私たちの物語

1960 年 3 月、サンアントニオのセント メアリーズ大学の 4 人の大学生、オリオン ノックス ジュニア、プレストン ノデル、アル ブラント、ジョー カントゥは、現在ナチュラル ブリッジ洞窟となっている地域を探索する許可を得ました。学生たちは、高さ 60 フィートの石灰岩の驚くべき橋の下に大きな地下通路が存在すると確信していました。 4 回目の遠征で、オリオンは瓦礫に満ちた這い道から冷たい隙間風を感じました。このような気流は、多くの場合、追加の部屋または通路の存在を示します。

探検家たちは、2マイルにわたる広大な洞窟の通路を慎重に登り、這いながら進んだ。この驚くべき発見をした後、彼らは地主に報告するために地上に戻りました。発見者らは自分たちが行った驚くべき発見が何であるかをすぐに理解し、土地の所有者は世界中からのゲストが楽しめるように、洞窟の最も壮観な部分である最初の0.5マイルを開発することに決めました。その最初の 0.5 マイルがディスカバリー ツアーになります。ナチュラル ブリッジ洞窟ディスカバリー ツアーは、洞窟の環境保護とゲストの快適さという 2 つの主な目標を念頭に置いて開発されました。その結果、世界有数のショー洞窟の 1 つが誕生し、テキサスで最も人気のあるアトラクションの 1 つとなりました。

Our History

Natural Bridge Caverns is much more than a story about a cave. It’s the story of a family that took their connection to the land and evolved it into passionate stewardship for the natural beauty and wonder both above and beneath their feet.

The beginnings
It began with a young rancher, Charles Wuest, who fell in love with the girl next door – literally. Emelie Forshage, daughter of rancher Louis Forshage, lived on the ranch next door. That was what Natural Bridge Caverns was, back then: a working ranch. Over the next sixty years, the Wuest family would work through drought and hardship to hold on to the land and family they loved so dearly. Then a discovery of an immense cavern shifted the family’s future.

The discovery
In 1960, four students (Orion Knox, Al Brandt, Preston Knodell, and Joe Cantu) from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio convinced Clara Wuest, a determined rancher and widowed mother of two, to let them explore what they believed was a small cave on the property. Then on March 27, 1960 they discovered an incredible cavern; two miles of chamber after chamber, each filled with magnificent formations including gigantic, towering columns, emerald pools, and delicate crystalline soda straws.

And it was still alive and growing.

Investing in wonder
The Wuest family made a big decision - they put everything they owned on the line to build would become Natural Bridge Caverns. After careful planning, the painstaking work began in 1963 and on July 3, 1964 - a year later - they opened the Cavern to guests. A month later Texas Governor John Connally dedicated the Caverns as “A Jewel in the Crown of Texas Attractions.” The family took on roles within the business and attendance grew – and so did the cavern.

Foundation
Giving back has always been part of the family tradition, but it was formalized in 1997. Established by Natural Bridge Caverns founder Clara Wuest Heidemann, the Heidemann - Wuest Foundation (HWF) supports not-for-profit charities that focus on youth and agriculture, education, heritage, faith, wildlife, conservation, exploration, law enforcement, and veterans. Each year the HWF contributes more than $100,000 to charitable organizations in the San Antonio and New Braunfels area.

The expanding cavern
Over the decades more and more chambers were discovered in the Cavern. Today continued exploration by a new generation of the Wuest family is still underway. New chambers have been discovered as recently as June of 2022; each filled with formations that continue to inspire the growth and sense of wonder of Natural Bridge Caverns.

Throughout it all Brad and Travis, now CEO and vice president respectively, and their mother, Joye Wuest, now CFO, have embraced growth that has been meticulously planned, not only to preserve the natural wonder of the Caverns, but to do the same with the land that they continue to cherish.

Today, this new generation sees no end in sight for what is possible at Natural Bridge Caverns. “We’re committed to ensuring that Natural Bridge Caverns is a family destination that can inspire a new generation to experience their own adventure.”