Stark Caverns

  Calling all local and regional vendors! Are you looking for a great way to share your wares with the public this fall?  Are you an artisan that creates collectibles, carvings, unique gifts, or home decor? Then the Fall Festival at Stark Caverns is the place for you. There will be cave tours, geode cracking, sluice mining, great food, and of course, opportunities to shop. We would love to have you participate. The event will be held on Saturday, October 17, from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.  To reserve your booth spa ce, go to https://www.starkcaverns.com/vendor-registration  and complete the online registration form. Booths are 10' x 10' and available with ($35) and without ($25) electricity. Location assignments will be made on a first come first serve basis. Please carefully review the guidelines listed on the page for complete details. All booths must be reserved and paid for by September 17, 2020. Vendor setup is from 8:00 am - 9:30 am, and all booths should be ready by...

Interested in taking a cave tour, but not sure what to expect? That is often the case as tourists ponder the option of visiting one of Missouri’s amazing caves. Stark Caverns is a great experience for first-time cave-exploration. Our wide, paved walking paths make the cavern 85% wheel-chair accessible, and allow even the most claustrophobic individuals plenty of breathing room.  Stepping inside the cave is always a wow moment as visitors are exposed to the grandeur of Stark Caverns. The vast width and breadth of the cave is immediately visible as folks begin the tour by crossing the boardwalk through the center of the cavern. Surrounded by unique formations, your tour guide will explain how people and wildlife have utilized the cave for shelter, food, and protection across the ages. Carved by water from dolomite and chert , visitors will be able to see formations like soda straws, draperies, and cave bacon. Fossilized seaweed and crinoids offer a glimpse of the M...

A New Adventure Based On The Caverns History With Moonshining! This summer, you are invited to play “Bootlegger’s Bequest”; a new Cave Escape Adventure at Stark Caverns ! Friday and Saturday evenings, the cave becomes an escape room where you and your friends can try your luck to find the clues, solve the puzzles, and unlock the secrets to beat the clock and escape the cave. “Cave Escape has been a fan favorite for the past few years here at Stark Caverns,” says Operations Manager, Chaz Jesiolowski. “With this new storyline, we’re tapping into the history of the cave, which was used by moonshiners in the late 1800s. We want to give players a chance to really immerse themselves into the story which is what makes escape rooms so much fun.” Escape rooms have grown in popularity over the past decade, but Stark Caverns is still unique as one of the only places to play inside an actual cave. Operational changes have been put in place this year amid current health concerns to create...

Come Inside & Enjoy The Great Outdoors! Stark Caverns is excited to announce that we will open for tours on Thursday, May 7, 2020.   The safety and wellbeing of our guests and employees is our first priority, and we will continue to do our part to prevent the spread. Stark Caverns is closely following the recommendations provided by the CDC .   Each tour size is limited, and tickets must be purchased in advance online. Guests will also have the option to purchase the entire tour time. During your visit, we recommend following normal social distancing guidelines, maintaining 6’ between non-family members, washing your hands before and after your visit, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Masks and facial coverings are appropriate and welcome. In fact, Stark Caverns is so committed to helping stop the spread, that we are donating $1 to the UnitedWay of Central Missouri’s COVID-19 Response Fund for every paid guest that chooses to wear a mask during t...

When Jeff and Amy Hargroves purchased Stark Caverns, one of their first goals was to erect a new Visitors Center. Their vision was to create a welcoming place where guests could enjoy more than just a tour of the cave. The two-story building has the look of an old-fashioned general store. A wide wrap-around porch features oversized Adirondack rockers that make a comfortable spot for guests to observe the fauna that often visits the property, including hummingbirds, ducks, geese, deer, and turtles. A water tower allows guests to experience old-fashioned sluicing, where they are delighted to discover gems and fossils to add to their collections. Rockhounds are able to crack geodes, a spherical rock that is lined with crystals on the inside, creating their own unique souvenir. Upstairs, there is a multi-purpose room that houses the beginnings of Stark Caverns’ museum. Artifacts on display include arrowheads, cave specimens, and antique advertising materials from years gone by. In...

