Topic: Friends of Dunbar Cave

A review of the 2009 Haunting History Tours at Dunbar Cave

By Debbie Boen | October 24, 2009 |

Once again Haunting History was a great success. Haunting History just finished its tenth year of performing skits inside the cave and bringing the public in to see them. The dreariness of Friday’s weather did not stop 205 people from coming to go into the cave. Saturday brought 341 people. We had the event earlier in the month than usual because studies by APSU show that the Dunbar Cave bats begin their hibernation right on/around October 31. Two weeks earlier is a safer time to be making noise in the cave.

The Roxy Regional School of the Arts gave us 11 actors to do our three skits in the cave with Brendan Cataldo as their director. The Roxy Theatre also gave us a delightful gatekeeper.

The 2009 Haunting History Tour Actors

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Haunting History Tours at Dunbar Cave promises great family fun

October 14, 2009 |

The annual Haunting History Tours of Dunbar Cave will take place this Friday and Saturday from 5:00 to 8:00 PM each evening. See funny and educational skits performed inside the cave by actors from the Roxy Regional Theatre School of the Arts. While it is very exciting to be inside a cave, especially at night and around Halloween, the skits are not scary and are for all ages.

The cost is $5 per person. All funds raised go to the Friends of Dunbar Cave for use in protecting, promoting, and preserving the Dunbar Cave State Natural Area. The price includes the cave tour and hot chocolate or hot cider. Parking is free. You can park in the Dunbar Cave parking lot, or if that is full park at the Swan Lake Golf Course and walk to the visitor’s center. Tours leave the visitor’s center every 15 minutes. No reservations are required. Each person needs a flashlight – bring your own or rent one at the event. Each person must be able to walk on their own, including children, unfortunately the cave cannot be made handicapped accessible.

The 2009 Haunting History Tour Actors

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Roxy Regional Theatre brings New York City to Clarksville in “Rent”

By Debbie Boen | August 8, 2009 |

Several years ago I had the extreme pleasure of calling people in to be filmed as they talked about the good ole days at Dunbar Cave.  The Friends of Dunbar Cave and Jason Baggett of Clean Cut Productions at Austin Peay were making a film which included the oral history of the resort.

As people talked about Dunbar Cave in its heydays their eyes would light up.  I could feel their excitement as they described the place that put life into their worlds.

Dunbar Cave bought the latest entertainers and the latest sounds to Clarksville; it brought celebrities and made celebrities out of the locals.   Zoot Parker, a local known for his great dancing, said that Hollywood didn’t have a thing over Dunbar Cave.  For kids and young adults the Cave brought the world here to Clarksville and they weren’t afraid of it.

“…brought the world to Clarksville”

I thought of this again as I left the Roxy Theatre after a performance of Rent.  «Read the rest of this article»

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Cooling at the Cave this Saturday

By Debbie Boen | July 22, 2009 |

Cooling at the Cave will be held at the entrance of Dunbar Cave on Saturday, July 25, from 4:00 p.m. untill 6:00 p.m.

Back before there was such a thing as air conditioning, people in this area would gather at Dunbar Cave to enjoy the 58 degree naturally cool air coming out of the cave entrance. While the men worked at jobs during the day, the women, their children and pets would escape the heat by lounging at the cave entrance.  Sometimes the men would join the family for a dinner picnic at the cave.  Tables and chairs were provided where people could play card games and bingo.  At night the tables were pushed aside to make an area for music and dancing.

The use of Dunbar cave to cool down during hot summers is as old as time.

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Friends of Dunbar Cave meeting June 8th

By Bill Larson | June 10, 2009 |

The Friends of Dunbar Cave will be holding their monthly meeting on Thursday June 8th at 6:00p.m. The agenda includes voting for board members, reviewing plans for July’s Cooling at the Cave. (Volunteers and helpers are always needed and greatly appreciated). If you are interested in joining the Friends group, you are encouraged to attend the business meetings. New faces are always welcome!

At 7:00p.m.  following the conclusion of the business meeting, Dr. Andy Barrass and his research students, Morgan Kurz and Seth McCormick, will present the “ Current Status of the Dunbar Cave Bat Project”. This is free and open to the public.

