TMI Cave has a 58 m long cave with multiple entrances which lead to a multi-entrance maze in a cliff overlooking Olmos Creek. TMI Cave is 1.2 km southwest of Robber Baron Cave and is 2.3 km southeast to San Antonio Spring. Robber Baron Cave aligns with other caves and springs in the area such as TMI Cave. (Ref: https://digital.lib.usf.edu/content/SF/S0/05/26/82/00001/K26-02233-Symposium_0609_full.pdf)
A horizontal passage is connected to the cliff by 5 entrances. It follows a joint parallel to the cliff and two joints perpendicular to the cliff. A number of solution holes are nearby. (Ref: https://www.texasspeleologicalsurvey.org/PDF/TSS_Volume1/TSS%201(4)%20compressed.pdf)
TMI Cave is believed to be formed hypogenically from artesian water in the Edwards Aquifer that rose to the surface 2 to 2.5 million years ago. TMI Cave has been vadosely modified by floodwaters over the course of several years. A further study of the area now strongly suggests it is a fragment of a once more extensive hypogenic cave. The most significant risk of Edwards Aquifer contamination through the Austin Chalk occurs along Olmos Creek between TMI Cave and the San Antonio Spring. This is an area of enhanced permeability due to past and modern spring flows. Due to pumping of the aquifer, all of the springs periodically cease flowing and become estavelles, episodic sites of both recharge and discharge depending on potentiometric levels. When the springs aren’t flowing, flooding of Olmos Creek recharges the Edwards Aquifer through these springs and paleosprings in the Austin Chalk. (Ref: https://www.edwardsaquifer.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/2009_VeniHeizler_RobberBaronCave.pdf)
Now this cave has beautiful all natural rock formations in tremendous sizes formed out of Edwards limestone due to being located in the Edwards Aquifer. You will see many rock formations composed out of limestone when exploring this cave.
TMI Cave was a well known bat cave which residents were certainly aware of. TMI Cave was popular amongst the youth living in both Alamo Heights and San Antonio.
In 1966, the San Antonio Express-News described TMI Cave as being behind an “abandoned Seminary off Woodlawn”. There were rabbits and foxes and even coyotes living down in TMI Cave. TMI Cave was popular amongst the youth living in both Alamo Heights, Terrell Heights, and San Antonio. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/29653264/)
“There are two ways of reaching the bat caves in the cliffs behind Texas Military Institute. You can take one of the paths which angle up through the thick brush from the Jones-Maltsberger road -- or you can decide to go by the easy route of simply sliding down on the seal of your pants from the far edge of the TMI playing fields.”
“And they go on living there in spite of the bunches of kids who came here every Saturday to see the caves and fool around in the river and try the big stone swings of the TMI obstacle course.”
In October 1968, a small group (Robert Coe, Charles Burns, and Sandy Trout) went looking for TMI Cave that was located on the Texas Military Institute property. However they discovered the cave was not worth looking for whatever the reason(s) may have been. (Ref: https://digital.lib.usf.edu/content/SF/S0/05/51/98/00001/K26-04749-1968-v13-n10.pdf)
TMI Cave is located near Jones-Maltsberger Road & St Lukes Lane, Alamo Heights, Texas, US 78209. The other address is Jones-Maltsberger Road & St Lukes Lane, San Antonio, Texas, US 78209. TMI Cave is located westbound of St. Luke's Episcopal Church and St. Luke's Episcopal School.
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