Bluff Dwellers’ Cave

As a kid, I remember taking long road trips from our Chicago home in the family station wagon and stopping to see show caves along the way. Now that I live in Missouri, I’m surrounded by them. With more than 6,400 known caves, Missouri is actually known as the “Cave State.”

You know what I mean if you’ve ever driven on I-44 and practically heard the roadside billboards shout at you about the show caves located just off the interstate: Meramec Caverns (“Missouri’s Buried Treasure!) or Fantastic Caverns (“America’s Only Ride Thru-Cave!”).

But tucked away in the southwest corner of the state lies a cave that doesn’t shout for attention. Don’t let that fool you, though. Just because it’s not attention seeking doesn’t mean that it isn’t worth visiting.

I lived in Joplin for 16 years before I ever heard about Bluff Dwellers’ Cave, located in Noel. But once I did, I packed up the kids in the minivan (today’s version of the ’70s station wagon) and checked it out.

The drive to Bluff Dwellers’ Cave took less than an hour from Joplin. We went during spring break in March, when the trees were bare and the ground was brown,yet the scenery was still striking. At one point, our minivan was flanked by the river on one side and a bluff on the other, and we couldn’t help but admire the raw beauty of the Ozarks.

Just about the time I was sure we had passed the cave, we saw this sign in the valley. We’d made it.

HISTORY

Paleo-Indians inhabited this region beginning in 12,000 BC. These “Bluff Dwellers” used the bluffs and caves along the river for shelter, including this one.

In 1925, Arthur Browning discovered the entrance to this cave on his property. After excavation, he opened the cave to the public in 1927, and the cave remains in the Browning family to this day.

AN AFFORDABLE FAMILY EXPERIENCE

Our visit to Bluff Dwellers’ Cave contained all the elements of a family-friendly experience:

1. It was adventurous. We explored a space underground, filled with unique formations.

2. It was affordable. Admission is about half the price of most show caves.

3. It was easy to walk through, even for my youngest child. Due to the way an ancient river cut its way through the cave, most of the ground is surprisingly level. Plus, there’s electricity throughout, so it’s well lit.

4. It was educational. We learned a lot from our knowledgeable tour guide Ryan. (By the way, Ryan worked at the cavern when he was in high school and returned to Noel over spring break just to help out – very cool).

CAVE LIFE

Not too far from the entrance, Ryan pointed out this bat doing what bats do best. He asked those of us taking photos not to use a flash, as the light might cause the bat to wake too early from its hibernation. If that happened, the bat not be able to find adequate food to survive, as it was still too early in the season. Here’s a grainy flash-free photo I took with my phone.

Ryan also pointed out remnants of past life in the cave. Here’s a wall covered with fossils of crinoids, plant-like marine invertebrate animals that were highly prevalent during the time that the cave was forming.

UNIQUE FORMATIONS

Some of the neatest formations at Bluff Dwellers’ Cave are the Musical Chimes.

When touched, these hollow stalactites make musical sounds similar to those produced by a xylophone. But leave the music-making to the tour guide; these fragile formations break easily, and visitors are not permitted to touch them.

Another marvel in Bluff Dwellers’ Cave is the Balanced Rock.

This 10-ton slab of rock separated from the cave ceiling and came to rest on two pivot points on the rocky floor below. Because of the way it’s balanced on the points, the rock can be moved with just one finger. Isn’t physics cool?

There were several areas where we were able to see cave coral.

My kids and I decided to call these formations cave brains because that’s what they reminded us of.

At the end of the tour, there’s a large pool of water with a dam across it. This rimstone dam, one of the largest in the state of Missouri, is comprised of calcite and other minerals and is an impressive 75 feet long.

Also included in the tour is a visit to the adjacent Browning Museum which houses collections of arrowheads, minerals and fossils, and other artifacts, including this petrified bird’s nest.

There’s also a small gift shop in the museum (which was a big hit with the kids, of course).

Bluff Dwellers’ Cave is open all year (except Thanksgiving and Christmas). So, pack up the family and head to Noel for a fun, educational, and affordable adventure.

Bluff Dweller’s Cave is located at 954 Highway 59 South in Noel, MO. Click here to visit its website and click here to see its Facebook page.

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Living Life to The Fullest!

I love seeking out new experiences and finding places off the beaten path. I started Joplin MO Life in August 2013 as a way to share my discoveries with others in the Joplin community so that they can learn about the resources that exist right in their own backyards.

I have worked in education and event planning, and have always loved to write. I hold a master's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor's degree in marketing from Tulane University.