A deeper look at what Maple Run Sink is.

Maple Run Sink is one of the lesser known sinkholes in Austin, Texas. This news article will explain what Maple Run Sink is.

Maple Run Sink is a sinkhole with a subtle moist environment with a high level of moisture perfect for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are the natural wildlife that inhabit Maple Run Sink. The moist environment is a subtle breeding ground ideal for mosquitos among other insects, spiders, flies, and other insects of course. Many insects inhabit Maple Run Sink as insects inhabit and Mosquitos compromise a huge portion of natural wildlife in the sinkholes of Texas. Maple Run Sink is no exception.

Maple Run Sink is actually easy to access and enter due to a steep drop from the outside of the sinkhole. Bringing groups will be difficult to due to a steep drop inside the sinkhole. Going in small groups is recommended when touring Maple Run Sink.

Maple Run Sink was formed out of all natural limestone and calcite. The primary type of rock formation you will expect to see inside and outside of this sinkhole is native limestone as many sinkholes in Central Texas have a rock formation of native limestone. Del Rio clay covers the floor. There is no calcite breakdown though. Maple Run Sink os connected to a series of connected sinks and caves.

Here is the history behind Maple Run Sink.

A. L. Wade owned the entire property of what is now Goat Cave Karst Preserve where Maple Run Sink is located inside of. He used this sinkhole to store trash in during the 1960’s and 1970’s. That is where all his trash went. This sinkhole was also used as a supplementary feed for his goats.

In January 1984 a four acre cave park was set aside by developer Bill Milburn in the recently established Maple Run subdivision. (Ref: https://digital.lib.usf.edu/content/SF/S0/05/51/02/00001/K26-04653-1984-v29-n03.pdf)

The 1984 plans for the Maple Run subdivision Street and Drainage Improvements show the placement of a proposed water quality detention pond directly over an unknown “sinkhole”, and adjacent to another “sinkhole” that is Maple Run Sink. The plan was to pave over Maple Run Sink entirely. (Ref: https://zaraenvironmental.com/uploads/3/5/5/0/35507988/sbcaaugust2015rba.pdf)

However this did not happen as Bill Milburn and the UT Grotto saved Maple Sink from destruction in 1989. The undeveloped strip of land containing Maple Run Sink was dedicated to the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department. The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department has been protection this sinkhole since 1991 and continues to do so. (Ref: https://zaraenvironmental.com/uploads/3/5/5/0/35507988/sbcaaugust2015rba.pdf)

Maple Run Sink is located at 3907 Davis Lane, Austin, Texas, US 78749. Maple Run Sink is located in Goat Cave Karst Preserve Park.