Upcoming events:  The third annual Cooling at the Cave will be on Thursday July 25th, from 4p.m. to 6:00p.m. at the Dunbar Cave State Natural Area: Be cool on the “hottest” day of the year! Come and enjoy a day of music and fun, at the mouth of the Cave!

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New video Kiosk at Dunbar Cave

By Debbie Boen | April 20, 2009 |

The Friends of Dunbar Cave group undertook the job of putting an informational kiosk in the Dunbar Cave Visitor Center; a Kiosk that can show short films to Park visitors.

David Boen designed the new Kiosk and here is making its frame in the lobby of the Dunbar Cave Visitor Center.

Friends President David Boen led the search for a push button information Kiosk that would be able to play short informative films. Mr. Boen looked at Kiosks in use at APSU, the State Museum at TPAC, a museum in Paducah,  and along with Sally Schiller and Debbie Boen, several parks in the Nashville area. He also researched what would be needed to construct an in-wall Kiosk. He then conferred with David Britton about getting started on the task.

David Boen took a day off work and with David Britton prepared a wall in the Visitor Center lobby for the new Kiosk. They received enthusiastic help from Park Ranger Adam Neblett, and Seasonal Interpreter Michael Fulbright.

The results are wonderful; when visitors enter the lobby the new Kiosk is there to show the newly released Clean Cut Productions film along with a few other informative films.  This is one effort of several underway aimed at preserving and protecting the the beauty and integrety of the State Natural Area. «Read the rest of this article»

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Dunbar Cave ramps up for the spring season

April 14, 2009 |

This month’s business meeting for the Friends of Dunbar Cave will be held Thursday evening at 6:00pm, at the Dunbar Cave Visitor Center. The meeting will likely consist of going over all the details required to pull off Spring Fling. They have plenty to discuss. The meeting will also likely touch on Cooling at the Cave;  as it is right around the corner. If you are not yet a member of this organization you are welcome to attend the meeting, become a member, and to become more involved!

The Friends of Dunbar Cave are also preparing for their 10th annual trees to trails effort.  Volunteers will be spreading the mulch generated from donated Christmas trees on the trails around the state natural area, between 9am and 12pm on Saturday April 25th, the first Saturday after Earth day. «Read the rest of this article»

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Dunbar Cave premieres documentary of cave history

By Christine Anne Piesyk | February 20, 2009 |

In a reception held Thursday evening at the Dunbar Cave Visitor’s Center, the Friends of Dunbar Cave premiered a new 15-minute documentary on the history of the cave. The film will run on days when the center is open.

Clean Cut Productions used four of 25 people filmed in this short introductory film. Cathy Lee and Jason Bagget were on hand  to meet those attending this event.  Following is the film by Clean Cut Productions of APSU. 

Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Blip.tv video. «Read the rest of this article»

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Dunbar Cave film makes February 19 debut at Visitor’s Center

By Debbie Boen | February 18, 2009 |

On Thursday, February 19, the Friends of Dunbar Cave along with Clean Cut Productions will present to the public a completed film on the history of Dunbar Cave and its resources. The film will screen at Dunbar Cave State Natural Area, in the Visitor Center (white building), beginning at 6 p.m. with the film repeating every 15 minutes though 7 p.m.

Over 25 people were filmed and interviewed by the Friends group, but Clean Cut is using only four of them in this short introductory film. Cathy Lee and Jason Bagget will be on hand to thank for this incredible gift to our town and state. «Read the rest of this article»

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Dunbar Cave to host “Trees to Trails” Christmas tree recycling

December 20, 2008 |

For the past nine years people have been bringing leftover Christmas trees to Dunbar Cave after the holidays. Typically about a 1000 trees are donated each year, although many more can be used. Trees can be brought to the visitors’ center parking lot from December 26th until January 11th from 8:00 am until sunset. The park is open seven days a week. They should be free of tinsel and other decorations.

The trees will be ground into mulch, thanks to CDE volunteers. Christmas tree lots are invited to bring any leftover trees as well. No other types of plants or vegetation are allowed. Why only Christmas trees? Typically grown on farms for this purpose or harvested from the wild, these trees make mulch ideal for protecting soil and tend to be free of any invasive species which could spread in the park. «Read the rest of this article»

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