History and nature of Ensor Cave in Austin, Texas explored.

Ensor Cave is one of Austin’s lesser known caves that not much information is known about. This news article will explain and explore everything from the history to surrounding nature.

Ensor Cave has a locally renown entrance which is an entrance fill. Ensor Cave extends into three multi-leveled bedding plane rooms. Low slopes can be felt at the bottom sink.

Dan Love and Mike Warton dug into this cave in 1992 while conducting a karst survey for Mike Warton & Associates. The cave was excavated open after finding an artifact called an Ensor Projectile Point in the entrance fill. After finding an Ensor Projectile Point (artifact) in the entrance fill Mike Warton named the cave “Ensor Cave”. Texas Indians have long used caves as shelter. As a result, the caves represent a valuable tool for the study of how the Texas Indians lived. Scientists studied the artifacts in order to gain a better picture of the daily lives of Texas Indians. (Ref: www.texascaves.org/docs/library/booklinkspdfs/tcc/tcc_signs_hhcp.doc)

Highland Horizon Park & Pool was constructed on 1 acre of land in 2011 where the property backs up to an environmental preserve with Ensor Cave. This newly created 1 acre park has a playground and a heated outdoor swimming pool that is open year round. (Ref: https://www.bcmud.org/content/13130/13202/14554.aspx)

Today Ensor Cave is located in an environmental preserve with other caves. That is because Ensor Cave is home to the endangered species Cave Bone Harvestman. In the Austin area, caves are required to be preserved under three systems which are The City of Austin Watershed Ordinance, the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Endangered Species Act or through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. This area is known as the Critical Habitat Area. (Ref: www.texascaves.org/docs/library/booklinkspdfs/tcc/tcc_signs_hhcp.doc)

There are over 100 cave preserves in the Austin area. Over three hundred caves have been set aside for long-term protection. Organizations such as the Texas Cave Conservancy work toward public access where possible. Toward that end, the TCC has built trails and helped install educational signs for public education.

Ensor Cave is located at 121 Azimuth, Austin, Texas, US 78717.