Ritter Springs Park and Cave

Urban exploration in Springfield, Missouri
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lolabelle
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Ritter Springs Park and Cave

Post by lolabelle »

We ventured out to Ritter Springs today, looking for the caves. Wish I'd searched here in more depth first - we did A LOT of walking.

We found the cave up on the hill above the creek. Before we found the real cave, we saw what looked like an opening up the hill, climbed up to what ended up being a large overhang, then I busted my @ss coming back down that steep hill!!

Anyway, we ended up finding the cave, and went back in it a ways. There were tea lights placed sporadically in the nooks. We ended up seeing a small salamander and one lone bat sleeping. Once we saw the bat (who slept through our nice and headlamsp) we snapped a quick picture and headed out.

While traipsing through the woods, we did find what looked like part of an old armored car. It had a heavy door with two old locking systems, and a window at the top to "peek" through.

Still want to go back and see the other two!!
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lolabelle
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Re: Ritter Springs Park and Cave

Post by lolabelle »

okay - here are a few pictures, my camera battery was low, so we didn't take too many.

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Re: Ritter Springs Park and Cave

Post by slow_walker »

what a cute little salamander
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Nemophilist
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Re: Ritter Springs Park and Cave

Post by Nemophilist »

Nice pictures, I haven't been in any caves down there except the gated one (Can't find them :P) I've never even heard of an armored car out there, sounds cool.
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Re: Ritter Springs Park and Cave

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Veruth wrote:Nice pictures, I haven't been in any caves down there except the gated one (Can't find them :P) I've never even heard of an armored car out there, sounds cool.
Please tell me your experience in that "gated" cave. I have seen it and climbed down the steep hole that gets to the bars, but thats as far as I have been.
How far down does it go?
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Re: Ritter Springs Park and Cave

Post by Curor »

Veruth wrote:Nice pictures, I haven't been in any caves down there except the gated one (Can't find them :P) I've never even heard of an armored car out there, sounds cool.
I can show you where the other two are. They are not hard to find, and that goes for any one else that would like to go.
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lolabelle
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Re: Ritter Springs Park and Cave

Post by lolabelle »

The view from that ridge the open cave sits on is amazing! It's a little brown right now, but in springtime I am sure its beautiful.

Just beware of the slick uphill climb! I'm still so sore today!
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RE: Ritter Springs Park and Cave

Post by junkman306 »

I've never been out to the caves there. We should plan a day to go. :D
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RE: Ritter Springs Park and Cave

Post by Punctual »

That there be a cave salamander what was the description for the bat?
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Re: Ritter Springs Park and Cave

Post by Nicotti »

I'll bet it was a Pipistrelle.
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RE: Ritter Springs Park and Cave

Post by lolabelle »

The salamander was really a good host - he sat very still and let us get quite close! On our way back he had moved slightly.

The bat was very small and brown, and didn't wake up thankfully.

I'll post a pic when I'm not at work, and can get into photobucket.
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Re: Ritter Springs Park and Cave

Post by Nemophilist »

paul06660 wrote:Please tell me your experience in that "gated" cave. I have seen it and climbed down the steep hole that gets to the bars, but thats as far as I have been.
How far down does it go?
It goes for quite a ways and has a number of nice formations. It also seems pretty well traveled, which I wouldn't expect in a gated cave, so I guess whoever is allowed access is using it for something. I don't have any exact numbers but there is a map of it in the MSU library. It's one of the longest caves I've been in and is composed of a series of big chambers connected by fairly tight crawling passages. There are also a few climbs, but they aren't very difficult and there is already rope there. I didn't have my camera when I was there, so I don't have any pictures but it is quite impressive.
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RE: Ritter Springs Park and Cave

Post by textbook charlie1 »

How did you get permission to enter this cave. Its a known home for grey bats, one of the largest in greene county.
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RE: Ritter Springs Park and Cave

Post by Nemophilist »

I didn't. I found an entrance someone else made and used that. This was a while back and I hear it's been fixed, but I'd rather not go into any more detail until I can go myself and make sure it no longer exists.
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Re: RE: Ritter Springs Park and Cave

Post by textbook charlie1 »

Veruth wrote:I didn't. I found an entrance someone else made and used that. This was a while back and I hear it's been fixed, but I'd rather not go into any more detail until I can go myself and make sure it no longer exists.

I hope the spot you are talking about has been fixed. Its been that way for to long. This cave is the home of an endangered species of bat. Its to bad spooks like yourself dont become extinct.
Its not much of a house, but we got one hell of a basement.
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