These Unique Caverns In Texas Look Like Something From Another Planet
By Katie Lawrence|Published May 24, 2018
×
Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
We have a lot of caverns here in Texas, but to be perfectly honest, they can get a bit repetitive. Of course stalactites, stalagmites, and the other standard formations will always be breathtaking, it would be nice to go underground and experience some new and different views. Luckily, we can do exactly that at Longhorn Caverns State Park in Burnet. The cave looks like something from another planet! You’ll want to see this for yourself:
The park is located at 6211 Park Road 4 South - Burnet, TX 78611. Although the caverns are undoubtedly the main attraction, an entire day can be spent here exploring the limestone hills and classic architecture built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
A birds-eye view of the cave entrance reveals nothing out of the ordinary, but there's much more than meets the eye. Along with the standard stalactites, stalagmites, and crystals that are already breathtaking enough, you'll find rock formations like none you've ever laid eyes on before.
The product of millions of years of erosion, these cave walls resemble mystical, otherworldly scenes from movies about extraterrestrials. I half-expected an alien to jump out or spaceship to fly overhead any second!
Walking tours are given every day of the year besides Christmas and Easter. You'll spend 90 minutes learning about the unique intricacies of all the rooms you'll encounter on your 1.1 mile journey. There's no rappelling or extremely tight passageways, so all fitness levels can enjoy the spectacular beauty of the caverns.
Calling all adventurous souls! If you're looking for more of a thrill, the Wild Cave Tour is offered Saturday mornings at 9:30. You'll spend 2-3 hours wriggling and climbing through the completely undeveloped, uncharted lower level of the cave.
You'll need a helmet (one for a bicycle will do just fine), headlamp, knee pads (without plastic covers), and close-toed shoes for the Wild Cave Tour, and reservations can be made here. For the normal tour, booking can only be done in advance if your party has more than 20 people.
Mother Nature must really like dogs! Just kidding - obviously manmade, this structure is in a room called "Queen's Throne and Watchdog." Any guesses as to who the queen is? Ponder that and see if you can impress your tour guide with the answer.
So if you want to go underground and simultaneously feel like you've taken a trip above the clouds, plan on visiting Longhorn Cavern State Park this summer. Texas is full of amazing caves, but none are quite as unusual as this one.
