Lost River - Karst Information Portal

of the cave, the
scout program was
eliminated. Roberson
also initiated
development of a
campground and
natural trips and made
major improvements
to the property.
With the help of
many cavers, the
owners convinced the
National Park Service
to name the cave a
National Natural
Landmark in 1984.
Exploration
Marengo Cave
has had a long history
of exploration since
its discovery in 1883.
However, when four
cavers purchased the
property in 1973,
the cave would never
be the same again.
The first dig in the
cave was started in
1974 to try to extend
the “crawling” tour
for the overnight
scout program. The
“Masher” section of
the cave has been a
big success ever since,
with tens of thousands
of young cavers squeezing through
the tight crawlway over the past 33 years. More
recently, a major dig was initiated by Gordon
Smith in the Masher section in December of
2005 resulting in a major discovery of a highlevel
canyon and dome rooms unlike any other
areas in Marengo. Access is through a very
tight bedrock tube vertically upward through
the ceiling of the crawlway. Work continues.
By far the most significant discovery in
Marengo Cave was initiated by Willie Clifton
Another view of the Crystal Palace in Marengo Cave.
Photo by Gary Berdeaux.
Indiana Show Caves
when he started the excavation of a small
crawlway off the Pillared Palace section of the
cave sometime prior to 1960. The crawlway
started as a high lead directly off the tourist trail
and was famous for the wind that came out of it
and the bats that occasionally flew out past the
visitors. Clifton had penetrated the crawlway
about 50 feet where it ended without much
chance of continuing. The air was coming out
of a small crack at floor level and there wasn’t
any room to work. This didn’t stop cavers and
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