Puzzle Pit Cave is reported to be one of Austin’s lost caves. Not too many people know about this particular cave or are even aware it exists. Puzzle Pit Cave is one of the many caves that are located in Austin and Travis County. Only so much history is known about this cave. Only cavers and spelunkers know about this cave. This news article will explore the biology, geology, history, and wildlife of Puzzle Pit Cave.
Puzzle Pit Cave is also known as Puzzle Cave and Puzzle Pits Cave. Puzzle Pits Cave is the most common known name for this cave.
Puzzle Pit Cave consists of an irregularly shaped sink which is 8 feet deep. This sink is 3½ feet in diameter. The cave extends to 4 feet before splitting in directions. Puzzle Pit Cave is within the boundaries of the Jollyville Plateau. (Ref: ftp://ftp.austintexas.gov/wildland/Balcones_Canyonland_Preserve/BCCP/PRT-788841%2520Biological%2520Opinion%25205-2-1996.pdf)
USFWS confirmed that Puzzle Pit Cave is a site where Tooth Cave ground beetles can be found. Tooth Cave ground beetles inhabit Puzzle Pit Cave. Many Tooth Cave ground beetles have been discovered in and around this cave. Puzzle Pit Cave does not support a diverse fauna and contains the most widely distributed federally-listed karst invertebrates. So this cave does contain some karst features to some degree. Just not to an entire point. (Ref: https://www.americanstewards.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Complaint-ASL-et-al-v-FWS-et-al-F-M-copy.pdf)
Like many caves in Austin and Travis County, this cave is composed out of limestone and granite with steep drops inside. Rocky limestone formations are what can be found and discovered inside of this cave. Many caves in Central Texas have a rock formation of native limestone.
Puzzle Pit Cave was reported to be “destroyed” along with Twisted Elm Cave in 2004. The way this cave was destroyed was by being “covered over”. Now the exact method of how Puzzle Pit Cave was covered over is unknown. Today Puzzle Pit Cave is considered destroyed and has been lost. (Ref: https://digital.lib.usf.edu/content/SF/S0/05/47/42/00001/K26-04293-KIP-00011532.pdf)
Puzzle Pit Cave is believed to be located on the Target property. Exactly where though is unknown. However their parking lot has paved over one of the cave entrances. (Ref: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=181340)
Puzzle Pit Cave is located at 11220 FM 2222, Austin, Texas, US 78730.
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