Facts about Natural Bridge Caverns New Multimillion Dollar Hidden Wonders Tour

05-02-2023

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

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.
• An original music score with sound effects has been produced by renowned composer, Chris Thomas (https://www.christhomasmusic.com/) to accompany a sound and light show synchronized by Slovakian lighting designer Jan Ptacin (https://cv.janptacin.com/) in the massive Box Canyon Passage.
• 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.