On our second day of Summer Break, we had a morning that worked well for a little hike – no rain, but not too hot either. We went to Cave Spring Park, a 39 acre historic site and nature park which boasts a cave, a waterfall, and historic ruins. (There is also a nature center, but the building was not open when we were there).
Just past the nature center building, there is a rain garden. We looked at it, but then headed to the trails!
We found the cave! Originally, the area was used by the Osage Indians as well as the Sak, Kansa, and Fox. Later, it was a heavily traveled junction on the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails. Even later, the area was owned by Harry Truman’s grandfather.
We found a geocache, one of those on the Santa Fe National Historic Trail GeoTour.
“In 1926 the Masonic Order’s Cave Spring Club was formed. The facility included a 9-hole golf course, “rustic” cabins, a clubhouse and two lakes with fishing, boating and swimming. The club was closed in 1944. All that remains of the country club are the ruins of chimneys and a large number of foundation stones.”
We ate lunch near the waterfall and then managed to follow the trails back to where we’d started!
Personally, I have always loved hiking and I’m excited to introduce my kids to the fun of it as well!
