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Blue Spring Cave Tennessee

PostPosted: Feb 21, 2012 7:46 pm
by Cody JW
I have not yet seen this on this forum . I am ashamed to say that recent vandalism has been found in Blue Springs Cave Tennessee. The owner of the cave is changing the locks on the cave. Not sure what will happen to future access. Lonnie had given keys out to a trusted few and had in the past allowed access to cavers who contacted him ahead of time. Anyone who has plans on trips in the near future needs to keep this in mind. Lonnie is one of the best landowners in TAG and will do what is best for the cave.

Re: Blue Springs Cave Tennessee

PostPosted: Feb 21, 2012 7:55 pm
by Scott McCrea
That's terrible. What kind of damage was done and how hard will it be to fix?

Re: Blue Springs Cave Tennessee

PostPosted: Feb 21, 2012 8:11 pm
by GroundquestMSA
Broken speleothems and lots of footprints over flagged and sensitive areas.

Re: Blue Springs Cave Tennessee

PostPosted: Feb 21, 2012 8:34 pm
by mgmills
The correct name of the Cave is Blue Spring Cave with no "s" at the end of the Spring.

Scott, from what I have read some of the formations may have been removed from the cave. The footprints in sensitive areas will be there forever. Some were in area that were flagged to keep them pristine. Some were in gypsum needle areas.

I think the formations broken were in the early part of the cave but the footprints in pristine areas were well into the cave. You have to do a lot of caving (for most people maybe 2 hours).

There is a facebook page for Blue Spring Cave fans. More information is found there.

Re: Blue Springs Cave Tennessee

PostPosted: Feb 22, 2012 8:36 am
by graveleye
This isn't the first time this has happened there is it? A key getting into the wrong hands?

Re: Blue Springs Cave Tennessee

PostPosted: Feb 22, 2012 9:25 am
by tncaver
graveleye wrote:This isn't the first time this has happened there is it? A key getting into the wrong hands?


It would seem that a key has been given to a trusted person or group who should not have been trusted. It would seem there
are enough clues to narrow a list down as to who or which group might have done the deed. Boot prints can be measured and photographed to determine a foot size. That won't determine who did the deed but it could perhaps eliminate people with smaller
or larger feet. The type of soul and size of the boots could be determined. Also, I would think that Lonnie would keep a record of who he gives the keys to and the dates the keys were loaned out. If damage was done recently then a list of candidates could be narrowed down considerably if the general date is known when the damage occurred. I know years ago Lonnie lent the key from his mailbox by advance reservation and a log book was in the mailbox with the key. I don't know if that is still true. If keys are now held by only a select few, then maybe it's time to re-evaluate those selected few. However, if the key is still loaned to out of state visitors, then it may be
difficult to determine exactly who caused the damage.

Re: Blue Spring Cave Tennessee

PostPosted: Feb 22, 2012 9:42 am
by BrianC
It seems obvious that some one didn't have a chaperon with proper instruction. Any caver worth h/er salt knows Blue Springs etiquette. Shame!

Re: Blue Spring Cave Tennessee

PostPosted: Feb 23, 2012 10:38 am
by Cody JW
I had just seen a FB post from Lonnie saying the cave is not closed ( I have seen others say it is) . I suspect Lonnie is just going to qualify trips on an individual basis. This same post said a group from Dogwood City was going this weekend.Limiting access is probably a good thing as some of my recent visits to the cave I have seen large groups of what appeared to me to be novice cavers. On my last trips I have also seen so many cars around the parking area I thought it was a used car lot. I was amazed at how the formations not far from the entrance were in as good of shape as it was considering the amount of traffic I had witnessed . Lonnie is a great guy and also a smart guy and I suspect he will be able to keep the cave open and be able to monitor access as needed. I am keeping my fingers crossed hoping his generosity does not come back to bite him.

Re: Blue Spring Cave Tennessee

PostPosted: Feb 23, 2012 1:44 pm
by graveleye
I just looked at his FB page and I don't see anything about BSC being closed or open... no mention at all. Couldn't find anything in the news stream from him either.

Re: Blue Spring Cave Tennessee

PostPosted: Feb 23, 2012 2:18 pm
by Cody JW
He was commenting on another persons page. You will not see it on his page.

Re: Blue Spring Cave Tennessee

PostPosted: Feb 23, 2012 8:21 pm
by boreholio
It's on the Blue Spring Cave of Tennessee fans page. Find that on Facebook and join, then you can see it as well as maps, photos, etc.

Re: Blue Spring Cave Tennessee

PostPosted: Feb 24, 2012 1:22 pm
by graveleye
yep, I finally saw it.

Re: Blue Spring Cave Tennessee

PostPosted: Feb 25, 2012 10:27 pm
by Larry E. Matthews
According to the report by Anne Elmore, someone walked all over the jaguar footprints, which were clearly flagged to prevent just that.

Also, some of the formations broken near the Entrance are missing, so you would have to assume they were carried out.

I vote for the Death Penalty !!! (But slow..........and extremely painful.)

Larry E. Matthews
NSS #6792-F

Re: Blue Spring Cave Tennessee

PostPosted: Feb 27, 2012 8:44 am
by LukeM
Larry E. Matthews wrote:According to the report by Anne Elmore, someone walked all over the jaguar footprints, which were clearly flagged to prevent just that.


These new prints are clear evidence of a humanoid so stupid that thousands of years from now these prints will be revered as evidence of the last surviving Neanderthals.

Re: Blue Spring Cave Tennessee

PostPosted: Feb 27, 2012 9:42 am
by BrianC
Someone needs to fess up to what happened here, so the future can be tweaked as what to look out for when entering this world class masterpiece! If I were to guess, It would be a large group with many inexperienced spelunkers, along and not enough supervision! What else could have occurred?