo. For 13 days in 1836, around 200 Texas defenders held the Alamo from over
one thousand of Mexican General’s troops. The defenders would die fighting
overwhelming odds for freedom. The General attacked and finished the defenders
in less than two hours. None of the defenders survived.
The banks of the San Antonio River have
attracted settlers for nearly 300 years, leaving the city with the best aspects
of diverse cultures from all around the world. European, Spanish and Western
traditions all blend together into a personality that’s uniquely San Antonio.
San Antonio's long history and its
lively art scene reflect the city’s confluence of cultures. Local bands
provided all soundtracks.
Floating down cool rivers, strolling
quaint Main Streets in search of unique bargains or hiking, biking and riding
horses through rolling, scenic terrain – all this and more await on a trip to
San Antonio.
This was my first experience of one of
the world's premier caverns, Natural Bridge Caverns. It is an incredible
underground world of natural beauty. This 75-minute tour travel was a great
experience at the caverns! The caverns
themselves are beautifully lit and well preserved. It was an awesome sight to see!
Once we have experienced Natural Bridge
Caverns, we feel like visiting the cave again
