In this news article, Mixerr finds what is believed to be Cotterell Cave in Austin, Texas. This news article will discuss what rare species of insects inhabit this cave, natural resources, and the current status of this cave. Cotterell Cave is also known as Stillhouse Cave, Bull Creek Cave, Wash Cave, and Stillhouse Nature Cave.
Cotterell Cave is a city-owned cave that is located on a nature preserve called Stillhouse Hollow Nature Preserve which is owned by the City of Austin. The quietness and isolation of this cave is one of the few remaining beauties of rural Travis County that is left. (Ref: ftp://ftp.austintexas.gov/GIS-Data/WCD/WCD/Req/The_Caves_of_the_Balcones_Conservation_Plan.pdf)
History for Cotterell Cave dates back to the 1860s. Cotterell Cave was used to wage guerrilla warfare against the Confederate home guard and Confederate Army. Dick Preece “turned caves into citadels which belched mountain death” against soldiers. Cotterell Cave was part of the caves of Bull Creek. (Ref: The Cedar Choppers: Life on the Edge of Nothing, Page 36)
Moonshiners were using this cave for bootlegging liquor and alcohol as early as the 1860s. A gangs of moonshiners had prospered there throughout the 1860s. Beer stills were kept in this cave as Moonshiners used these caves to hide production. Bootleggers used this cave also to hide their products. Cotterell Cave served as a home and the location of an illicit distillery. Moonshiners were reported to have prospered there until 1923. (Ref: https://www.texasspeleologicalsurvey.org/PDF/TSS_Volume1/TSS%201(1)%20compressed.pdf)
After the American Civil War during the 1870s is when the cave was well known and frequently visited by people. They would often explore around in the woods and shrubbery surrounding the cave.
However it would not be long until law enforcement officials would soon catch up with bootleggers and moonshiners as they caught on to their illegal activities. Moonshiners and bootleggers would no longer prosper or thrive there.
An article in The American Statesman newspaper from 1921 ran with the headlines "Stillhouse Springs Where Once Moonshine Outfit flourished. Ancients Spin Yarn. Tell of Battle With Federal Revenue Officers Staged 60 Years Ago". (Ref: The American Statesman, Where Once Moonshine Outfit flourished. Ancients Spin Yarn. Tell of Battle With Federal Revenue Officers Staged 60 Years Ago, 1921)
“Three-score years ago Federal officers were busy trying to locate the source from which certain residents of Austin were receiving their supply of moonshine. They found Stillhouse Springs which to this day bear that name, and there, also, they found a still in operation in a sort of half-cave which is known as Stillhouse Cave. This moonshine mixture was reputed to be triple-distilled and was guaranteed to have 'some kick'. It was about million-proof alcohol and when poured into a glass it looked as innocent as water in regard to Stillhouse moonshine, for it had a kick that would make a blaze-faced mule turn green with envy.”
1923 was one the year illicit distillers were shut down by the federal government. All bootlegging activities came to stop.
Federal agents from the IRS and state officers (Texas DPS) raided the cave in 1923. 6 gallons of ‘white lightning’ and a veritable nest of illicit beer stills were discovered and recovered. Gun play soon broke out between moonshiners and officers which led to the annihilation of the illicit distillers. News about this raid appeared in the headlines of The American Statesman newspaper. (Ref: The American Statesman, Caves In Bull Creek Hills Furnish Safe Retreats For Moonshine Gangs; Officers Get Clue To Nest Of Stills, 1923)
“Capture of an alleged bootlegger and six gallons of ‘white lightning’ led to the location of a veritable nest of illicit stills in the Bull Creek hills. A vast quantity of Bull Creek moonshine finds its way into local cellars of the Bull Creek ‘hillbillies’ … One canyon which empties into Bull Creek northwest of Austin derived its name ‘Stillhouse Canyon,’ through having been many years ago the location of an illicit distillery. At the head of this canyon is a cave known to this day as ‘Stillhouse Cave.’ A gang of moonshiners is said to have prospered there until about sixty years ago, when federal revenue and state officers paid a surprise visit, which resulted in gun play and the annihilation of the illicit distillers.”
The cave was well known and frequently visited prior to being gated and fenced off. Residents in the Mesa Hills neighborhood would often visit this cave and explore around the forest.
City of Austin purchased the property which Cotterell Cave was located and converted the land into a nature preserve called Stillhouse Hollow Nature Preserve in 1995. Stillhouse Hollow Nature Preserve would become a public park later that year.
Today Cotterell Cave remains locked and is only accessible by arranging a tour with the City of Austin. The City of Austin only gives public tours of Cotterell Cave twice a year. The cave is gated and locked because there are endangered species of insects living inside.
However there appears to be another entrance near one of the Caprock Canyon Apartments complexes. This entrance has been filled with rocks by neighbors and the City of Austin. This entry could lead or could have lead to Cotterell Cave at one point. Much digging would be required to enter this part of Cotterell Cave.
Now finding this cave is difficult due to the abundance of overgrown shrubbery. Accessing this cave is difficult because this cave is located behind densely overgrown cedar brakes, dense juniper, and sage shrubbery.
The cave entrance is 1 foot deep single which drops 18 feet into one extended room about 60 feet long and 20 feet long. The entrance to the cave is 4 feet in diameter. There is a hole dropping vertically for 20 feet which hits a talus slope. This talus slope leads to a small room. The other direction leads to a slope which connects to another room with a ceiling 8 feet in height. This slope is a scramble-dawn slope. (Ref: Texas Cave Survey, Vol 1, No 3, Page 19)
The head of one canyon leads to a cave known as Cotterell Cave which empties into Bull Creek just west of Spicewood Springs Road. Cotterell Cave empties into the creek bed of Bull Creek west of Spicewood Springs Road. (Ref: The American Statesman, Where Once Moonshine Outfit flourished. Ancients Spin Yarn. Tell of Battle With Federal Revenue Officers Staged 60 Years Ago, 1921)
Entering this cave can be hazardous because of fire ants and vertical angling. A large juniper root penetrates the ceiling of the cave. So watch out. There is moisture in the cave. Caving equipment is required to enter the cave.
Endangered species of insects such as rare troglobitiospecies and the endangered Terellreyesi as said to inhabit this cave. Insects such as fire ants cicadas, and crickets can be found around the perimeter. Fire ants are the most common invertebrates which inhabit this cave. (Ref: https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/grants/wildlife/section-6/docs/invertebrates/e1_j5_final_report.pdf)
Bug Guide lists 60 troglobitic species of the subgenus Cicurel of being reported to be living inside and around Cotterell Cave. (Ref: https://bugguide.net/node/view/602206)
The soil contains nitrate concentrations which are higher than the average soil nitrate concentration ranges. The average soil nitrate concentration ranges from 8.3 to 17.6 mg/Kg while the soil nitrate level of soil from Cotterell Cave is 21.2 mg/Kg. (Ref: https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/Documents/R2ES/LitCited/4TX_Sal/Turner_2005_SR_05_06_Potential_Sources_for_High_Nitrates_in_Stillhouse_Hollow_Spring.pdf)
Cotterell Cave is located at the address of 7810 Sterling Drive, Austin, Texas, US 78759.
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