A Marvel of the depths of Mothernature - War Eagle Caverns, Arkansas
We spent a beautiful Mother's day immersed in nature and visiting a local cave system. My two youngest sons are obsessed with rocks and so they were especially happy to explore the way rock transforms underground. My daughter had been here for a field trip and we decided to take the entire family after she came home with rave reviews.
The cave is part of a larger system of caves that permeates Arkansas, some with connections to western films, local lore, and science fiction novels. Our guide is a retired service member with a gift for storytelling. He begins the tour by explaining the nearby waterways have turned green due to pollen fall; if we return one day we might find the water beaming with a bright cobalt blue as these lakes are spring-fed and change color with the calcium carbonate mixing with pollen to allow for algae blooms. He stops at the narrow opening of the cave to remind us to keep an eye on the changes in cieling height or risk an encounter “headache rock” above.
The cave entrance opens to an expansive ballroom that flows and narrows into impressive rock walls. Its path underground follows a spring that creates tiny waterfalls within the depths of darkness. The cieling of the cave features nature-carved chandeliers - curved holes cut in the surface of the ground above, prevelant near the more shallow areas of the cave. These curved, inverted domes might provide height to dispel smoke or allow for pockets of air to permeate as they extend the celing upwards. The kids walk undetered past the narrowing cieling, as my husband and I duck down and walk hutched over to enter the depths of the cave. It opens into another room and the air begins to feel cooler and smell musty; we hear the trickling of cave water. The water forms shallow puddles and pools at the sides of the walkway, where tiny waterfalls flow with spring water, creating the feeling of an underground world.
As we travel further into the cave, the rock formations become even more strange and beautiful; we begin to see spiders and alien bugs. The guide explains the cave was the site of a movie based on the legend of Jesse James. It is easy to imagine why cave dwellers and runaway bandits would choose such a place to find shelter - there is ample spring water, a cool atmosphere, natural decorations carved into the walls, nocturnal visitors like large bugs and tiny bats, and plenty of little nooks to find comfort and respite. Caves provide a feeling of safety from the elements, yet remain elemental, grounded in earth and flowing with water. It evokes a sense of unknown wonder and awe in nature's ability to create something so expansive and intricate, the rocks change color in response to different substances like iron. There is a sense of beauty in the natural progression of the cave system as we follow its course. The guide explains that the cieling walls formed by nature are flatter and more symetrical than poured concrete.
Midway through the descent, we find a trickling waterfall. My kids happily lead the group of visitors after the guide acknowledges their good behavior on the more tricky bend (this truly makes my Mother's day as they are in a good behaving mood 😁).
At one point, the guide turns off the lights to experience the pitch black darkness. It is strange to see absolutely nothing, not even a glimmer of light; it creates a sense of absolute peace lost in our modern world. We come to the ending point to return back the entrance; the cave continues past the tour to unexplored depths past narrow corridors, where one can only imagine what lies beyond the narrowing passages.
Upon exiting the cave, we make our way to the emerald green spring that flows into a nearby lake. The surrounding area looks like something out of a fairytale. I feel happy that my children experience such a beautiful, natural wonder and have this time to play and imagine. It is something I wish to impart - the love of mothernature and the gift of creativity anywhere they go.
The imagination creates dreamlike landscapes, unknown worlds and a feeling of wonder in nature's beauty. It is truly the best Mother's day gift to see the wonder in their eyes and spend the day exploring nature as a family.
It was such a beautiful day. I thought the best gift would be this time. I wanted to write about it when I got back to inspire others to seek out nature in this same way. It seems so ordinary until you find yourself immersed in it and remember how magic it truly is to experience the wonderous marvel of mothernature up close. An unforgettable day.
