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Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Wonder Cave Barn Usually Hidden by Trees

Wonder Cave Barn

For fans of barns painted with advertisements for classic tourist attractions, Highway US41 between Murfreesboro and Monteagle has several that still remain. You'll see a handful of these barns for Rock City, Ruby Falls and Meramec Caverns. On my most recent drive, I discovered this one that I had previously always missed when the trees were in bloom. There the barn hides most of the year at this spot less than 10 minutes south of Manchester.

The cave is located near the base of the Cumberland Plateau in Grundy County. Back in the days of the Dixie Highway which later became US41, the turn to get to the cave was located at the last turn before making the ascent to Monteagle. Everyone travelling from Nashville to Chattanooga would have passed this barn and then the sign pointed to the entrance.

As has been the case with many "impulse" tourist attractions, the opening of the interstate killed off this business. Now people take I-24 through the area and the Cave soon went out of public. It reopened again but soon closed thereafter circa 2000. Even though it's not open commercially these days, I hear it's possible to get in the cave if you do a little research.

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