Locals call this cave “Hobo Cave” because a homeless man once lived inside of it at one time. He lived on the left side of the cave in plain sight. This cave is also referred to as “Mushroom Cave” because the outside resembles a mushroom. Hobo Cave is also known as Mushroom Cave, Bullet Cave, Cave at Campbell’s Hole, and Cave Above The Flats. Those names have been attributed to Hobo Cave over the years.
Hobo Cave is one of the hidden gems of Barton Creek. This cave has a beautiful view of Gus Fruh Park and Barton Creek Preserve in one nature setting. You never know who or what might be sleeping in there. (Ref: https://www.austinlocal.com/secret-parks-in-austin.html#5)
It is believed that Robert E. Lee camped at Hobo Cave while his troops camped below at Campbell's Hole during the Civil War of the 1860s. Confederate soldiers used the cave as a hideout during the Civil War. Sam Bass hid out there at one point prior to 1875.
Hobo Cave became property of Gus Fruh Park and Barton Creek Preserve in 1980. City officials decided to leave the cave ungated due to the steep height. So nothing was done to prevent from climbing into Hobo Cave. In 1988, the cave became federally protected as Barton Creek Preserve had federally protected species in the park. (Ref: https://explorersguide.org/barton-creek-greenbelt/)
Over the years people have used this cave for partying and leisure activities. Several musicians have held their jam sessions inside Hobo Cave. This cave was still being referred to as “Hobo Cave” as recently as 2013. (Ref: https://piercewanderings.com/2013/11/10/barton-creek-upper-110913/)
2013 was a year of change for Hobo Cave. The cave went through an extensive cleanup by city workers. In 2013, Austin Police Department cleared and cleaned up the inside of Hobo Cave after a hiker tipped agencies off. The hiker complained about homeless people using Hobo Cave as a transient camp and trash everywhere.
KEYE TV caught news of this after the same hiker called their news agency. KEYE TV went with Austin Police Department and Austin Parks and Recreation to record a news video about the rise in transient camps in Austin. Austin Police Department and Austin Parks and Recreation had discovered homeless people had been setting up transient camps inside the cave just feet away from walk paths on Gus Fruh Park and Barton Creek Preserve from information given to them by another hiker. Police discovered an array of needles and arrays of trash inside Hobo Cave. This was nothing unusual as Austin Police Department had been finding two transient camps per week on average in 2013. (Ref: keyetv.com/news/fighting-back/homeless-camps-lurking-in-austin-parks)
After Austin Police Department and Austin Parks and Recreation had discovered homeless people had been setting up transient camps inside the cave just feet away from walk paths on Gus Fruh Park and Barton Creek Preserve, the City of Austin ordered Austin Police Department and Austin Parks and Recreation to clean out Hobo Cave. All personal belonging were removed. (Ref: https://cbsaustin.com/news/fighting-back/homeless-camps-lurking-in-austin-parks)
However graffiti was not removed because Barton Creek Preserve has federally protected species of plants and animals in the area. Removing the graffiti would disturb the natural wildlife and rock formations of the caves about The Flats above Barton Creek. In order for removal of graffiti to have been enacted, city workers would have had to chisel the limestone in and around this cave. That could not be done since Hobo Cave was located inside of a federally protected park.
By 2014 there were no reports of Hobo Cave being used as a transient camp. Austin Police Department had been keeping a close eye on the cave by patrolling park grounds nightly. Today Hobo Cave remains open to the public and has not been gated.
Macroscopic troglobitic organisms are said to be inhabiting the inside of Hobo Cave as reported in a copy of Checklist of Macroscopic Troglobitic Organisms of the United States dating back to July 1960. (Ref: https://www.jstor.org/stable/2422897?seq=1)
Hobo Cave is a geologically formed limestone cave with iron ore elements. Limestone and iron ore are natural resources which can be found in this cave. Now the rock formation of this cave is native limestone. Many caves in Central Texas have a rock formation of native limestone. Raw iron ore can be found outside rims of this cave. Iron ore is the most common natural element found in this cave. So is limestone. (Ref: https://www.backpacker.com/trips/austin-barton-creek-greenbelt-south)
There is no sense of moisture can be felt inside of the cave. Sometimes on hot summer days, a sense of arid dryness can be felt inside of the cave. The entry is more arid than the inside.
