One Of Texas' Best-Kept Secrets Is An Incredible Cave Hidden In The Scenic Hill Country

One day in 1927, a goat was walking through rural Texas, when it suddenly fell through the ground and disappeared. It's hard to say what happened next, but one way or another this accident led to the discovery of Cave Without a Name, a natural system of underground chambers located about an hour north of San Antonio. Until that fateful day, no one in the town of Boerne had ever imagined such open spaces existed beneath their feet. Today, the mysterious caverns draw travelers from around the world, who stare in awe at the ornate rock formations that decorate the limestone walls.

Today, Cave Without a Name has lighting and walkways that lead visitors through the lair, along with 126 steps that help you descend into the ground. Most of the tour takes place about 80 feet below the surface, and no matter what the temperature outside, the air down here remains a pleasant 66 degrees. There are six chambers in all, one of which is known as "the food court," because of its breakfast-like formations. Another chamber looks like an "art gallery" full of abstract sculptures — though every hunk of minerals in the caves emerged over the course of eons as a result of dripping water.

Entrance to the cave costs $23 for visitors 12 and up, $11.50 for children 6-12, and admission is free for children under six. Cave Without a Name isn't nearly as popular as some other cave sites in the state, but if you're already visiting state and national parks across Texas, it's a nifty spot to check out. You may wonder, though: Why no name?

A man named James L. Horne purchased the property around the Great Depression, and he opened the caverns as a public attraction in 1939. He knew what to call the land — Horne Ranch, of course — but he wasn't sure what to name the cave system itself, so he held a public contest to see what people would come up with. One boy, whose name seems to have been lost to history, asserted that the site was too beautiful for a name, so he proposed Cave Without a Name. Not only did the boy win the contest, but this non-identifier stuck.

Since the beginning, visitors have marveled at the diversity of shapes and figures, including an apparent nativity scene. Natural forces have crafted this cave over the course of at least 100 million years, back when the continents looked quite a bit different from today, and an underground waterway connects to the prominent Guadalupe River. Tour guides use flashlights to point out the notable shapes and resemblances; there is quite a bit of lore here, including bootleggers storing booze in the passages during Prohibition.

In one large cave, known as "The Queen's Throne Room," the site hosts regular concerts. The acoustics are impressive, and it's hard to imagine a more unusual setting for live music. Don't worry, chairs are set up on level ground and special lighting makes it feel like a real concert hall.

Cave Without a Name isn't one of the bigger caves in the country, nor is it a luxury cave resort for glamping, like The Summit at Big Bend, Texas. The far more popular Natural Bridge Caverns is closer to San Antonio and has an outdoor maze and elaborate climbing structures, so it's more enticing for kids and adventurers. But for the better part of a century, a steady stream of patrons has admired Cave Without a Name's walls and heard stories about its accidental discovery and gradual exploration. Kids will also get a kick out of panning for pretty stones in a trough outside the main entrance.

The storied cave fits nicely into a trip to San Antonio, a must-visit city destination for history buffs. Once you've experienced the Alamo, Cave Without a Name is a chance to roam the Texas countryside and enjoy the small-town charms of Boerne, the closest sizable community. Boerne (pronounced "Bernie") has a good number of hotels for around $100 a night, along with a good number of restaurants. You'll have to drive, as there's no other convenient transport to the cave, but a car will free you up to visit other local gems as well, like the fossil-filled Kreutzburg Canyon Natural Area and The Dienger Trading Co., a 140-year-old, veranda-covered retail destination. Texas has a lot to see, but this place is worth digging a little deeper.