Jollyville Plateau Cave is one of the lesser known secluded caves of Austin, Texas. Only so much information is known about Jollyville Plateau Cave. This news article will explain and discuss the geology and nature behind Jollyville Plateau Cave. 
Jollyville Plateau Cave is well known for having a beautiful and rugged terrain due to the fact that this particular cave located within Jollyville Plateau range which is part of the rugged and beautiful terrain of Western Travis County. There are many limestone fissures which can be found inside Jollyville Plateau Cave. Jollyville Plateau Cave contains numerous karst features since this cave is located within the Jollyville Plateau.
Tooth Cave ground beetles and Bone Cave harvestman (Texella reyesi) have been confirmed to exist in Jollyville Plateau Cave. Several Tooth Cave ground beetles have been confirmed to exist inside the confines. (Ref: ftp://ftp.austintexas.gov/GIS-Data/WCD/WCD/Req/The_Caves_of_the_Balcones_Conservation_Plan.pdf)
The depth of this cave extends to 254 feet. Elevation of the main entrance is 1,030 feet. There are several entrances that connect to this cave. However some of these entrances have been plugged with boulders. An area of interior collapsed and fill are located beneath the ceiling. Floors are composed of clay composites with clean solid rock floors. “The Skilight Wound Entrance” descends into a 12 foot drop. (Ref: ftp://ftp.austintexas.gov/GIS-Data/WCD/WCD/Req/The_Caves_of_the_Balcones_Conservation_Plan.pdf)
Jollyville Plateau Cave was owned by a man named R. Ribelin and was part of his ranch which was Ribelin Ranch. Lucia R. Francis and R. Ribelin transferred ownership of Contortionist Cave to Ribelin Ranch in 1985 on a warranty deeed. R. Ribelin had established Ribelin Ranch as a limited partnership called Ribelin Ranch Partnership LTD earlier in 1984. (Ref: Travis County Land Deeds, Volume 9326, Page 1)
WB Joint Venture purchased 28.8 acres of land out of a 333 acres sized property in 1994. Part of this land was the Ribelin Ranch which included Jollyville Plateau Cave. In 1996, the USFWS issued an ESA Section 10(a)(1)(B) incidental take permit (permit number PRT 808694) to WB Joint Venture in part to cover the potential incidental take of Tooth Cave ground beetles associated with development within an approximately 333 acres property in north-central Travis County, Texas. This HCP was created in support of permit issuance which called for the preservation of a 52-acre “high density cave area” containing 6 caves or prominent karst features including four of the Tooth Cave ground beetle confirmed collection sites including Jollyville Plateau Cave. (Ref: https://digital.lib.usf.edu/content/SF/S0/05/47/42/00001/K26-04293-KIP-00011532.pdf)
Texas Cave Conservancy (TCC) began managing Jollyville Plateau Cave in April of 1996 after several endangered species of insects were discovered during an excavation for insect research. They believed these endangered species of insects needed to be protected. (Ref: https://digital.lib.usf.edu/SFS0055225/00001)
On April 16, 1999, Federal Register announced and advised the public that GDF Realty Investments, Ltd. (applicant), in conjunction with Mr. R. James George, Jr., Purcell Investments L.P., Parke Properties I, L.P., WB Joint Ventures, and Parke Properties II, L.P. planned to construct and operate commercial and/or residential developments on 216.4 acres of habitat in the area known as the Hart Triangle. A Target store would be built her. (Ref: Federal Register, Volume 64, Number 73)
Ownership of the permit and ownership of the property was transferred from WB Joint Ventures and Parke Properties to TPG Four Points Land, L.P in 1999. Today Jollyville Plateau Cave is privately owned and is owned by TPG Four Points Land, L.P currently. (Ref: https://americanstewards.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Petition-to-Delist-Texella-reyesi-1.pdf)
Part of Jollyville Plateau Cave was transferred to Travis County in 2004 on a special warranty deed, extension agreement, and gift deed. Ribelin Ranch deeded a portion of Jollyville Plateau Cave to Travis County in 2004. (Ref: Travis County Land Deeds, Instrument #2004122922)
Parts of Jollyville Plateau Cave was transferred to Travis County in 2011 through a special warranty deed by Forestar USA Real Estate Group Inc, TPG Four Points Land, L.P, and the City of Austin. This meant that Forestar USA Real Estate Group Inc and TPG Four Points Land, L.P, and the City of Austin began transferring parts of Jollyville Plateau Cave to Travis County in 2011. (Ref: Travis County Land Deeds, Instrument #2011059557)
However a correction deed was issued that same year due to an erroneous mistake made on the surveyor’s part from human error. This deed gave ownership to TPG Four Points Land, L.P and Travis County. (Ref: Travis County Land Deeds, #2011085564)
Today Travis County owns part of Jollyville Plateau Cave as listed by the Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) website. (Ref: http://propaccess.traviscad.org/clientdb/Property.aspx?cid=1&prop_id=755241)
Jollyville Plateau Cave is located at 7501 River Place Boulevard, Austin, Texas, US 78726.
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