The Friends of Dunbar Cave are gearing up for their eleventh annual Trees to Trails project.

The first stage is the collection of Christmas trees. Remove all decorations including tinsel from the cut trees, drop them off at Dunbar Cave State park (401 Old Dunbar Cave Road). Christmas tree lots are encouraged to donate any leftover trees as well. The designated drop-off pile is located in the corner of the parking lot, at intersection of Dunbar and Old Dunbar Cave Roads.  Please remove all plastic coverings from the tree when you drop it off, and take them with you.  The park is open daily 8am until sunset. Trees will be accepted through January 10.

A Christmas tree being dropped off at Dunbar Cave for recycling in January 2010

No other types of plants or vegetation are allowed. Why only Christmas trees? Typically the trees are grown on farms for this specific purpose, or harvested from the wild. These trees make mulch ideal for protecting soil and tend to be free of any invasive species that could then spread like wildfire throughout in the park.  The mulch helps enriches the soil, and controls erosion without introducing unwanted plants to the trails. In the past the mulch has been used on walking trails, around picnic tables, and  along the earthen dam.

Tatyana Finks, Jennifer Murray, and Caitlin Williams of girl scout troop 2559 spreading mulch in 2009

The second phase of the project is the shredding of the collected trees by volunteers from CDE.

The final phase of the project is the spreading of the mulch. On April 17th volunteers will spread this mulch.  Scout troops and other community groups are invited to bring a rake and join the Friends of Dunbar Cave spread the mulch and enjoy each others’ company. There will be a public announcement once a specific date is set, keep checking Friends of Dunbar Cave website for more details.

These project is sponsored by the Friends of Dunbar Cave, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Dunbar Cave State Natural Area. Become a member, or make a tax deductable donation today! For more information call the Dunbar Cave State Natural Area Visitor’s Center at  648-5526.

Photo Gallery

Images of the Trees to Trails program in 2009. Photos contributed by Debbie Boen and Adam Neblett

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Submitted by Richard & Meredith Gildrie on behalf of Dunbar 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

Swan Lake Golf Course allowed us to use their parking lot for overflow parking.

Volunteers stand ready to serve refreshing drinks

Over 40 volunteers poured and stirred complimentary cups of hot chocolate, put up and took down the tiki torches that lined the lake, sold glow necklaces and tickets, took us into the cave to see the skits and manned the parking lot. The volunteers were a happy bunch, their enthusiasm catchy.

Haunting History is a fundraiser by the non-profit group, Friends of Dunbar Cave. Monies raised are used to help preserve and protect the park and educate the public.

• The Friends Group was able to talk APSU’s Clean Cut Productions into producing an Introductory Film that explains the history of Dunbar Cave.
• The Friends group filmed interviews of local residents who have stories to tell about the Good Ole Days at Dunbar Cave.
• The Friends group designed, bought and installed a monitor in the lobby that shows films to the public especially the one made by Clean Cut Productions.
• The Friends group runs Trees to Trails, Cooling at the Cave and Spring Fling each year. These events are free to the public.
• The Friends group bought interpretive signage for the park and will continue to do so.
• The Friends group pushes for an Interpretive Center at Dunbar Cave. They’ve used the money they have raised as an incentive for the State to also support that effort.

The 40+ Haunting History volunteers were an impressive bunch. They came willing to do whatever was needed and also to have a good time. They did both. This event has side benefits, like making everyone fall in love with the cave and the Friends of Dunbar Cave group. Several people became members during the event.

The Skits

The first skit

I received a lot of positive feedback about the skits from the public and the volunteers. I was thrilled to overhear a man quote the first skit about bats to his wife and talk about how many mosquitoes bats eat. They both agreed that they should build a bat house to try and attract bats to their property.

The first skit was meant to dispel fears about bats and replace them with true information. At the end of the skit the actors showed the audience that a live bat was hanging on the ceiling. It was with excitement and awe that people looked at it, not with horror and fear.

An Eastern Pipistrel Bat

The second skit

The second skit, Haunting Memories, was created from what certain people had to say about the good ole days at Dunbar Cave. Woman 1 represents Marguerite Rubel and Mary McDaniel. Woman 2 is Rachel Tate and Jacquie Miles. Man 1 is Jimmy Dunn and Ronnie Hunter. Man 2 is Zoot Parker who was known as the best dancer in Clarksville. While talking to the actors I was able to fill them in on who they were representing.

