Rockwoods Reservation, in far western St. Louis County, used to be the site of intensive limestone quarrying for the creation of lime. The mine is now closed off from visitors, but you can still get a sense of the massiveness of the mine from the large holes in the side of the bedrock.
The bedrock lies very close to the surface, as can be seen below where trees are clinging precariously to the hillside.
Discarded stones lie on the path on the way to the quarry.
That’s Cobb Cavern! It was still open in the late ’80s when I would go there with my family. It even has an asphalt walking path through it. A couple of years ago me and a buddy snuck in and I was reminded how big that thing is. Once inside there is enough room to stack 2 18-wheelers, and then drive them like that for about 1/4 mile. The size of those openings does not really hint in any way as to just how massive that cave is – that entire hill behind it is essentially hollow. It’s a shame it isn’t open to the public anymore, it’s a true wonder.
Casey,
I suspected it was once open to the public, because as you noted, there is a deteriorated asphalt path leading in there. I don’t know when it was closed.
Minor quibble here.
Cave: Nature did it.
Mine: Humans did it.
Ah, but humans did indeed create this quarry.
The lime kilns are in the park, too. Can’t remember where, precisely.
Coming tomorrow!
While I dunno if it is still there, when I was a Scout back in the early ’50s, I recall a brass/bronze plaque being mounted high up on one of the interior pillars which explained the purpose of the cavern.
Again, way back when, there was the foundation and totally collapsed remains of what was the office of the mine at the side of one of the roads. There were also atandard gauge RR tracks that paralleled the road.
I’m pretty sure there are still the remains of pillars that supported a narrow gauge RR.
My friends and I used to go there all the time in the 80s also. Is there another big mine near by??
There is a large open pit mine further up the road.