Colossal Cave Mountain Park, AZ

On the National Historic Register, the 2,400-acre Park showcases crystal-filled Colossal Cave and historic La Posta Quemada Ranch.

by

Words by Dennis Begin

The Colossal Cave or ‘The Bandits' Hideout' is one of those historical legends that does not seem to fade away. The cave is approximately 35 km (22 mi) east of Tucson, Arizona, close to the small town of Vail. The cave was first used by the Hohokam people as their artifacts have been found in the cave. Historians credit Soloman Lick with rediscovering the entrance to the cave in 1879, but only 5.6 km (3.5 mi) of the cave has actually been mapped. Taking a tour is a wonderful opportunity to view what is inside Rincon Mountain.

The Legend of Colossal Cave

According to the legend, four men in 1884 robbed a mail train near Pantano, east of Tucson. In their haste to escape with $72,000 in gold and currency, they retreated up Rincon Mountain and hid inside what was then called the ‘Five Mile Cave'. Sheriff Bob Leatherwood and his posse tracked the thieves to the cave entrance but decided to starve them out, rather than get shot. After two weeks of waiting, the sheriff was informed that four men in Willcox, Arizona, 113 km (70 mi) to the east, were buying drinks and flashing money around. Unknown to the sheriff, there was another way out of the cave near the top of the mountain, now called ‘Bandits' Escape Route.' Eventually. the sheriff and his posse caught up with the four men, killing three in a gunfight. Phil (Pete) Carver, the remaining train robber, was sentenced and served 18 years at Yuma Territorial State Prison. On his release, Carver returned to Tucson. Despite the best efforts of the police to watch him, Carver slipped out of town and returned to the cave, only to leave empty Wells Fargo mailbags in what is called ‘Frank's Livingroom.' There are numerous versions of this legend, but this generic edition fits most of the historical facts. For the record, the lost loot has never been found. If the plot sounds like a typical Hollywood movie, the film is called Cave of Outlaws [1951].

The Colossal Cave

The cave itself was formed over millions of years. Since Rincon Mountain contains a great deal of limestone, seeping rainwater combined with the limestone forms calcite. It is calcite that turns into stalactites/stalagmites or speleothems. Stalactites hang from the ceiling like icicles and stalagmites grow from the ground up. When they join together, they are called a column. Some of the speleothems have intriguing names such as ‘The Frozen Waterfall' and ‘The Kingdom of the Elves.'

The cave has been laid out with viewing areas connected by narrow tunnels. Some viewing areas include ‘The Great Fault Room', ‘The Bottomless Pit', ‘The Drapery Room', ‘The Hill of Time' and ‘The Crystal Forest'. The Colossal Cave is a dead or dry cave, meaning that no speleothems have been formed over the last twelve thousand years (The cave is not growing but remains one of the largest dry caves in the world.)

The Tour

Visitors can choose from three different cave tours. The majority of tourists select the Regular Tour, which takes 50 minutes. A more advanced caving involves ‘The Ladder Tour,' which includes some rock climbing and takes 90 minutes. The third tour is called ‘The Candlelight' or ‘Wild Cave Tour,' which involves crawling, climbing and exploring with a headlamp. This tour lasts from three to six hours and duplicates how the first cavers or spelunkers explored the cave.

A guided tour is the only way to see the cave. The pathways are lighted but most of the cave remains dark, resulting in an eerie experience. Walking up and down the stairs is equal to a six-story building and covers .8 km (a half mile). t one point, the guide explains that you are under the parking lot. The temperature is a constant 21 degrees (70 F.) and is quite comfortable. The history, legend, geology, and cave formations are thoroughly explained and photos are welcome.

Movie Industry

Many years ago Hollywood found that southeastern Arizona was a perfect backdrop for all types of movies, especially Westerns. In total, eighteen movies were made using the Colossal Cave area. Although not Oscar quality, the movies/television shows include Death Valley Days [1968], Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave [1974] and Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink [2014]. From inside the cave, The Grotto of the Lost Treasure was featured on Sesame Street, with a rock formation resembling Big Bird.

The Colossal Cave Mountain Park

The Mountain Park is the result of the work of the Civilian Conservation Corp [C.C.C.], a program featured during Roosevelt's New Deal, which provided work for unemployed young men during the Great Depression. There were two CCC companies with approximately 180 men who worked on various projects in the park. It was Company 2851 who worked in the cave and also built the stone office/gift shop, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

There is much more to Colossal Cave Mountain Park than a cave and gift shop. The 2,400 acres include a park, ranch, and museum. The Posta Quemada Ranch (which translates to "Burnt Post" Ranch) refers to the original site of the Mountain Springs Hotel and a Stage Station, which did burn down. Mountain Park also includes the La Sevilla picnic/camping areas, Hohokam pits, hiking trails, camping, trail rides, petting zoo and the Butterfly Garden.

Colossal Cave and Mountain Park are informative and enjoyable places to spend the day with the family and/or friends, so be sure to head east to the Rincon Mountains.