Educators are invited to enjoy an evening of refreshments and learning on Thursday, February 27. This free event will offer a preview of the new in-cave, hands-on learning program being unveiled this year for elementary and secondary school students at Stark Caverns. In cooperation with the Museum atPrariefire , an affiliate of the American Museum of Natural History , Stark Caverns has developed an exciting new curriculum that aligns with MissouriLearning Standards . Students will experience a series of learning stations with lessons in Social Studies, Science, and English Language Arts, designed with auditory, visual, and hands-on elements. Complimentary appetizers, wine, beer, and beverages will be served. Educators are welcome to stop in anytime between 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm and are encouraged to allow at least thirty minutes to enjoy the experience. Stark Caverns appreciates the investment that educators make in their students, so there is no cost to attend the event, al...

Looking for a way to wow your guests? Create an event they’ll always remember by inviting them to join you at Stark Caverns . Our multi-purpose room located above our Visitors Center is perfect for birthday parties, bridal showers, or group meetings. This open room features hardwood flooring and plenty of light. Tables and chairs can be easily configured for business, food or games. Perfect for hosting 10 - 50 guests. Waterways and gorgeous formations inside Stark Caverns create a unique setting for your event on the in-cave patio. This paved space allows you to host events for 25 - 120 guests. Historically, this space has been used for community gatherings including dances and weddings. Stark Caverns has a number of table and chair configurations for you to choose from. Options for beverages and catering are available, along with projection & screen equipment. Receive a discounted rate when you bundle your event with a group tour.   Getting a quote is...

One of the most exciting parts of Scouting is camping out with your troop. However, in the midwest, this activity tends to be limited by weather for a good majority of the year, but no longer... StarkCaverns invites Scouts to come inside and enjoy the great outdoors. Consistently warmer inside the cave than out, your troop can enjoy camping in the cave anytime. Our facilities make it easy for you to provide an educational experience with a lot of “WOW” factor. This exciting camping adventure will include a tour of the cave, where Scouts will learn about the different types of rocks and formations native to Missouri . In addition, they’ll have an opportunity to learn how people throughout the ages have utilized caves, see tools and equipment necessary for early exploration, and experience an underground world of water and wildlife. “Scouting is a great way to connect with nature, history, and each other. We want to be a part of that journey, and we want to make it easy for...

A romantic stroll, delicious food, artisan wines & beers... Where can you celebrate Valentine’s Day with this combination of activities? Underground of course. Stark Caverns invites you to share an adventure as unique as your relationship with a one-of-a-kind pairing event on February 14, 2020. Local Chef Allen Plemmons has created a brand new menu of culinary creations crafted to complement selections from a number of regional wineries and breweries. His roasted pork loin with squash hash and apple balsamic will pair beautifully with the Peanut Butter Stout created by Lake of the Ozarks Brewing Company . Seven Springs Winery will showcase their locally grown & produced Dry Vignoles alongside Plemmons’ fall chutney and goat cheese crostini. A specialty spicy pork tostada has been created to work with the flavors of black currants and cherry in Canterbury Hill Winery ’s signature “Excalibur” . Camdenton, MO based Golden Rock Winery ’s Green Apple Gewurztraminer will acc...

Enjoy the sounds of the season performed by local musicians and choirs! The third annual Carols In The Caverns concert series will begin in December 2019. Musicians and choirs from around the region will perform holiday classics in the natural acoustics of Stark Caverns, located just 7 miles north of Bagnell Dam, outside of Eldon, MO. The popular event continues to grow, and while seating is limited, Stark Caverns is working to make it even easier to attend. Tickets purchased online will be assigned seating in order of purchase. The nominal ticket cost of $5 for ages 5 and older covers the overhead of the event, which is designed to showcase local talent. Performing this year are guitar soloist Michael Walton, Girl Scout Troop 71490 out of Eldon, the Girls Glee and Les Chanteurs high-school choirs of School of the Osage, and the Ninth Street Christian Church Choir. A complete schedule of events can be found online at www.StarkCaverns.com/carols-in-the-caverns . Attendees ...