The third skit

Skit three, Haunting Questions, is about the Native Americans who made the art on the walls in Dunbar Cave. Information about the topic was gathered on visits to Indian Mound sites, like Pinson Mounds in West Tennessee and from books purchased there.

Many people come out of the event smiling and saying, “Wow, I learned a lot!” They seemed pleasantly surprised by that, maybe because they were older by far than the children doing the skits.

The Roxy actors were great. I watched them rehearse and was totally impressed. Then, of course, they just kept getting better. A week before the event we took them and the director into the cave to see how the “stages” looked. After that we were treated to a bit of a tour by Michael Fulbright who works at the Park. The kids were thrilled and learned a lot about the cave.

One of the many tour groups heading to the cave

Sponsors

The Friends of Dunbar Cave wish to give special thanks to these sponsors:

Some of the many young people who enjoyed their haunting tour of Dunbar Cave

• The Roxy Regional School of the Arts. With a more than busy (as usual) schedule, John McDonald gave us wonderful actors and director.
• Bill Larson of Clarksville Online gave us free advertisement and negotiated the using of the Swan Lake Golf Course for overflow parking. He also brought the actors and early volunteers a lovely dinner on Saturday and ran activities in the cave during the walk-through and the event. Thanks to Bill also for pictures of the actors.
• Thanks for the cooking of that Saturday dinner goes out to Mr. and Mrs. William Keen.
• Thanks to Mr. Jeff Vaughn the City’s Golf Pro and manager of Swan Lake Golf Course for the use of their parking lot.
• Thanks to David Shelton, Christine Piesyk, Turner McCullough Jr., Gabe Redel, and Curtis Davis; for dinner Friday, and their help manning the tables on both nights.
• Thanks to Jack and Suva Bastin for all their hard work and help.
• Thanks to Tennessee Trails making Haunting History their event also.
• Thanks for donations from Batteries Plus, Lowes, Rural King and Krogers.
• Thanks for their invaluable help in promoting the event: WJZM 1400 AM Radio, Clarksville Online, the Leaf Chronicle and Clarksville Family Magazine.

Volunteers who helped on this event

Actors:

• Scene 1 – Haunting Facts:Becca Winters, Patrick Long, Hallie Sampson, Tim O. Smith
• Scene 2 – Haunting Memories: Kayla Coleman, Jacob Ritchart, Emily Ritchart, Autumn Crafton, Jaymin Burr
• Scene 3 – Haunting Questions: Frances Dennis, Christian Boyd

Contributers and Volunteers:

Volunteers Kim Chandler and Blayne Clements on Friday night

Barbara Wilbur, Jim Hancock, Richard Gildrie, Meredith Gildrie, Jack Bastin, Suva Bastin, John Sneed, David Boen, Randall Boen, Bill Larson, Kitty Madden, Beverly Fisher, Paul Schwab, Merri Hinton, Bob Lyon, Carol Sequra, Kyle Sequra, Christine Pieysk, Kelly LaPlante, Bobby LaPlante, David Shelton, Curtis Davis, Turner McCullough, Mike Vogt, Kathy Vogt, Kim Chandler, Blayne Clements, Stephen Walker, J.B., Brooklyn Lyle, Dan Racklin, Marilyn Racklin, Beth Racklin, Jill Eichhorn, Barry Kitterman, Hannah Kitterman, Lee Gray, Gabriel Redel, Bryan Valentin, Kathryn Myracle, Matthew Fowler, Beth Robinson, Faith Robinson, Katherine Kolodzie, Gloria Miliken, Elaine Foust, Carl J. Powell, Mr. and Mrs. William Keen

We wish to give a special thanks to the Dunbar Cave Park Staff! Amy Wallace, Adam Neblett, Robert Wells, Teresa Campbell, Michael Fulbright and Blaine Hargis

Park Interpreter Amy Wallace with some of the many pumpkins carved by Suva Bastin and herself

Photo Gallery

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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

The three skits performed in the cave Haunting Facts, Haunting Memories and Haunting Questions.

Haunting Facts is a fast and fun look at the bats that live in Dunbar Cave and other caves.

Haunting Memories is about people sharing their memories of Big Band music and Country music and experiences living around the cave.

Haunting Questions asks about the Native Americans who made the ancient pictographs inside Dunbar Cave. Who were they and what does their art mean?

If you would like to become a member of the Friends of Dunbar Cave, you can signup while at the event!

The Friends of Dunbar Cave would like to thank The City of Clarksville, and Golf Pro Jeff Vaughn for allowing the Friends of Dunbar Cave to use the Parking lot at Swan Lake for overflow parking for the Tours.

