Disbelievers Cave is one of the most obscure caves of Austin/Travis County. History and geology of this cave have not been accurately preserved as some of the other caves in the Austin area. This article will explain the history and geology behind Disbelievers Cave.
Disbelievers Cave is an 18 foot long cave on a 52-acre preserve located in Northwest Austin off FM 2222. The geological formation of this cave is Edwards limestone. There are 3 separate vertical openings to this cave which lead to an open vertical shaft above a rock-covered floor with small drainage portals. Here these small drainage portals lead to a point recharge. Many sinkholes are believed to exist inside of the cave. These sinkholes are part of numerous features Disbelievers Cave boasts. (Ref: ftp://ftp.austintexas.gov/GIS-Data/WCD/WCD/Req/The_Caves_of_the_Balcones_Conservation_Plan.pdf)
Disbelievers Cave has been confirmed to contain the Tooth Cave ground beetle and the Bone Cave harvestman which are within the 52-acre preserve. (Ref: Balcones Canyonlands Preserve karst management 2003 annual report)
“These caves were named MWA Cave, Eluvial Cave, Jollyville Plateau Cave, Disbelievers Cave, Japygid Cave, and Puzzle Pits Cave. Two of these caves, MWA and Japygid, may also contain other listed species. Another four caves, Owl Eyes Cave, Fern Pit, Twisted Elm Cave, and Contortionist Cave, were considered to contain potential habitat for endangered cave invertebrates, although none was found during biota collections. Remaining features were considered insignificant with respect to endangered cave invertebrates.”
The parenthetic list includes six caves, not five as stated, and only three of those caves (Japygid, Jollyville Plateau, and MWA caves), not four as stated, were considered Tooth Cave ground beetle caves. Based on review of maps in the Four Points HCP, it appears that 4 caves (Disbelievers, Japygid, Jollyville Plateau, and MWA caves) confirmed to support Tooth Cave ground beetles are within the 52-acre preserve.
Now Disbelievers Cave does have and supports federally-listed karst invertebrates. (Ref: https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/Documents/R2ES/LitCited/4TX_Sal/USFWS_1996b_BCP_Permit.pdf)
WB Ventures purchased Disbelievers Cave from A. Ribelin and Rudy Ribelin around 1994. WB Ventures purchased the land on a warranty deed. TPG Four Points Land, L.P. purchased the Four Points HCP preserve property, which Disbelievers Cave was located on, from WB Ventures and TP in 1999.
Disbelievers Cave is currently protected by the 10A permit (Private 10a Permit: PRT-808694) and is managed by Plateau Land & Wildlife Management. (Ref: https://digital.lib.usf.edu/content/SF/S0/07/02/59/00001/K26-05539-appendix-i.pdf)
TPG Four Points Land, L.P. is the owner of Disbelievers Cave and has been the owner of Disbelievers Cave since 1999. (Ref: https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/Documents/R2ES/LitCited/4TX_Sal/HNTB_2005_Tooth_Cave_ground_beetle_summary.pdf)
Disbelievers Cave is said to be located in a drainage basin near the Four Points Fire Station which is on BCCP/BCP land. CEF setback protection has been initiated. (Ref: https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/64696/ImprovementPlan.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y)
Disbelievers Cave is located at 7502 River Place Boulevard, Austin, Texas, US 78726.
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