Ultimate Guide to Longhorn Cavern, Texas (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
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Longhorn Cavern in Burnet County is filled with endless history and trails that would excite every member of your family. The best way to explore this underground wonder is through cave tours. It is open every day except Christmas Day, and there is no fee to enter the park.
Longhorn Cavern, Texas
The Longhorn Cavern is also known for its Simple Sounds Cavern Concert Series, scheduled once or twice a month. A nominal fee is charged to attend this concert, starting at 6:00 in the evening.
History of Longhorn Cavern
The Longhorn Cavern is rich with history – some are factual and some legendary. History says that before the cave was a tourist attraction, it was used by the Indians, Confederate soldiers, and outlaws, including outlaw Sam Bass. Gunpower was made from the bat guano in the cave, and Confederate troops used the location to store the explosive during the Civil War.
In the late 1800s, there was always a huge temptation for banditry, with train and bank robberies becoming a common feature in people’s lives. There is a ‘story that the famous outlaw Sam Bass stored over USD 2 million in gold somewhere in the cave. However, the Sam Bass story could never be verified, and it can be described as folklore only.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the area residents used the cavern as a nightclub, and shows were broadcast to San Antonio by radio. There would be performing musicians, and this popular spot came to be known as Sherrard’s Cabe before the name got changed to Longhorn Cavern State Park in 1933.
Until 1942 the Civilian Conservation Corps explored the cavern. They made it accessible to the public by removing silt, guano, and debris and installing stairs and walkways to go into the cavern and even inside the cavern! In 2006 chamber music was re-introduced in the caverns through a concert series.
In 2008, dancers returned to the cave floor, and in the same year, Redneck Jedi recorded their 5tth album inside the cave. The cavern was used for a filming location in 2009 for an interactive series on YouTube.
Geological Cave Formations in Longhorn Cavern
The Longhorn Cavern was formed in the Ellenburger type of limestone. It has beautiful crystals, columns, draperies, and calcite channels. The Longhorn Caverns is known for its formations, but experts have often pointed out the many damages to the cave including the areas where parts of formations had been broken off as souvenirs.
It seems that people never understood the importance of cave conservation. The most striking feature of the cave is a smooth white stone formation that looks uncannily like a dog. It seems so natural and ‘living’ that you may half expect it to bark! The formation is made from dolomite which is a denser form of limestone.
Wildlife in Longhorn Cavern
Though much is not known about the wildlife in Longhorn Cavern, it does boast of a significant population of bats, deer, turkey, quail, and songbirds.
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Is Longhorn Cavern Haunted?
In this part of the state, there is an old saying that you are never really alone when the lights go out in Longhorn Caverns. People who come back from the tours have stories that give the impression that Longhorn Cavern is, perhaps, not your regular cave. In 2009 a Paranormal Group carried out investigations, and they were pleasantly surprised by their findings. They could record voices from the cave, which answered their questions.
People on the cave tours often recount hearing sounds of children laughing and running around the cavern. But they never find any children inside the caverns. The good thing is that none of these had resulted in any unfortunate incident, and these sightings or hearings have never been threatening.
How Big is Longhorn Cavern?
The total tour distance of the Longhorn Cavern is 1.1 miles, and guests will be standing or walking for approximately 90 minutes.
Cavern Tours
The Cavern Walking Tour is a popular tour offered 364 days a year but needs to be booked almost 30 days in advance. The guide will take you down to 130 ft below the surface by following the path of an ancient riverbed. You will cross room after room and get a chance to view the fantastic geological wonders.
The guide will also tell you stories about the people who helped shape this national landmark. The tour is 90 min duration and covers 1.1 miles roundtrip. There will be 52 steps down to the cavern entrance and back again.
The Wild Cave Tour aims to give you a primitive caving experience. All kinds of safety gear will be provided, and the tour promises to be a real adventurous one. In this tour, the participants get a unique opportunity to understand how Longhorn Cavern existed before introducing modern lights and pathways. The cave tour will take you on a crawling and wriggling adventure through the cavern’s lower levels, which are yet to be developed.
All participants will get wet and dirty, and this is where the fun lies! At the end of the tour, all participants will be given a T-Shirt that proudly says Wild Cave Tour Finisher. It is a physically demanding tour and will take around 2 to 3 hours. If you are interested in this tour, you must bring a towel and a change of clothes and shoes. No cameras are allowed here except the body-mounted ones.
Longhorn Cavern Tour Prices and Discounts
There are no charges for entry to the park grounds, and access to the cavern is only through paid guided tours.
Cavern Walking Tour
- Adults – USD 18.95
- Child (4 to 11 years) – USD 14.95
- Infant (0 to 3 years) – FREE
Wild Cave Tour
- Adults (8+ years) – USD 94.95
Is Longhorn Cavern Cold?
The Cavern enjoys a temperature of 68 degrees F, and the air is a bit cooler near the entrance. The relative humidity inside the cave hovers around 60%.
What to Wear?
You can dress comfortably in any attire but wear closed-toe shoes with good traction. Parts of the hiking trail can be wet if the area has received rainfall.
Longhorn Cavern Hours
Till May 2022
- Weekdays – 9 am to 5 pm
- Weekends – 9 am to 6 pm
Entrance will be closed one hour after the departure of the last scheduled tour.
What to Do at the Cavern (Beside Tours)
The first thing that people do here is to tour the caverns. But after the tour is over, you can hike one of the trails, enjoy a picnic with your loved ones, or learn all about the work done by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Head to the CCC Observation tower and enjoy a 360-degree view of the surroundings, including the Falkenstein Castle. You can visit the gift shop and sample some snacks or buy a couple of souvenirs to take back home.
Best Time to Visit Longhorn Cavern
One can visit the Longhorn Caverns any time of the year. So you can come here at your convenient time and day.
How to Get to There
If you are coming from Burnet, you should head south on US Highway 281. When you reach Park Road 4, you should turn west and look for the park entrance. It will be on your left side after about six miles.
Hotels near Longhorn Cavern
Longhorn Cavern State Park is a day-use only site, and there are no campgrounds on site. The nearest campground is around six miles away at Inks Lake State Park. Hotels can be found within a 10-minute drive to Burnet or Kingsland.
Places To Stay Nearby
Visiting Longhorn Cavern
Do you need more information before visiting Longhorn Cavern? Call (512) 715 – 9000 or email Them through the form for an information packet.
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