Located just north of Austin, Texas in the city of Georgetown is one of the most interesting and best preserved caverns found in the entire state. Inner Space Caverns is a must stop when traveling through central Texas. Several miles of the cavern has been explored but there are thought to be many other areas inaccessible due to blocked tunnels.
Discovered by a Highway Construction Crew
Inner Space Caverns was discovered in 1963 when construction was underway for what today is Interstate 35. Construction crews were boring test holes through limestone in the ground when their drills were going much deeper than normal and then became stuck. They then drilled a hole two feet in diameter nearby and lowered a man down through it. The man was lowered to a room that is now called Discovery Cave and the discovery was official. News of this fantastic discovery spread fast.
Within the next few months, the Texas Speleological Society had received permission to explore the rooms and all the reaches of the newly discovered cave. This included everything from large rooms to narrow tunnels.
The Forming of the Cavern
Geologists attribute formation of the cave to the action of underwater currents when the Permian Sea covered the area. The caverns are estimated to be up to 100 million years old but only open to the surface since about 40 thousand years ago. This was determined by certain mammoth and saber tooth cat bones discovered there. The natural entrances to the caverns were closed about 14,000 years ago.
Inner Space Caverns is a living cave. This means that the formations continue to develop. It is estimated that ninety-five percent of the cave is still active.
One very interesting rock that guides point out during various parts of the tour is named "bacon". The rock amazingly resembles a strip of bacon. You'll also see tiny bats that generally cling or hang from the rock ceiling in certain parts of the cave. The caverns are also one of the few where prehistoric remains were found.
Touring Inner Space Caverns
Inner Space Caverns was opened to the public in 1966, just three years after it's discovery. There are several different tours conducted at Inner Space Caverns. The Adventure Tour departs approximately every thirty minutes and does not require reservations. The tour itself lasts about one hour and fifteen minutes. A guide will lead the group through well lit pathways and explain the spectacular formations they'll pass. Many of the formations have names. It's amazing how beautiful these caverns are and makes one wonder how many others may still be undiscovered.
We found the tour of the cavern to be very educational and the guides were knowledgeable and helpful.
The year round temperature inside the caverns is 72 degrees which make the caverns a great place to visit on a hot summer day. It's highly recommended that tourists wear rubber soled shoes since you'll be walking on rock surfaces. Food, drink, candy, gum, backpacks, wheelchairs, strollers, and tripods are not allowed within the cave.
Inner Space Caverns could be one of the most easy to reach in Texas. The caverns entrance is just on the west side of Interstate 35 in Georgetown, Texas. The caverns themselves actually run under the Interstate highway.
See these additional Western Trips articles on the links below...
Longhorn Caverns of Texas
The Historic Driskill Hotel in Austin, TX
Visit Historic San Marcos Texas
Directions to Inner Space Caverns
From either the north or the south, Inner Space Caverns can be reached via Interstate 35. If you're coming from Waco to the north, drive south on I-35 to exit 259 toward Texas 26 Spur/ Southeast Inner Loop. The caverns parking lot and building is on the right.
Driving from the Austin to the south, take I-35 north to exit 259 toward SE Inner Loop Dr. Turn left on SE Inner Loop Dr and cross under the Interstate. The parking lot and building will be on the right.
The address of Inner Space Caverns is 4200 S Interstate 35, Georgetown, TX
Texas is fortunate in having some of the country's most interesting "show" caves. There are also thousands of "wild" caves throughout the state which offers many diverse geologic regions.
There are many great trip stops and historic places to explore in Texas. Inner Space Caverns in Georgetown, just north of Austin, is definitely one of these.
(Article and photos copyright 2015 Western Trips)
Inner Space Caverns was discovered in 1963 when construction was underway for what today is Interstate 35. Construction crews were boring test holes through limestone in the ground when their drills were going much deeper than normal and then became stuck. They then drilled a hole two feet in diameter nearby and lowered a man down through it. The man was lowered to a room that is now called Discovery Cave and the discovery was official. News of this fantastic discovery spread fast.
Within the next few months, the Texas Speleological Society had received permission to explore the rooms and all the reaches of the newly discovered cave. This included everything from large rooms to narrow tunnels.
The Forming of the Cavern
Geologists attribute formation of the cave to the action of underwater currents when the Permian Sea covered the area. The caverns are estimated to be up to 100 million years old but only open to the surface since about 40 thousand years ago. This was determined by certain mammoth and saber tooth cat bones discovered there. The natural entrances to the caverns were closed about 14,000 years ago.
Inner Space Caverns is a living cave. This means that the formations continue to develop. It is estimated that ninety-five percent of the cave is still active.
Touring Inner Space Caverns
Inner Space Caverns was opened to the public in 1966, just three years after it's discovery. There are several different tours conducted at Inner Space Caverns. The Adventure Tour departs approximately every thirty minutes and does not require reservations. The tour itself lasts about one hour and fifteen minutes. A guide will lead the group through well lit pathways and explain the spectacular formations they'll pass. Many of the formations have names. It's amazing how beautiful these caverns are and makes one wonder how many others may still be undiscovered.
We found the tour of the cavern to be very educational and the guides were knowledgeable and helpful.
