Richard Blenz Nature Preserve
KEY STATS
Monroe County, Indiana
2008
3.47 miles
Located in southern Indiana, the 43-acre property contains the entrance to Buckner Cave and its three miles of passages. The preserve, which is managed by the Richard Blenz Conservancy, also includes an entrance to Queen Blair Cave and several other smaller caves and karst features. A massive 2.5-year graffiti removal effort using sandblasting was undertaken from April 2006 through October 2008 to help restore the cave to its natural state. Graffiti removal and general cleanup continues at a smaller scale. In 2013 volunteers erected a pavilion on the site of the old barn using lumber milled from trees on the property.
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In 1962, Richard Blenz purchased the property. Shortly after the property was opened to the public people. Because no one was physically living on the property much the cave and land fell victim to abuse and vandalism. In 2005, a conservancy was formed to manage the property and vigorous cleanup efforts were implemented.
Historically, the Blair Family owned much of the surrounding property in the mid 1800s. Evidence near the cave entrance indicates that Saltpeter mining may have occurred in Buckner Cave. It may also have been used as a station for the Underground Railroad during Civil War era. Historical signatures from the 1700s and 1800s have been found and preserved during ongoing cleanup efforts. Remnants from settlements in the area can also be found on the property.
Several species of bats including the Indiana Bat, Big Brown, and Tri-colored bat use the entrance room of Buckner Cave with Big Brown and Tri-colored bats found more extensively in the interior. In the twilight zone portion of the cave are other varieties of mostly uncatalogued flora and fauna including Cave Salamanders, mice, fungi, algae, and mosses. Species of pigmented and pigmentless crawfish are found in Buckner Cave’s stream passage in addition to other uncatalogued arthopods. Actinomyces bacteria and also commonly found on cave surfaces throughout the cave.
Most of the property is located in the Mississipian limestone with some Pennsylvanian sandstone on the ridge top. The caves exist almost entirely within the St. Genevieve limestone and are typical of mixed phreatic/vadose formation with a complex history of speleogenesis spanning three to five million years. All caves on the property are still undergoing active formation in the lower levels.
Hydrology for the property is typical for its region with diffuse recharge in the upper zones through the sandstone and very little surface drainage. Several input point for surface water exist along the contact between the sandstone and limestone. All water from the property and cave eventually ends up in the Blair Spring system down the valley from the property. Water from Buckner has been dye-traced to King Blair Cave located a few hundred feet away.
No active archeological research has been done on the property, however, Woodlands Indian culture is known in the region and artifacts are found on the surface nearby. Buckner Cave, having a large entrance room and reasonable proximity to water, was most likely used as shelter throughout human history in the area, but evidence for this has most likely been destroyed.
Visitors may visit the property and/or Buckner Cave by completing a waiver and obtaining a permit to visit this preserve. Approval of all permits will be at the discretion of the Preserve Management Team. The Preserve Access Rules will be provided to applicants upon approval of their permit.
To request a permit, click on the button at the top of this page or go to the Permit System where you will be prompted to create a login and select the NSS Nature Preserve for which you would like a permit.
Requests for access can be made by applying for a permit through the Permit System where you will be prompted to create a login and select the NSS Nature Preserve for which you would like a permit.
For additional questions about this NSS Nature Preserve, please contact the Preserve Management Team via email at: BlenzPreserve@caves.org.
