Onyx Cave Park


Useful Information

Location: From Eureka Springs, Hwy. 62 east to Onyx Cave sign, then left 5.5 km.
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Open: Labor Day to Memorial Day daily 9-17.
Memorial Day to Labor Day daily 9-16.
Closed.
[2017]
Fee: Adults USD 8, Children (4-13) USD 3.75, Children (0-3) free.
Closed.
[2017]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension: T=14 °C.
Guided tours: self guided, D=30 min.
Photography: allowed
Accessibility:  
Bibliography:  
Address: Onyx Cave, 338 Onyx Cave Ln, Eureka Springs, AR 72632, Tel. +1-501-253-9321.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1891 discovered.
1893 opened to the public.
1969 scenes from the B-movie It's Alive were filmed at the cave.
OCT-2017 cave and surrounding land were put for sale for $500,000.

Description

The small Onyx Cave near Eureka Springs is the oldest show cave in Arkansas. Unfortunately it is also very much damaged, by more than a century of public visitation. Onyx Cave may be toured on self guided tours, the explanations are sent to the visitors with short range FM transmissions from small transmitter boxes all over the cave. The cave is entered through the only entrance, and after reaching the far end the visitors have to go back the same path. The biggest sight is a cave man who holds a sign with Onyx Cave written on it and an amethyst geode which has the forms of wings so people can take pictures of their loved ones with angel wings.

Cave Onxy is a word which was invented in the TAG area and means flowstone, which is calcium carbonate, not onyx. It actually has nothing to do with the mineral onyx, it does not even look similar. But this name was widely used until the mid 20th century, and so there are now half a dozen Onyx Caves in the area. And as a result this name is extremely annoying, as you never know about which of the half dozen caves you are actually talking. Sometimes the name Onyx Cave Park was used, but we guess it was used for the surrounding park, not the cave itself.

The cave was managed by an old couple until 2017. It seems they have retired, the cave is for sale and currently closed. When it will be sold and if it will be reopened is currently unclear.