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. 

The acting was so good that I felt like I was in New York City watching a Broadway show.  It is obvious that the actors really love doing the show; they give it 120%.  The singing is so awesome it is unreal.  The stage is always alive and the play reminds me of New York, there is always someone on stage watching, standing around, while the main actors have their conversations.  You’re never alone in the city; physically at least.  The glamour of NYC is pushed off in this play.  It’s a difficult place to live.

As they explore and show the dynamics of several relationships, the struggling artists exude with life and love that is communicated in song.

And Rent brings the world to Clarksville.  In Clarksville we are capable of missing the outside world.  Our values and our visions are influenced by the limits in our town.  A taste of the outside is refreshing and invigorating.  The Roxy has brought the world to us and it is brilliant; it is full.

The show runs Tuesdays through Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m.  Fridays and Saturdays it from 8 to 10 p.m. through August 21.  Get right out of town at the theatre! http://www.roxyregionaltheatre.org/nowplaying/index.html

Check out this actor! He appears to be as good as the professionals in the Broadway version of the show. And he’s a local kid doing Roxy Regional theatre school. Humberto Figueroa; Wow!

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.

Cooling at the cave was so popular that the cave property passed through many hands during its time as a resort area.  In 1933 the Idaho Springs Corporation added an Olympic sized swimming pool and many other amenities to the site.  In 1948 Roy Acuff purchased the property and Dunbar Cave was a swinging place hosting some of the most popular bands during the Big Band era. After the property lay abandoned and vandalized for several years, it was rescued in 1973 by the State of Tennessee, and turned into a natural area.

There are people in Clarksville like Marguerite Rubel who remember the good ole days at the cave and reminisce about it with fond memories.  Three years ago Friends of Dunbar Cave member Barbara Wilbur got the idea to rekindle the activities such as card and board game playing at the entrance of the cave.  So she talked the Friends group into hosting this event for one day during the summer.  This will be the third year that the Friends of Dunbar Cave,  with permission from the Park staff, hold this event.

The crowds gather around the cave to enjoy the cool air during the hot summer.

Volunteers will gather to set up chairs and tables on the hot muggy July afternoon.  The first year when I helped set up the chairs and tables we were so hot that we put tables as close to the cave as we could get them.  After awhile we had to move the tables away from the entrance because it was too cold. Refreshments such as cookies and lemonade are set out for the soon to gather crowd. The Musicians arrive, and guests start coming up the trail, many bearing their own board games or cards. They find a table and then spend the afternoon with old friends and perhaps making some new acquaintances as was done in days past.  This event is so popular that the comment most repeated is, “When are you going to do this again?”

Cooling at the Cave in 2008

Come out and join us this Saturday, July 25^th, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the cave entrance as we relive the good ole days at Dunbar Cave.  Bring your own board game and cards, or just hang out and visit.   The Swan Lake Golf Course and its Manager Jeff Vaughn is providing the use of one of their golf carts to allow us to give rides for those who need help making it to the cave entrance.

The refreshments are free and donations are always welcomed.  The Friends of Dunbar Cave is a group dedicated to helping preserve the park and educate the public.

Don Horton and his dog Jax

The 2008 Cooling at the Cave

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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!

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.

It’s been a dream of the Friends of Dunbar Cave to have an Interpretive Center at the Dunbar Cave State Natural Area. They have been hosting fund raisers and events for many years towards this goal. This center will educate people on the history and geology of Dunbar Cave, and will help raise visitors’ appreciation of the park and its rich history.

As a step in that direction the Friends group contracted the help of Clean Cut Productions at Austin Peay State University (APSU) to make a short introductory film for the Park.  This film, which was recently released, consists of three main parts:

• How the cave was formed
• The cultural history of the Park
• The Park’s  function as a Natural area

While the movie was being made the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation supported Dunbar Cave State Natural Area in creating a fully functional Audio Visual room and remodeling the entrance to that room in order to help contain the sound from the rest of the building.  Carpeting and furniture was replaced, the security of the Visitor Center was improved, and the building was painted.

Special thanks go out to the Friends of Dunbar Cave, David Boen, Ronnie Hunter, David Britton and to all of the Park staff for their part in making this happen.

David Britton of Port Royal gets enthusiastic help from Ranger Adam Neblett and Seasonal Interpreter Michael Fulbright.

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. The group usually has a great turn out, but they never turn down additional volunteers.

