Gate to Lakeline Mall Cave now missing.

An iron gate to Lakeline Mall Cave has gone missing. Clues or whereabouts as to where this iron gate that covered this cave has not been publicly announced by City of Austin officials. Neighbors have not been able to offer any tips to police or city officials.

 

This iron gate covered an entrance that is 15 feet to 20 feet deep which is a safety hazard if anyone were to fall down that entrance. There was an iron gate was installed around the entrance to Lakeline Mall Cave to prevent vandalism, injury, and to preserve natural wildlife as there are protected karst species. Lakeline Mall Cave contains the protected harvestman Texella reyesi which is protected because animals of this new species were originally included Texella reddelli, a federally-listed species known to be endemic to Lakeline Cave.

The iron gate to Lakeline Mall Cave has been stolen at least twice in the past. The City of Austin had installed a double gate around the cave entrance after the lock had been broken off for a second time to the other cave entrance. Officials say the iron gate has stolen at least 4 different times. The City of Austin and Cedar Park are attempting to maintain the cave and natural wildlife. 

 

It is 2020 and officials still have no clue as to how the iron gate that covered Lakeline Mall Cave was removed and stolen. However City of Austin officials do not seem to be concerned about installing another iron gate to the entrance of Lakeline Mall Cave.It seems City of Austin decided to leave that cave entrance alone by doing nothing. Today there is still no iron gate covering this entrance of Lakeline Mall Cave.