Show Caves near Lake of the Ozarks

The Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri is a lovely place to relax and let your cares slip away. If water is your thing, you’ll find plenty of water sports waiting for you. But here’s a diversion you may not have thought of: exploring caves. Missouri has close to two dozen show caves, four within easy driving distance of Lake of the Ozarks.

Bridal Cave

The Bridal Cave was named after an old Osage legend. According to the legend a youth from one tribe fell madly in love with a maiden in a neighboring tribe. Although his love was not reciprocated, he felt as if he simply must have her, so one night he and some of his friends kidnapped the maiden and her friend. With people from the maiden’s tribe in hot pursuit, the youth hid the captives in the cave. The maiden was so upset she leapt to her death from what is now known as Lover’s Leap. The maiden’s friend, however, had a happier ending, marrying the brother of the youth in the very cave where she had once been held prisoner.

Today, over 2000 couples have exchanged vows in the majestic beauty of Bridal Cave. Even if you’re not getting married, this cave is well worth seeing. The Discovery Tour costs $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-12. As well as a walk through Bridal Cave, the tour includes a short nature walk as well as a lantern tour of Bear Cave, a “wild” cave.

Jacob’s Cave

Jacob’s cave was opened as a show cage in 1932, when visitors walked on planks and had their paths lit with kerosene lanterns. Today, the path through the cage is much smoother–in fact, it is completely wheelchair accessible.

Jacob’s Cave is a particularly beautiful cave featuring deep pools, cascades of water, and cave formations ranging from the delicate looking “soda straws” to mighty stalactites. The cave also features a selection of prehistoric animal bones.

Tours through Jacob’s cage cost $12 for adults and $6 for children ages 4 to 12. Interestingly, this cave’s web site lists it as “for sale” so it will be interesting to see what changes await Jacob’s Cave.

Onyx Mountain Caverns

Onyx Mountain Caverns provided shelter for Native Americans thousands of years ago. Today you can see dozens of artifacts from societies of people that have long since faded away. Additionally, keep your eyes open for the breathtaking 35 foot high onyx formation, which is where the cave got its name.

Tours through Onyx Mountain Caverns cost $7.75 for adults; $3.75 for children aged 5-12.

Ozark Caverns

Tours through Ozark Caverns focus on the geologic forces that create caves and the formations seen within them. One sight to take note of is Angel Falls where water appears to cascade out of sheer rock.

If you’re lucky, you may also see some cave wildlife–bats (four species call the cave their home), and any number of invertebrate creatures, some of whom will spend their whole lives without leaving the cave.

There are several tours offered through the cave from the standard (traditional tour) to the speleology tour which allows adults more chances to explore the cave in-depth to a special tour for children. Traditional tours cost $6 for adults; $5 for teens ages 13-18; and $4 for children ages 6-12. Children five and under tour for free.