Possible large cave off Ozark Mountain High Road?

[paul06660]

Was recently looking at Google Earth imagery of the ridges along Ozark Mountain Highroad, located between highway 248 and 76. Noticed what appeared to be a very large bluff or cave opening at these GPS coordinates:

36°43'4.80"N
93°17'27.02"W

Was wondering if anyone has ever seen this feature? Would like to go explore it sometime.

[Nicotti]

Are you talking in the road cut, or some place else?

I don't remember seeing any cave openings when I drive thru there, but that doesn't mean there aren't any.

[paul06660]

Its not actually on the road itself, but one of the high ridges that parallel it.

[Chris]

http://binged.it/1lZya4W

[paul06660]

Thanks Chris, that image is a bit more detailed than the google earth image I was looking at. Looks like maybe a rockslide, but I think I will go explore this sometime to make sure.

[paul06660]

I finally found some info on this place, and it use to be called Branson Rock & Dirt Farm. From all the available historic satellite imagery on Google Earth, it appears this place was most active around 2005, and became abandoned in the years following. Another site also listed this as an epa cleanup site, calling it Chemical Ranch. Looks like this will be a great exploration.

Here is a link with more info:
http://www.landsofamerica.com/missouri/ ... 4#moreinfo

Link with EPA superfund info calling the site Chemical Ranch:
http://www.homefacts.com/environmentalh ... 68803.html

[Nicotti]

Looking at the imagery on the Taney County Assessor's GIS, in 2006 it looks like more of a cut out area. In the 2012 imagery it looks more natural/overgrown, but it's hard to tell cause the 2006 is at a lower resolution than 2012.

[gimpface]

I don't know about that exact location, but I do know that if you look at the image Chris posted near the bridge to the west you can see a trail that comes off the road. If you follow that (You'll want a 4x4) it leads down to a small site that looks like an old quarry with some abandoned earth moving equipment. Not much to look at, but if you're on your way home from Garber or something it might be worth looking at.

[Nicotti]

http://binged.it/1lZya4W

I was here today. There is no cave, it's just an exposed rock face. Parts of the face were breaking off and kinda looked cave like, but when I looked closer there was no cave. I'll post pics in a few days. Also that whole area is over grown with thorn bushes, it wasn't a fun approach.

[Nicotti]

Pics:

Exposed Rock


Crack in Rock is most cave like thing, but too unstable to try crawling into


Looking in the upper part of the crack


And the lower part

[paul06660]

Goddamn you beat me to it. Awesome pix, makes me want to check it out even more. Holy shit though that rock does look pretty unstable. Was there a decent, not so obvious parking spot anywhere?

[Nicotti]

I parked on the highroad shoulder right before the bridge that is sw from the spot.

It might be a slightly faster/easier walk to park on the shoulder se of the spot before the road cut.

[paul06660]

After looking at some historic imagery on google earth, it is obvious this feature was created during quarry operations in the early 90's.