The Old Spanish Treasure Cave in Gravette, Arkansas

Legend states that over 300 years ago, Spanish Conquistadors buried gold and other treasure in The Old Spanish Treasure Cave. The cave is located in Gravette, Arkansas on State Highway 59. It is privately owned. Tours are given daily during late spring through fall. Come October, the cave and grounds are turned into a haunted cave and trail.

It is easy to miss the entrance to the parking lot from Highway 59. The road is winding and steep. The entrance to the parking lot is just around one of the turns. A large sign will alert you to the fact that you have arrived.

There is a small gift shop which doubles as the office. This is where you enter to pay the tour fee. The gift shop offers crystals, unusual rocks and gems for sale.

The tour starts at the entrance to the cave. There is a door that is kept locked for security reasons when tours are not in session. The cave is being returned to a more natural state. You can walk right in. Expect the path to be muddy in areas, especially after a rain. The cave is reasonably well lit and the elaborate features have accent lighting.

As you walk up a small grade, you will begin to understand the huge expanse of this cave. There are multiple rooms and offshoots in every direction. As you ascend up a small incline, the pathway opens up to a huge room. The remains of an old campsite grace the center of the room. Many tunnels and pathways lead off in a multitude of directions.

Tour guides point out the main flowstone, soda straw and unusual cave features. Old Spanish Treasure Cave's legend is revealed to the tour group as they exit the large room.

At the end of the path is a culmination of formations. All of the formations have names, some look like Disney® characters. Santa Claus is one of the more impressive formations. After this, the tour group turns around and heads out the way they came in.

Even if you have visited the cave during the spring and summer, a visit in mid-October is in order. The haunted cave and trail is not an event for little kids. Adults have left the cave screaming in fear. This haunted event has the reputation for scaring even the bravest individual. Ghouls, demons, ghosts, and the undead roam the grounds and inhabit the cave at night from mid-October through the first week in November. During this time, the regular cave tours are suspended.

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Old Spanish Treasure Cave