The Rocks Really CanTalk! Ed Crabtree       The State of Missouri and the Ozarks, are renown world wide as being a region of outstanding natural beauty. The rolling hills, lakes as well as flowing rivers, and seemingly endless forests that extend to the far horizon, all provide scenic vistas that draw millions of visitors each year. But that natural beauty also extends below ground, with more than 5,500 caves the region is truly blessed with God's handiwork. Over thousands of years, water moving and reacting with the rock strata of the subterranean Ozarks, has left behind natural scenic wonders beyond imagination.       As settlers discovered the Ozarks and started migrating into these old hills in the 1800's, they encountered the numerous natural phenomena such as caves, losing streams and sinkholes common to the fractured limestone or Karst geology. It being human nature to fear what we do not comprehend, it is easy to imagine how many of these features were named with such colorful monikers, just one of many examples, Devil's Den in Stone County was what the local people once called what now is known as Marvel Cave at Silver Dollar City.[1] The opening in the bottom of the sinkhole at the entrance to the cave seemed to these early Ozarkers as a opening to the pits of the netherworld, and was to them certainly the lair or the "Den" of the Devil!       Of course it wasn't long until people realized that these natural curiosities were not connected with the paranormal but were the handiwork of nature, and soon tourists from far and wide, flocked to area to see the caves that were open to the public to and the marvelous formations that have been in the process of creation for over millions of years. The central Ozarks has been blessed with several of these natural attractions that are open to the public and lovingly maintained for this and future generations to enjoy, one such cave is known as Talking Rocks Cavern, near Branson West.       In 1883, two boys out hunting, observed a Rabbit disappear under a large ledge rock on the side of a hill. Moving the rock, much to their surprise they found one of these seemingly bottomless pits, and were naturally hesitant to explore the cavern. Sometime later, the property was acquired by the Irwin family, the youngest son of this family was curious of the cave and invited Truman Powell to explore. Truman was quite experienced in cave exploration as he had been one of the principals in the Marble Cave Mining and Manufacturing Company, a group originally formed to explore the labyrinth in search of any precious minerals that might have be found in Marble cave and removed for commercial purposes. Marble cave was later purchased by William Lynch and operated as a tour cave by his daughters, until the Herschend family acquired it, and changed its name to Marvel cave, as it is known today.       In June of 1896 Truman and his oldest Son William set about preparations to lower themselves into the depths of Talking Rocks. A windlass and pulley system sufficient to lower the Father and Son team, to the bottom, a vertical distance of 90 feet or so, was constructed over the opening. And like astronauts of today exploring outer space, these "speleonauts" were off on an adventure to explore inner space.       For several hours, Truman and William explored the depths of the cave with only candles made from tallow for illumination, then finally returning to the rope, that by the manpower of their assistants waiting above, was to be their "elevator" to the surface and light of day.       In an article by Don Meier that appeared in the 17 September 1950 Springfield Daily newspaper, it was reported that Truman had remarked after the initial exploration, that the cave was like a Fairyland, the rock formations being so wondrous[2]. In 1907 Truman's third son Waldo purchased the cave and started commercial tours in 1921, with the venture being known as Fairy Cave. For the first eight years of operation, visitors entered and exited the cave on wooden steps that lead from the opening above to the floor of the cave. Then a more permanent concrete structure was constructed.       Truman Powell also operated newspapers in Lamar and Galena, and was involved in real estate. Waldo, like his Father Truman, was quite an entrepreneur and community builder. Educated at Drury college in Springfield, Waldo opened the first tomato canning factory in Stone County during the days of "Red Gold", he owned a general store, served as justice of the peace, and like his Father before him, represented Stone County for two terms in the state legislature. It is also rumored that Waldo was the basis for the character "Ollie Stewart" in Harold Bell Wright's novel, The Shepherd of The Hills.[3]       A look at the history of this attraction would not be complete without also taking a look at what else was occurring in this part of Ozark Mountain County.       Remember that at about the time that Waldo opened Fairy Cave to the public, thousands of tourists per year were making their way by Rail to Branson to see the location where, The Shepherd Of The Hills, one of the best selling novels of the day had been written. The Lynch sisters were also in the cave business over at Marble (Marvel) cave and there was The Old Spanish Cave further to the North in the county, a cave rich in legend and lore but lacking the treasures said to be hidden in the depths as claimed in those ancient tales. Old Spanish Cave has been closed to the public for several decades, and is now almost a forgotten part of central Ozarks history.       Until the coming of Table Rock Lake and Silver Dollar City in the late 50's to early 60's and the Branson musical boom in the early 90's, the resorts which lined lake Taneycomo, these three caves, Old Spanish, Marvel, and Fairy (Talking Rocks), along with the Shepherd Of The Hills country, were the principal tourist attractions in the area, and for years were the favorite vacation destinations and tourist attractions of more than one generation. Talking Rocks and the other area attractions, were then as they are today, a vital part of the local economy.       As the years have gone by, Powell's Fairy Cave has changed hands and Talking Rocks and is it now known, is in the careful stewardship of the current owners, who are not only dedicated to the preservation of the cavern, but dedicated to educating the public to the fact that caves are a nonrenewable natural resource of great beauty and value. Today's visitor center has been expanded to include classrooms, an outdoor amphitheater, and a laboratory for the use of groups and school students.       The current owners also incorporated a bit of the past in the modern visitor center by using a stone archway that had been part of the old façade of the original store building that had been constructed over the mouth of the cave. But their service to preservation and education is not all; the current owners are constantly trying to give back to the community, part of what the community has given them.       Numerous times through out the year, the owners and staff of Talking Rocks, sponsor or contribute to various charitable events. On April nineteenth through twenty-second of this year, during the annual Earth Fest, Talking Rocks sponsored a fund raising event for the not for profit social services organization, Christian Associates. A group that provides necessary services for thousands of people in need throughout the region each year. Other organizations such as Turpentine Creek Animal Preserve and the World Bird Sanctuary provided programs designed to educate and promote conservation of our natural resources. And we would be amiss if we failed to mention that Talking Rocks has been a wonderful supporter of The Wilderness Road and its Old Silver Mine Days event as well as this very magazine that you are reading. Young and old alike enjoyed the presentation by the Wild Bird Sanctuary in the outdoor amphitheater at Talking Rocks during the Earth Fest event.        So plan to take time to visit Talking Rocks, which is more than just a cave. There is a 400 acre nature preserve with interpretative hiking trails, picnic grounds, a "Speleo Box" Crawl Maze that simulates crawling through a cave for those junior spelunkers, and coming soon a 9 hole mini golf course. What great family entertainment!       And check out their gift shop, which has a large variety of rocks fossils including trilobites, fish, sharks teeth, and ammonites. They have T shirts, carved onyx pieces such as chessboards and other decorative accessories, and a wide range of collectibles relative to the cave and nature theme.       For more information call 1 800 600 CAVE (2283) or visit their web site www.talkingrockscavern.com and be sure to tell them that The Message Tree folks said Howdy!   Sources: [1] The Story Of Silver Dollar City, by Crystal Payton [2] Fairy Cave, Near Reed Springs, 17 September 1950 Springfield Daily Newspaper, [3] Cave Owner Is Solon, 8 January 1931, Springfield Press, Micro Film archives at The Springfield Greene County Library. Unless otherwise noted, all photos courtesy of Talking Rocks Cavern, all rights reserved.