Mesquite and juniper oak can be found growing on top of Hobo Cave. Mesquite covers the top of Hobo Cave also. The mesquite can be spotted around the two-story house located above Hobo Cave. All of the mesquite grows on the outside of this cave as mesquite requires sunlight.
FEMA has the size of Mushroom Cave listed and described as “Fifteen foot by twelve foot ‘room” which means the measurements for this cave are 15 feet x 12 feet. There is also a three foot entrance at the bottom along the cave. (Ref: https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1426509131453-e9f8e9882eb7e2ce1faa0ae07d86eccd/508-Cedar-Park-Appendices.pdf)
A cliffside cave called Hobo Cave is visible to the eyes from a far distance from Barton Creek in Gus Fruh Park and Barton Creek Preserve. Hobo Cave is located on a cliffside called The Flats which is located above Barton Creek. Hobo Cave is about 80 feet above creek level.
Hobo Cave is located just less than 20 feet away Bullet Cave from which is located in the same vicinity as both of these caves are located in Gus Fruh Park and Barton Creek Preserve. Hobo Cave is considered to be mostly inside Barton Creek Preserve since the cave is located on the property.
Accessing Hobo Cave is difficult because this cave is located on a cliff side. Hobo Cave is difficult to enter to due to the location being on the wall of a cliff and the steep rugged terrain that is on a 55ยบ degree angle The high distance above ground makes accessibility of Hobo Cave difficult for many people. Even cavers have a hard time climbing to get into Hobo Cave. To access this cave, you need to climb a steep slope through a maze of boulders located on a hillside. Navigating through these boulders can be quite challenging. The length of this hillside is a steep slope which is 43 feet long.
One you reach the outside of this cave, you will be able to see a beautiful view of Barton Creek and Gus Fruh Park itself. The view from looking outside is similar to an aerial view as this cave is located on a cliff side. You will be surrounded by a view of trees and cliffs. And also houses, apartment complexes, and businesses.
However the only the outside view is beautiful. Destruction such as vandalism, trash, and graffiti can be found inside of this cave. Several graffiti markings can be found all over the outside and inside of Hobo Cave. This unsettling sight of destruction is troubling to some. Junkies have used this cave to do drugs in. Not surprising since this area is a haven for junkies.
Michael Mixerr of Mixerr Reviews explored Hobo Cave in Gus Fruh Park during a caving outing. Michael Mixerr witness the unsettling sight of destruction. “Upon entry of this cliffside cave, I come to find signs of vandalism such as graffiti and litter. Several graffiti markings can be found inside of this cave. Several beer cans were found scattered on the ground inside this cave. So people have used this cave for partying.”
Hobo Cave can be dangerous if you are not careful. There have been people who have died from falling down Hobo Cave. Many people have been injured while trying to climb the outside of Hobo Cave. That section below the whole cave is dangerous.
One example is the death of a teenager named Alex Henry-Ballew. He was out hiking with friends on the Barton Creek greenbelt near Barton Hills when he fell about 20 feet from a cliff near Hobo Cave. Now police ruled his death accidental. (Ref: https://www.statesman.com/news/news/local-obituaries/teenager-dies-after-fall-at-barton-creek-greenbelt/nX9F3/)
APD had issues with people drinking up there being intoxicated and falling off. There have been many intoxicated people who have gotten hurt after falling down from that cave. (Ref: https://cbsaustin.com/news/fighting-back/homeless-camps-lurking-in-austin-parks)
Hobo Cave is located just below a two-story house that is located at the address of 1800 Glencliff Drive, Austin, Texas, US 78704.
That is not Hobo Cave. It's actually called Campbells Hole Shelter Cave and a nearby feature farther up the cliff called Handprint cave. Both are just enlarged shelters. Bullet Cave, Mushroom Cave and Hobo Cave are all separate distinct caves not located anywhere near these features.
ReplyDeleteThank you for pointing out this helpful information. I have included this information in a new article. https://mixerrreviews.blogspot.com/2021/05/exploring-handprint-shelter-in-austin.html
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