우리의 이야기

1960년 3월, San Antonio에 있는 St. Mary's University의 대학생 4명인 Orion Knox Jr., Preston Knodell, Al Brandt 및 Joe Cantu는 현재 Natural Bridge Caverns 지역을 탐험할 수 있는 허가를 받았습니다. 학생들은 60피트 길이의 놀라운 석회암 다리 아래에 큰 지하 통로가 존재한다고 확신했습니다. 네 번째 탐험에서 Orion은 잔해로 가득 찬 기어가는 길에서 시원한 외풍을 느꼈습니다. 이러한 기류는 종종 추가 방이나 통로가 있음을 나타냅니다.

탐험가들은 2마일의 광활한 동굴 통로를 통해 조심스럽게 등반하고 기어갔습니다. 이 놀라운 발견을 한 후, 그들은 지표면으로 돌아와 지주들에게 알렸습니다. 발견자들은 그들이 만든 놀라운 발견이 무엇인지 즉시 알았고 토지 소유자는 전 세계에서 온 손님들의 즐거움을 위해 동굴의 가장 멋진 부분인 처음 1/2마일을 개발하기로 결정했습니다. 처음 1/2마일은 이제 디스커버리 투어입니다. Natural Bridge Caverns Discovery Tour는 두 가지 주요 목표를 염두에 두고 개발되었습니다. 동굴 환경의 보존과 방문객의 편안함입니다. 그 결과 세계 최고의 쇼 동굴 중 하나이자 텍사스에서 가장 인기 있는 명소 중 하나가 되었습니다.

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.”