Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area
| Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area | |
|---|---|
  Devil's Sinkhole | |
| Coordinates | 30°3′8″N 100°6′12″W / 30.05222°N 100.10333°W |
| Area | 1,859.7 acres (752.6 ha) |
| Established | 1985 |
| Governing body | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |
| Designated | 1972 |
Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area is a natural bat habitat near the city of Rocksprings in Edwards County in the U.S. state of Texas. Home to the Mexican free-tailed bat, access to the area is available only through advance reservations.
History
The Devil's Sinkhole is a vertical natural bat habitat. The 40-by-60-foot (12.2 m × 18.3 m) opening drops down to reveal a cavern some 400 feet (122 m) below. The cavern was first discovered by local residents in 1876. H. S. Barber carved his name inside the cave in 1889.[1] The area was transferred to the state of Texas in 1985, and open to the public in 1992.[2] Carved by water erosion, the cavern is home to several million Mexican free-tailed bats that emerge at sunset during April through October.[3]
In 1968, the Devil's Sinkhole was designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service.[4]
Facilities, admission
Evening bat flight tours are offered in summer only. Guided nature hikes also are available.[2]
Facilities include a wheelchair-accessible viewing platform and picnic areas.[2] Access is restricted to advance tour arrangements. Tours are conducted by the Devil's Sinkhole Society, a local volunteer group that works in conjunction of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Bat Conservation International to facilitate visitor education and tours.[5]
See also
- List of museums in Central Texas
- List of sinkholes of the United States
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Edwards County, Texas
References
- ^ Smith, A. Richard. "Devil's Sinkhole discovery". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
- ^ a b c "TPWD Devil's Sinkhole". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ Parent, Laurence (2008). Official Guide to Texas State Parks and Historic Sites: Revised Edition. University of Texas Press. pp. 2, 3. ISBN 978-0-292-71726-8.
- ^ "National Natural Landmarks - National Natural Landmarks (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
Year designated: 1972
- ^ "Tour Information". The Devil's Sinkhole Society. Archived from the original on 4 August 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2012.