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 Bull Shoals Caverns 

At 59o year around Bull Shoals Caverns, off Highway 178, is a “living” limestone cavern located in the Ozark Mountains of Northern Arkansas in Bull Shoals. Geologists tell us that the caverns were created approximately 350 million years ago, during the Ordovician period and were carved out by water method. The Caverns were formed by water seeping into the cracks of the rocks, gradually enlarging the cracks and dissolving the surrounding rocks. There is an underground river that flows through the caverns to this day.

Almost every known formation found in caverns in the United States is found in Bull Shoals Caverns. Among these are stalactites, stalagmites, drapolites, boxwork, stalactiflat, cave pearls, soda straws, flowstone and many others. Cave life typically includes salamanders, bats, frogs and camel crickets which are a few of the lifeforms that inhabit Bull Shoals Caverns. This is typical for a karst cavern in Arkansas.

Bull Shoals Caverns was open for tourism in 1958 and has been a popular destination for families for many years; the caverns are currently owned by the Oates family since 2006.

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History '''


 * Human dwelling was first documented starting 300 B.C. via Carbon Dating.


 * The first Native Americans to use this cave were the Cliff Walkers which have been inhabiting caves for 10,000 years throughout Central North America as well as other tribes.

External Links
 * Early settlers in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s would use utilize the caverns as a well cooler aka (refrigerator).
 * During the Civil War, Confederate soldiers use the cavern for harvesting saltpeter.
 * In the early to middle 1900’s moonshiners utilized the cavern as a hideout for their stills during prohibition. Due to a lack of good roads, moonshiners were not bothered by “Revenuers”. During WWII, Bull Shoals Caverns was used for refrigeration by the surrounding neighbors for whiskey and food storage.

Official Homepage -  http://www.bullshoalscaverns.com/ http://www.1890village.com/

References


 * 1) http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=5006
 * 2) http://www.aetn.org/programs/exploringarkansas/june_2010
 * 3) The History of Bull Shoals, by Robert E. Harper. Enterprise Printing
 * 4) Show Caves of the Ozarks, by Bruce A. Raisch. Donning Company Publishers
 * 1) The History of Bull Shoals, by Robert E. Harper. Enterprise Printing
 * 2) Show Caves of the Ozarks, by Bruce A. Raisch. Donning Company Publishers
 * 1) Show Caves of the Ozarks, by Bruce A. Raisch. Donning Company Publishers