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Cherney Maribel Caves County Park

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Cherney Maribel Caves County Park is a county park located near Maribel in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. The park occupies 75 acres along the West Twin River. Cherney Maribel Caves consists of seven caves along a rugged cliff line that runs parallel with the West Twin River.

History

The Cherney Maribel Caves were formed primarily by glacial activity during the last ice age. Glaciers wore down the surface of the land and exposed a layer of rock called Niagara Dolomite, forming the naked crags and cliff line in the park. Since then, the rock has broken down and decomposed, causing caves to form.

About 1892, the first of the caves were discovered on the property of Henry A. Alrich, and was soon purchased by Charles Steinbrecker, who, in 1900, built the nearby Maribel Caves Hotel. Over the next several decades, tourists came to see the caves. In 1931, Adolph Cherney bought the property, including the nearby hotel. On November 5, 1963, Cherney sold the cave property to Manitowoc County for $16,200, leading to it becoming the first Manitowoc County park.[1]

Caves

Coopers Cave

Coopers Cave is located about midway along the park bluff. The cave has a large rectangular entrance and also has a small crevice entrance. It is a square tube solutional cave that is quiet and dry. About nine feet below the entrance is a natural spring that flows year round into the West Twin River.[2]

Staircase Cave

Staircase Cave is a small relatively inaccessible cave.[3]

Pancake Cave

Pancake Cave is difficult to reach because no trails lead to it. The cave is about eight feet deep and is shaped like a pancake.[4]

Tunnel Passage

Cave entrance at Cherney Maribel Caves County Park

Tunnel Passage, discovered in 2005, is about 20 feet deep and approximately three feet in height.[5]

Spring Cave

Spring Cave is a small inaccessible cave located on adjacent private property. A natural spring that flows from the cave was previously used by the nearby Maribel Caves Hotel.[6]

New Hope Cave

New Hope Cave, one of the largest caves in the park, contains examples of stalactites, stalagmites, helictites, and cave bacon. The cave is still being excavated. College instructors use this cave as a living laboratory.[7]

Tartarus Cave System

The Tartarus Cave System is a large system of caves in the park that is still being excavated. It has three entrances: Tunnel Passage Entrance, the Tartarus Cave Entrance, and the Split Rock Cave Entrance.[8]

Features

The park offers a playground, a picnic area, and hiking and biking trails. Temporary bathrooms are located near the picnic area. Along the cliff line are several varieties of rare ferns, along with creeping plants and wild flowers. The beauty of the area made it a popular tourist destination even before Manitowoc County acquired the property in 1963.[9]

2013 Tornado

In August 2013, a tornado ripped through Cherney Maribel Cave County Park. It destroyed more than 75 percent of the trees, the picnic shelter, and the restrooms.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Wisconsin Speleological Society". Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  2. ^ "Coopers Cave". Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  3. ^ "Staircase Cave". Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  4. ^ "Pancake Cave". Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  5. ^ "Tunnel Passage". Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  6. ^ "Spring Cave". Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  7. ^ "New Hope Cave". Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  8. ^ "Tartarus Cave System". Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  9. ^ "Manitowoc County Recreation Department". Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  10. ^ "NBC 26". Retrieved 30 May 2014.
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