Girls Tip to Missouri #2 is underway and our first fun stop was OKARMO Corner, which is the three corners where Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri come together. As we were leaving there and continuing onto Joplin, MO, Lori spotted a sign for Bluff Dwellers Cave. Let's go!
As we drive up, one of the guides is out front and we discover that a tour starts in 15 minutes. Now, it's a must. During our fifteen minute wait, it's amazing what one can see. I've bought the tickets, been to the restroom and am now checking out the surrounding area. Do I want to do some mining?
Or rest by the original entrance to the cave - which we have now learned is the exit.
It's VERY WARM out, but over here by the cave is noticeably cooler.
Sherri joins me just so she can hang with Pierson.
OUTSIDE the cave, we spot this:
I can't wait to get inside. This bodes soooooo well.
Believe it or not, we still have time. How can that be? At any rate, inside where the A/C is seems like a good idea. There is a museum to check out as well. All of the antiques in this museum are from the Browning Family, who discovered the cave in 1925. The cave is still owned by the family, currently the grandchildren.
A treadle -
and a spinning wheel catch my attention.
But, I'm not the only one.
A little history on the family: In 1902 the Isaiah Browning family moved onto a farm along Butler Creek, just south of Noel, MO. Two generations grew up on the farm. Through the years they witnessed the installation of telephones and electric lines. Later, the Kansas City Southern Railroad, US 71 highway and two farm-to-market roads were built through the farm.
It was in the year 1925, during the construction of US 71 (today Hwy 59), that Arthur Browning, son of Isaiah, and two highway department surveyors decided to explore a small opening in a bluff on the family land. A beautiful cave full of formations was discovered and is now known as Bluff Dwellers Cave. In 1927, the cave was leased to J.A. Truitt, a cave promoter. After three years the lease was terminated and Arthur further developed Bluff Dwellers Cave. He operated the cave until his death in 1958 when his daughter, Kathleen, took over. Three of Arthur and Mattie's children, Kathleen, Forest, and Matta Lou, continued to live on the farm and operate the cave. Kathleen collected rocks, minerals, fossils and artifacts from all over the country to display in the Browning Museum, which was built next to the cave exit. Kathleen retired in 1991 at the age of 77. Her youngest sibling, Reita Bunch, and her husband moved back to Noel to operate the cave. Reita and her husband George operated the cave until they passed away in 2015. Reita passed away in September; just days shy of her 86th birthday, and her husband, George, followed in December at an age of 87. The cave was then passed on to Reita and George's children, Michael Bunch, Mary Barnes and Ray Bunch. Ray and his wife Ann manage the cave and continue the Browning legacy of keeping it in the family. When people would ask Arthur how long he had been around his favorite story was, "Well, a fellow in town died the other day who said that he built the channel for Butler Creek and helped put the bark on the trees. He was a bit older than me. The bark was on the trees when I got here."
At this point, we learn that it will be 56 degrees in the cave and a trip to the car to retrieve jackets takes place.
Heading over to the entrance, we are met by a fairy garden and some gnomes.
It's time! In we go and from here on out, I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves unless it's something that needs a comment. Enjoy the eye candy and wish that you could be "kissed by the cave," something that happened to each of us. IYKYK. First view:
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