History of the old Walsh Cave in Austin, Texas explored.

The old Walsh Cave is a cave which many oldtimers remember. This cave has such interesting geological features and fissures. This news article will explain what the old Walsh Cave in Austin, Texas was.

Only very few people know the location of the entrance to this cave. The entrance of Walsh Cave extended to what was known as the old Sam Bass Cave aka McNeil Quarry Cave in Round Rock, Texas. The entrance of this cave extended all the way to Round Rock. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20811247/west-austin-caves/)

The old Walsh Cave had its above ground opening about half a mile (½ mile) north of Tom Miller Dam and Redbud Trail. The length of this cave extended to an interminable distance from the entrance and went underneath Tom Miller Dam. However there were a handful of city workers and construction workers who already knew that along with a few residents too. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/366365800/)

There are numerous caves up and down the Colorado River, but Walsh Cave is the only one which has been investigated for any length. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/366365800/)

Now the strata underneath the surface led many Austinites to explore this cave. The rock formation of the walls are Edwards limestone and Austin chalk.

Several people who have explored the cave in the past declared they plainly hear the rumble of an entrance somewhere on the banks of the river. Walsh Cave was also believed and said to have extended to the University of Texas - Austin (UT). The falls in the passage are also numerous. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/366249784/)

The predicament of Floyd Collins in the now famous Sand Cave in Kentucky has set the oldtimers around Austin to talking of the many caves in this vicinity, and especially of the one near Lake Austin that has been closed since the present dam was built across the river. This cave is said to be one of the largest in this section.

Several men who have explored the cave in the past declared that after they had followed the windings of the passage for several hours they could plainly hear the rumble of an entrance somewhere on the banks of the river. It is told to extend back into the rock for a distance of several miles, ending somewhere in the neighborhood of the University.

The falls in the passage are also numerous, it is said. So far as is known no one has been into the cave for any distance for several years. Blasting for rock for the new dam caused the roof to fall into the cave a short distance from its entrance and the passage was blocked for years. Later, however, another entrance was discovered in an old rock quarry near the dam and this is thought to connect with the old cave.

Several University students attempted to enter the cave through this entrance two years ago, but were forced to give up after penetrating a few feet because the drainage from the quarry had almost choked the passage with sand and rocks.

From their courses, figured from compasses carried with them, they think they must have been either under Guadalupe or State streets. The cave is described as being an old underground stream, large enough to drive a team of horses through in most places, but occasionally narrowing down to a tight squeezing space for a man.


Walsh Cave was discovered by a Mr. William Walsh in 1895. Austin Daily Statesman wrote about the discovery of Walsh Cave in their newspaper back in 1895. Mr. William Walsh opened up Walsh Cave as a cave for tourists and visitors that same year for what was called “a regular mammoth cave business”. Mr. William Walsh began leasing out Walsh Cave to Joseph W. Burke and Jno M. Cost. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20811882/walsh-cave-in-west-austin/)

 

Engineer A. Cole Blanton explored Walsh Cave in 1908 while superintending the drilling work at Tom Miller Dam. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/366295864/)

Walsh Cave was opened as a cave for tourists and visitors in early years during the late 19th century and early 20th century. Walsh Cave was used as a rock quarry in later years. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/366692415/)

Blasting for rock for the new Tom Miller Dam caused the roof to fall into Walsh Cave. However another entrance was discovered in an old rock quarry near the dam in 1925. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/366249784/)

“So far as is known no one has been into the cave for any distance for several years. Blasting for rock for the new dam caused the roof to fall into the cave a short distance from its entrance and the passage was blocked for years. Later, however, another entrance was discovered in an old rock quarry near the dam and this is thought to connect with the old cave. Several University students attempted to enter the cave through this entrance two years ago, but were forced to give up after penetrating a few feet because the drainage from the quarry had almost choked the passage with sand and rocks.”

 

Now Walsh Cave was still being advertised as a tourist destination for visitors and explorers during the 1930s. Admission price per person was 50¢ cents. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20811130/west-austin-caves/)

Walsh Cave was sealed shut during limestone excavating when Tom Miller Dam was under construction in 1938. In 1939, Judge George S. Matthews told the Austin American that dynamite blasting in Walsh Cave for breaking rocks in the quarry could be heard by workers in the quarry at Round Rock. That’s how far the noise traveled. Walsh Cave was already sealed by that point. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20811247/west-austin-caves/)

“Judge Matthews also tells the story of the old Walsh cave located on the road leading from the dam to Camp Mabry, which in earlier days was used as a rock quarry, and in later years was opened as a cave for tourists and visitors. Judge Matthews said this cave or quarry was the local entrance to a cavern extending all the way to Round Rock, where the cave is known as the old Sam Bass cave, named in honor of the bandit who once terrorized that section and who lies buried in a grave at Round Rock. Judge Matthews relates that dynamite blasting in the Austin end of the cavern for breaking rocks in the quarry could be heard by workers in the quarry at Round Rock. Waters of Lake Austin will not cover either one of the caves, Judge Matthews stated, since entrances to both are considerably above the lake water line.”

Walsh Cave was located near the vicinity of Lake Austin Boulevard & Redbud Trail, Austin, Texas, US 78703. The address is believed to be 3751 Kennelwood Road, Austin, Texas, US 78703.