While driving through Missouri, we kept seeing billboards for caverns. I love 'em. We had a few minutes, so we pulled into the Fantastic caverns. It's a drive-through cavern with expert tourguides.
My camera had run out of batteries, but they allowed me to charge my battery a little while we were waiting for the next tour. I thought that was very nice of them. But, because I only had a limited amount of battery use, I only took a few pictures.
It was first discovered in 1862, and was mined for its saltpeter which was used to make gun powder. It is a live cavern, meaning that there are still droplets of water making the stalactites grow.
During the prohibition era, it was used as a hideaway to make moonshine. There is a river in a deep crevice which has occasionally flooded the whole cavern. That's a lot of water. But, it has unique animal-life such as blind salamanders. The tour guide said that if we lived in the cave with no light, we would eventually go blind as well. Interesting.
Later, it was used as a type of night club where famous country stars performed. The natural stage is still there. These pictures were all taken toward the end of the cave, the stage is near the opening.
All in all, it's a beautiful cavern, and there's an equally beautiful park on the outside for picnicking and walking etc.
