Four Points Cave is located next to a series/cluster of caves near the intersection of FM 2222 & FM 620 facing Buick Hollow Road. Four Points Cave was named after the “Four Points” intersection of FM 2222 & FM 620. There are several Four Points cave calluses. Four Points cave cluster is a high density cave area.
The area where Four Points Cave is located is very isolated and surrounded with miles of natural wildlife on county owned land. Four Points Cave is adjacent to the Tooth Cave karst fauna area, known as the Four Points cave cluster. The Tooth Cave karst fauna area underlies a large portion of the total acreage of Four Points Cave. And known to contain Tooth Cave spiders. There are spiders and mosquitoes which inhabit this cave. (Ref: https://www.fws.gov/policy/library/1999/99fr18927.html)
Four Points Cave is considered to contain potential habitat for endangered cave invertebrates such as Tooth Cave ground beetles and Golden-cheeked warblers (Dendroicachrysoparia). Bee Creek Cave harvestman are among the rare cave insects inhabiting this cave. Tooth Cave ground beetles and Bone Cave harvestman (Texella reyesi) have been confirmed to exist in Jollyville Plateau Cave and Four Points Cave. Several Tooth Cave ground beetles have been confirmed to exist inside the confines. (Ref: The Caves of the Balcones Conservation Plan, 1996)
Four Points 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 Four Points Cave. Four Points Cave contains numerous karst features since this cave is located within the Jollyville Plateau.
Below is a history behind Four Points Cave.
Four Points 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 Four Points Cave to Ribelin Ranch in 1985 on a warranty deed. 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)
Travis County acquired Four Points Cave from Lucia R. Francis, R. Ribelin, and TPG Four Points Land, L.P in 1994 because Four Points Cave was a high density cave. Four Points HCP was organized in 1994 because of the high density of caves in the Four Points area known as Four Points cave cluster and Four Points Cave. This high density cave area was preserved as part of the Four Points Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). This HCP was created in support of issuance of an Endangered Species Act Section 10(a)(1)(B) incidental take permit for permit number PRT 808694.
(Ref: https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/Documents/R2ES/LitCited/4TX_Sal/HNTB_2005_Tooth_Cave_ground_beetle_summary.pdf)
There was a subsequent loss of currently undiscovered species and sites in the Four Points cave cluster area in including Puzzle Pit Cave. Only 85% percent of what remains is left from the destruction and development. A total of 48 of the BCCP caves are “protected” in some way, while 14 are “unprotected”. (Ref: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=321787)
Yet 2 acres was preserved and maintained as the Four Points cave cluster contains 5 caves known to be inhabited by Tooth Cave ground beetle and/or Bone Cave harvestman because of efforts from Travis County and Four Points HCP. (Ref: https://americanstewards.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Complaint-ASL-et-al-v-FWS-et-al-F-M-copy.pdf)
The rest of Four Points Cave was transferred to Travis County in 2004 on a special warranty deed, extension agreement, and gift deed. Ribelin Ranch deeded Four Points 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 full ownership of Four Points Cave to Travis County. (Ref: Travis County Land Deeds, Instrument #2011085564)
Travis County has acquired Four Points Cave and is currently protecting Four Points Cave. Travis County has buried parts of passages connecting to and/or leading to Four Points Cave. Travis County determined and discovered specific cave clusters of Four Points Cave cluster needed to be protected. (Ref: https://www2.traviscountytx.gov/commissioners_court/agendas/2011/08/backup/eagenda_packet_20110830.pdf)
Four Points Cave is located near FM 2222 & FM 620, Austin, Texas, US.
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