The volunteers that helped the friends of Dunbar Cave spread the mulch during Trees to Trails in 2008.

Events

Cave Tours – Saturday and Sunday at 1pm and 3pm. Cost is 5$ per person. Each individual must bring their own flashlight. Call for reservations (At least one week in advance, Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm) 931-648-5526

Spring Fling – all day educational event on Saturday May 9th includes raptors, canoes, snakes, and lots of fun. SOAR will return for another great show. 2009 is our 11th year.

Cooling at the Cave – music and fun at the cool mouth of the cave, held on the last Saturday of July which is usually about the hottest day of the year. 2009 is our 3rd year of Cooling at the Cave.

Amy Wallace Park Interpreter

Wildflowers are blooming now! We are amazed at how many flowers we have in places that once had none. Guess that’s what comes from protecting the area for 30+ years.

Bufflehead - (Photo Courtesy of King County Water and Land Resources Division.)

We had a Bufflehead, Blue-winged Teal, and two Lesser Scaup on the lake at once one day in mid-March. It was nice to see some ducks other than mallards on the lake. The barn swallows returned on April 1, later than they arrived last year by a few days. Our Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (small birds that nest here, they look a bit like tiny mockingbirds) also are back. Frogs are singing – spring is here, don’t care what the thermometer says (and it says 37 degrees right now.)

Several visitors got an up close look at a small water snake that was sunning on the paved trail to the lake. It was then relocated off the paved trail so that no one would “help” by harming it.

Unfortunately someone knocked the tops off of dozens of May Apples coming up along the trail.

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. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

A few years ago Friends of Dunbar Cave made an agreement with Cathy Lee of Clean Cut Productions at Austin Peay, to make a short introductory film for the park. In exchange for a scholarship donation, Clean Cut took on the job of producing an 8 to 15 minute film about Dunbar Cave, the kind of film that someone coming to the park can watch to get an idea of the wondrous place he/she has entered onto.

The youngest viewer, the daughter of filmmakers Cathy Lee.

Park staff and Friends wanted the film to have three parts: How the cave was made, the cultural history of the park and the importance of it being a natural area. Anyone who knows just a little about the cultural history of the park knows that to fit it into a short film is quite a request.

The Friends of Dunbar Cave support Dunbar Cave State Natural Area in ways that protect the park, educate the public and raise money for projects that help the park. They are able to help the State Park in ways that the State of Tennessee has limited spending capabilities. The Friends group rallied to keep the park a natural area and in the hands of the State with that purpose. Under the direction of Park staff, the Friends group originated Trees to Trails and with the help of CDE they recycle Christmas trees to make the trails better.

The group originated Spring Fling, a day of free programs showing everything from hike in camping, birdhouse making, flower and bird watching, wild animals, snakes, lizard and raptor shows to canoeing on the lake. The staff at Dunbar help with several of the programs and arrange to get canoes from another park.

Two years ago the Friends brought back Cooling at the Cave, on a day in July, which invites all to come sit by the cool cave entrance, listen to music, play board and card games and drink lemonade. The group also does fundraisers to make money to help the park. For instance a donation from Wal Mart that Shirley Berardo attained went to buying professional trail map signs that are installed along the walking trails.

The Friends group hosts the annual Haunting History event as its major fundraiser. Skits are performed in the cave by young actors. Volunteers bring the public into the cave every 20 minutes or so to see the skits. As many as 30 volunteers plus the actors work to make it an exciting and safe event.

These events thrill the public. Thousands of people have enjoyed them through the years.

The recent carbon dating of Indian drawings inside the cave makes Dunbar Cave an even more valuable asset to our history and community. To allow the public to see the art, a better gate had to be built and the Friends helped.

Sometimes the Friends members speak at clubs and events. It’s a lot to do for a group of already incredibly busy people. When the public gets just a whiff of how exciting the history of Dunbar Cave is, the Friends group usually hear a lot of “you oughtas”. But the small group of people who make things happen somehow know they can’t take on too much and how to fit the things they do take on into their busy schedules.

The Friends work with the Park staff to make sure that everything they do is educational and pertinent to the park. One of the driving forces behind the Friends efforts is the desire to see an Interpretive Center at the park. The group has met with State of Tennessee officials on many occasions to plan and dream about an Interpretive Center for Dunbar Cave. Many times the Friends group has played an important role in assuring the State of Tennessee that they are serious about this goal, and that the history and artifacts of the park tell a fascinating story.

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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.

