Longhorn Caverns State Park
| Longhorn Cavern State Park | |
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Tourists at Longhorn Cavern climb down steps built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
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| Location | Burnet County, Texas |
| Nearest city | Kingsland in Llano County, Texas |
| Coordinates | 30°41′5″N 98°21′3″W / 30.68472°N 98.35083°WCoordinates: 30°41′5″N 98°21′3″W / 30.68472°N 98.35083°W |
| Area | 645.62 acres (261 ha) |
| Established | 1976 |
| Governing body | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |
| Designated | 1971 |
Longhorn Cavern State Park is a state park located in Burnet County, Texas, United States. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is administrator of the facility. The land for Longhorn Cavern State Park was acquired between 1932 and 1937 from private owners. It was dedicated as a state park in 1932 and in 1938 was opened to the public. In 1971, the park was dedicated as a National Natural Landmark.
The park is named for Longhorn Cavern, a limestone cave formed by the cutting action of an underground river that receded thousands of years ago. Before the cave became a tourist attraction, it was used over the years by Indians, Confederate soldiers and outlaws, including outlaw Sam Bass.
In the 1920s, during the prohibition period, the cavern was used by Burnet County residents as a speakeasy. Performing musicians would entertain through the night. The popular spot was known as Sherrard's Cave before it was dedicated as Longhorn Cavern State Park in November 1933. From 1934 to 1942, Company 854 of the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed Texas Park Road 4, residences, pavilions and an observation tower in the National Park Service Rustic architectural style. They also explored the cavern and made it accessible by removing some 2.5 tons of silt, debris, and guano and building stairs and walkways both into and inside the cavern.
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