Fantastic Caverns, Springfield, MO 2010

To the left are 2 massive columns. Above are beautiful stalagtites & stalagmites. I could have touched them; they were so close to me - that's a no, no.

Fantastic Caverns, Springfield, MO 2010

This cave was discovered well before the Civil War. Mr Knott was hunting & his dog found the cavern. He advertized for explorers to document what was inside. Below are the names of the 1st explorers, who were 12 women. Can you believe that!!! He didn't tell anyone during the Civil War for fear that it would be used by either the Red Coats or Blue Coats & be destroyed.
It was opened after the war but didn't come to popularity until Prohibition. The Cavern was used as a Speakeasy. To the left is the stage where people performed.

Fantastic Caverns, Springfield, MO 2010

Patsy enjoying the ride while having a cup of coffee. You can see what we road in.

Fantastic Caverns, Springfield, MO 2010

look at all the detail on the stalagtites, stalagmites, columns & draperies formed by the drippings off the ceiling

Fantastic Caverns, Springfield, MO 2010

Above is one of the caverns we drove into. To the left are a stalagtite forming - you can see the folds of the draperies.

Fantastic Caverns, Springfield, MO 2010

This morning we stopped at the Fantastic Caverns just 10 miles outside Springfield, MO as we headed to St Louis. If this were the 1st cavern I had seen, I would have thought that it was great. This time Patsy was right. For us, it was a tourist trap; afterall we saw Carlsbad Caverns, which is the premier of all caverns in the world. To the left is the opening of the cavern. We road around the cavern in a long jeep open wagon. It is 1 of only 4 in the world where you can be transported.

Springfield, MO going home 2010

This is the bedroom & bathroom.
Tomorrow morning we are going to take a tour of the Fantastic Caves just outside Springfield & then set off to St. Louis.