The year round temperature inside the caverns is 72 degrees which make the caverns a great place to visit on a hot summer day. It's highly recommended that tourists wear rubber soled shoes since you'll be walking on rock surfaces. Food, drink, candy, gum, backpacks, wheelchairs, strollers, and tripods are not allowed within the cave.
Inner Space Caverns could be one of the most easy to reach in Texas. The caverns entrance is just on the west side of Interstate 35 in Georgetown, Texas. The caverns themselves actually run under the Interstate highway.
See these additional Western Trips articles on the links below...
Longhorn Caverns of Texas
The Historic Driskill Hotel in Austin, TX
Visit Historic San Marcos Texas
Directions to Inner Space Caverns
From either the north or the south, Inner Space Caverns can be reached via Interstate 35. If you're coming from Waco to the north, drive south on I-35 to exit 259 toward Texas 26 Spur/ Southeast Inner Loop. The caverns parking lot and building is on the right.
The address of Inner Space Caverns is 4200 S Interstate 35, Georgetown, TX
Texas is fortunate in having some of the country's most interesting "show" caves. There are also thousands of "wild" caves throughout the state which offers many diverse geologic regions.
There are many great trip stops and historic places to explore in Texas. Inner Space Caverns in Georgetown, just north of Austin, is definitely one of these.
(Article and photos copyright 2015 Western Trips)
The
caverns reveal a subterranean world of stalactites, stalagmites and the
remains of mastodons and wolves. The year round temperature in the
cavern is a delightful 72 degrees with a relative humidity of 98%. - See
more at:
http://texasbrazostrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/inner-space-caverns#sthash.MvP84Mor.dpuf
The
caverns reveal a subterranean world of stalactites, stalagmites and the
remains of mastodons and wolves. The year round temperature in the
cavern is a delightful 72 degrees with a relative humidity of 98%. - See
more at:
http://texasbrazostrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/inner-space-caverns#sthash.MvP84Mor.dpuf
The
caverns reveal a subterranean world of stalactites, stalagmites and the
remains of mastodons and wolves. The year round temperature in the
cavern is a delightful 72 degrees with a relative humidity of 98%. - See
more at:
http://texasbrazostrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/inner-space-caverns#sthash.MvP84Mor.dpuf
The
caverns reveal a subterranean world of stalactites, stalagmites and the
remains of mastodons and wolves. The year round temperature in the
cavern is a delightful 72 degrees with a relative humidity of 98%. - See
more at:
http://texasbrazostrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/inner-space-caverns#sthash.MvP84Mor.dpuf
The
caverns reveal a subterranean world of stalactites, stalagmites and the
remains of mastodons and wolves. The year round temperature in the
cavern is a delightful 72 degrees with a relative humidity of 98%. - See
more at:
http://texasbrazostrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/inner-space-caverns#sthash.MvP84Mor.dpuf
The
caverns reveal a subterranean world of stalactites, stalagmites and the
remains of mastodons and wolves. The year round temperature in the
cavern is a delightful 72 degrees with a relative humidity of 98%. - See
more at:
http://texasbrazostrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/inner-space-caverns#sthash.MvP84Mor.dpuf
The
caverns reveal a subterranean world of stalactites, stalagmites and the
remains of mastodons and wolves. The year round temperature in the
cavern is a delightful 72 degrees with a relative humidity of 98%. - See
more at:
http://texasbrazostrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/inner-space-caverns#sthash.MvP84Mor.dpuf
The
caverns reveal a subterranean world of stalactites, stalagmites and the
remains of mastodons and wolves. The year round temperature in the
cavern is a delightful 72 degrees with a relative humidity of 98%. - See
more at:
http://texasbrazostrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/inner-space-caverns#sthash.MvP84Mor.dpuf
The
caverns reveal a subterranean world of stalactites, stalagmites and the
remains of mastodons and wolves. The year round temperature in the
cavern is a delightful 72 degrees with a relative humidity of 98%. - See
more at:
http://texasbrazostrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/inner-space-caverns#sthash.MvP84Mor.dpuf
The
caverns reveal a subterranean world of stalactites, stalagmites and the
remains of mastodons and wolves. The year round temperature in the
cavern is a delightful 72 degrees with a relative humidity of 98%. - See
more at:
http://texasbrazostrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/inner-space-caverns#sthash.MvP84Mor.dpuf
The
caverns reveal a subterranean world of stalactites, stalagmites and the
remains of mastodons and wolves. The year round temperature in the
cavern is a delightful 72 degrees with a relative humidity of 98%. - See
more at:
http://texasbrazostrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/inner-space-caverns#sthash.MvP84Mor.dpuf
The caverns reveal a subterranean world of stalactites, stalagmites and
the remains of mastodons and wolves. The year round temperature in the
cavern is a delightful 72 degrees with a relative humidity of 98%. - See
more at:
http://texasbrazostrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/inner-space-caverns#sthash.MvP84Mor.dpuf
The caverns reveal a subterranean world of stalactites, stalagmites and
the remains of mastodons and wolves. The year round temperature in the
cavern is a delightful 72 degrees with a relative humidity of 98%. - See
more at:
http://texasbrazostrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/inner-space-caverns#sthash.MvP84Mor.dpuf
