Kids learn what it feels like to explore a tight cave by crawling through the SpeleoBox, a maze that simulates the caving experience.
Things to Do
Talking Rocks Cavern
Branson's Talking Rocks Cavern is vertical cave and complex that’s become a multi-experience tourist destination.
by Sony Hocklander
Aug 2023
Photo courtesy Talking Rocks CavernTalking Rocks Cavern offers gemstone mining, mini golf, a cave crawl, nature trails and more.
Travel Time
40 miles south of Springfield
Tough Stuff
Prepare to walk 265 steps on paths that may be wet in rainy conditions. Close-toe shoes with traction are recommended.
Itinerary
Talking Rocks Cavern features a wealth of activities including gemstone mining, mini golf, a game area, gift shop, cave crawl and nature trails.
Don’t Miss
Climb the lookout tower for a great view.
Clearly a love for caves runs in the Herschend family. In addition to Marvel Cave and Crystal Cave, another property owned by the family business is Talking Rocks Cavern in Branson, a vertical cave and complex that’s become a multi-experience tourist destination.
To see the cavern, expect to expel some effort. There are 265 steps leading down and around the chamber that’s 100 feet tall and 225 feet long. The entertaining and educational tour takes visitors roughly 750 feet from the cave’s front to back, to the bottom and back out. The cave, always 63 degrees, features beautiful stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, draperies and more wonders, including one remarkable limestone formation with an ethereal form that’s been described as resembling an angel. Shoes with traction are recommended for this tour (flip-flops are not!) and, like Marvel Cave, they caution against touring for people with some medical issues or who have difficulty with heights or enclosed spaces.
Talking Rocks Cavern's Family Game Area is filled with oversize games including checkers, chess, Jenga, a rock wall and more.
Photos courtesy Talking Rocks Cavern
In addition to exploring the cave, the center has many other enjoyable pursuits, including Cave Country Mini Golf and four hiking trails, one of which leads to a lookout tower. Plus, kids can pan for gems or learn what it feels like to explore a tight cave by crawling through the SpeleoBox, a maze that simulates the caving experience. There’s also a shaded picnic area and a children’s playground. Family Game Area is filled with oversize games including checkers, chess, Jenga, a rock wall and more. While some activities require an added fee, the game area is included with your cave ticket.
And now, there’s a new adventure nearby. Cave owner Bruce Herschend, son of Silver Dollar City founder Jack Herschend, recently opened Adventure Cave Tours, accessed from the same parking lot as Talking Rocks Cavern. The adventure tours feature more rugged caving experiences inside several caves. One of the caves is named for the Powell family, the first to open Talking Rocks Cavern for tours in 1921 when it was known as Fairy Cave.
Why did they call it Fairy Cave? When Truman Powell (said to inspire the main character in Shepherd of the Hills) saw the cave for the first time after it was discovered, he said it looked like a subterranean fairyland. Today’s visitors can judge for themselves if Powell was right.