A few years ago Friends of Dunbar Cave made an agreement with Cathy Lee of Clean Cut Productions at Austin Peay, to make a short introductory film for the park. In exchange for a scholarship donation, Clean Cut took on the job of producing an 8 to 15 minute film about Dunbar Cave, the kind of film that someone coming to the park can watch to get an idea of the wondrous place he/she has entered onto.

Park staff and Friends wanted the film to have three parts: How the cave was made, the cultural history of the park and the importance of it being a natural area. Anyone who knows just a little about the cultural history of the park knows that to fit it into a short film is quite a request.

Dunbar Cave Visitor's Center

For many years the Friends of Dunbar Cave support Dunbar Cave State Natural Area in ways that protect the park, educate the public and raise money for projects that help the park. They are able to help the State Park in ways that the State of Tennessee has limited spending capabilities. The Friends group rallied to keep the park a Natural area and in the hands of the State with that purpose. Under the direction of Park staff, the Friends group originated Trees to Trails and with the help of CDE they recycle Christmas trees to make the trails better.

Paddle Boats at Dunbar Cave

The group originated Spring Fling, a day of free programs showing everything from hike in camping, birdhouse making, flower and bird watching, wild animals, snakes, lizard and raptor shows to canoeing on the lake. The staff at Dunbar help with several of the programs and arrange to get canoes from another park.

Two years ago the Friends brought back Cooling at the Cave, on a day in July, which invites all to come sit by the cool cave entrance, listen to music, play board and card games and drink lemonade. The group also does fundraisers to make money to help the park. For instance a donation from Wal Mart that Shirley Berardo attained went to buying professional trail map signs that are installed along the walking trails.

The Friends group hosts the annual Haunting History event as its major fundraiser. Skits are performed in the cave by young actors. Volunteers bring the public into the cave every 20 minutes or so to see the skits. As many as 30 volunteers plus the actors work to make it an exciting and safe event.

These events thrill the public. Thousands of people have enjoyed them through the years.

The recent carbon dating of Indian drawings inside the cave makes Dunbar Cave an even more valuable asset to our history and community. To allow the public to see the art, a better gate had to be built and the Friends helped.

Sometimes the Friends members speak at clubs and events. It’s a lot to do for a group of already incredibly busy people. When the public gets just a whiff of how exciting the history of Dunbar Cave is, the Friends group usually hear a lot of “you oughtas”. But the small group of people who make things happen somehow know they can’t take on too much and how to fit the things they do take on into their busy schedules.

The Friends work with the Park staff to make sure that everything they do is educational and pertinent to the park. One of the driving forces behind the Friends efforts is the desire to see an Interpretive Center at the park. The group has met with State of Tennessee officials on many occasions to plan and dream about an Interpretive Center for Dunbar Cave. Many times the Friends group has played an important role in assuring the State of Tennessee that they are serious about this goal, and that the history and artifacts of the park tell a fascinating story.

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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.

Around Earth Day, April 22nd, volunteers will spread this mulch along the earthen dam to enrich the soil and prevent erosion. In the past the mulch has been used on walking trails and around picnic tables. Scout troops and other community groups are invited to bring a rake and join the Friends of Dunbar Cave spread the mulch and enjoy each others’ company. There will be a public announcement, once a specific date is set, on the Friends of Dunbar Cave website.

These events are sponsored by the Friends of Dunbar Cave, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Dunbar Cave State Natural Area. The website for the group is www.dunbarcave.org. There are some twenty similar groups associated with Tennessee State Parks. For more information, please call Visitors’ Center at 648-5526.

Submitted by Dick Gildrie on behalf of Dunbar Cave.

It’s a family affair, with teams of guides taking children as young as three years of age (young children must be accompanied by a parent) through one section of the cave. What’s inside? The path through the cave will be illuminated with carved pumpkins. Inside the cave, three grottos are set up with young actors from the Roxy Regional Theatre offering stories and skits on the cave’s natural history.

The Haunting History Actors Front: Hugh Poland, Christian Boyd, JC Poland, Marianne Rivera, Dominick Lynch, Mariah Wolitski, and Angela Scott (Director). Back: Jaymin Burr, Hugh Poland, Felix Sermon, and Andrew Hulse

Costumes are welcomed and encouraged, but anyone entering the cave, which is a living entity, must have proper footwear (sneakers, hiking boots) and should bring a flashlight. Dunbar Cave will also have flashlights available for a small refundable deposit. No photos can be taken inside the cave. The median temperature in the cave is cool, in the upper 50s.

