Longhorn Cavern State Park

Longhorn Cavern was made by water. An underground river cut its passages through the limestone, and over the last million years it filled them with a thick layer of mud and debris, so that early visitors could use only a small part of the cave. People sheltered in the large room by the main entrance in prehistoric times.

The state acquired the cavern from private owners in the 1930s. Convict labor was used for the first work on it in 1931 until local residents objected, and the Civilian Conservation Corps finished the work, digging out the passages and building the stone stairways, walls and buildings of the park between 1934 and 1938, along with the scenic road that links it to Inks Lake. The original administration building now holds an exhibit on the CCC in Texas. The Department of the Interior made the cavern a National Natural Landmark in 1971.

A concessionaire runs the tours for the state. The walking tour goes down 52 stone steps into air that stays at 68 degrees year round and follows the old riverbed. A wild cave tour goes into the undeveloped lower level, which has no lights or paths. The park grounds, trails and picnic area are free.