Cave Without a Name

The Cave Without a Name is a cave located 11 miles outside of Boerne, Texas along FM 474. It has been commercially operated as a business since 1939.

Although the cave has been open to the environment for many tens of thousands of years, as evidenced by numerous prehistoric animal finds discovered there, known human contact with the cave began only in the early 20th century, when a small farm animal became trapped in the small external opening of the cave. The cave went largely unnoticed again until the 1920s during the era of Prohibition when a small moonshine distillery was installed in the uppermost cavern. It again fell into obscurity until the owner of the property decided to open it as a commercial venture. The cave received its name at that time, according to local lore, in a contest. A young boy suggested that the cave "was too beautiful to have a name", and so he received the 250 dollar cash prize awarded.

The stairwell into the cave has 126 steps descending to approximately 90 feet below the surface. The cave maintains a constant temperature of 66 degrees all year round. Within the cave there are two main areas open to the public: the main set of chambers, and a second extensive set of caverns linked to the underground extension of the Guadalupe River, which is open only to members of the public who have received training in diving.

On April 30, 2007, Thomas Summers III died in a nearby, connected cave known as Dead Man's Cave. Thomas Summers was the manager of Cave Without a Name and the son of the owner. He and another park employee had gone to Dead Man's Cave to investigate why water from recent rains was not draining from Cave Without a Name. They swam into Dead Man's Cave and got separated. The park employee reported hearing sounds of distress and after receiving no response from a shout, exited the cave to call for help. Thomas Summers' body was recovered by cavers experienced in cave diving a few hours later.cite web|url = http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA050107.caveclosedfatal.en.27f91c61.html|title = 'Cave Without a Name' closed after fatal accident|accessdate = 2007-05-10|publisher="San Antonio Express News"]

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External links

* [http://www.cavewithoutaname.com/ Cave Without A Name official website]