At the visitors center, refreshments (including hot chocolate and spiced cider) will be served. Dunbar Cave T-Shirts and buttons will also be sold. Admission is $5.00 per person. For more information, call the Cave at 931-648-5526.

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The group will also discuss the premier of the new Dunbar Cave video, and will also address some board changes. The video was recently screen at Austin Peay State University.

Dunbar Cave is located at 401 Old Dunbar Cave Road in Clarksville.

Dunbar Cave is the most prominent of several caves located in this designated natural area. In the roomy mouth of the cave, square dances, radio shows, and big band era concerts were once held.

Friends of Dunbar Cave meet every third Thursday at 6:00 p.m. in the Visitor Center.

Rows of chairs surrounded the mouth of the cave where the Holt Brothers Band played toe tapping music from 3-5 p.m. families and friends clustered around tables, playing everything from dominos to assorted board and trivia games. For others, it was simply a chance for good conversation among friends.

Friends of Dunbar Cave prepared a wide array of snacks — everything from cookies to chocolate nut confections to brownies and fruit bread. In addition to cold sodas, ice cold lemonade was the drink of the day.

Here is a selection of images from this popular summer event (Photos by Christine Anne Piesyk):

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Special thanks from the Friends group go out to the Holt Brothers Band for their delightful music. Thanks to Barbara Wilbur for organizing this shindig; Bill Larson for arranging for and driving folks via golf cart between the cave and parking lot; Swan Lake Golf Course for the loan of a golf cart; Roxy Theatre for the loan of their chairs; Walter Marczak for his donation of chairs; the Boens for getting the chairs and microphone to the cave and back; Jack and Suva Bastin for providing sodas, lemonade and many other goodies. Thanks to Beverly Fisher, Kitty Madden and Jack Bastin for help with loading/unloading of chairs and tables and thanks to the many others who chipped in at the end. Thanks to the many stead fast and true volunteers who baked and helped out. Thanks to Senator Rosalind Kurita, who handed out prestigious awards to the Steve and Debbie Hamilton for their services to the Friends of Dunbar Cave. Thanks to Jack Bastin for making the awards, hand carved wood pens (the wood was taken from the park).

Schedule of events:

7:00-8:30 am – Early Morning Bird Hike: Hike the trails at the park; watch and identify birds with members of the Warioto Audubon Chapter. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them.

8:45-9:45 am – Backpacking with Tennessee Trail Association: Merri Hinton, an experienced backpacker and long-distance hiker, will demonstrate the needed equipment for backpacking, day hiking and camping.

8:45-9:45 am – Bluebirds in your Backyard: Duane Rice, local Audubon Society leader and bluebird expert will talk about how to host Eastern Bluebirds around your home and property.

9:45-11:15 am – Wildflower/Plant Walk: Amy Wallace, the park’s naturalist, will lead you on a hike to appreciate the abundant wild flowers & other plants found in the park.

10:00-11:00 am – Raptors with SOAR, Inc.: Save Our American Raptors will give an educational program showing various birds of prey. They will tell about each bird and its personal history, describe its species and how it fits into the natural world. Several of the birds are flighted which should make for some lively audience encounters.

11:15 am-12:15 pm – Native Amphibians and Reptile: Nathan Parker, APSU naturalist, will present a program on some of our local native salamanders, frogs and snakes.

12:30-1:30 pm – Urban Wildlife: Walden’s Puddle will discuss some of the animals that you will find living in your town or community. Live animals, such as the ‘possum shown at left, will be displayed.

12:30-1:30 pm – Raptors with SOAR, Inc.: Save Our American Raptors will provide an educational program showing a various birds of prey.

1:45-2:45 pm – Snakes and Reptiles: Sherry and Donny Howell, local reptile experts, show you native and exotic snakes and other reptiles. Learn why these gentle creatures are so important to our ecology.

1:45-2:45 pm – Urban Wildlife: Walden’s Puddle will discuss some of the animals that you will find living in your town or community.

2:45-3:45 pm – Trail Hike with Suva Bastin: Suva Bastin, member of Clarksville’s Tennessee Trails Association, will lead us on a hike on the park’s trails. She can provide valuable pointers for day-hiking in our region.

2:45-4:45 pm – Canoeing: Enjoy the beauty of Swan Lake and Dunbar Cave State Natural Area from a canoe. Canoes, paddle and life jackets provided for brief excursions on the lake.

Spring Fling is Sponsored by:

• Friends of Dunbar Cave
• Warioto Audubon Chapter
• Tennessee Trails Association
• Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency