Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area |
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 Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area
Location in Texas
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| Area | 1,859.7 acres (752.6 ha) |
| Established | 1985 |
| Governing body | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |
| Designated: | 1972 |
The Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area is a really cool place in Edwards County, Texas! It's a special home for millions of bats. This natural area is located near the city of Rocksprings, Texas. It's famous for its huge numbers of Mexican free-tailed bats. If you want to visit, you need to plan ahead and make reservations.
Discovering the Devil's Sinkhole
The Devil's Sinkhole is a giant hole in the ground that goes straight down. It's a natural cave where bats live. The opening is about 40 feet (12 meters) by 60 feet (18 meters) wide. But the cave itself drops down about 400 feet (122 meters) below!
Local people first found this amazing cavern way back in 1876. Someone named H. S. Barber even carved his name inside the cave in 1889. That's a long time ago!
A Home for Bats
This incredible cave was formed over many years by water slowly wearing away the rock. It's now home to several million Mexican free-tailed bats. These bats are super interesting! They fly out of the sinkhole every evening at sunset. This happens from April through October. It's an amazing sight to see!
In 1968, the Devil's Sinkhole was recognized as a National Natural Landmark. This means it's a very important natural place in the United States. The state of Texas took over the area in 1985. It was then opened to the public in 1992.
Visiting the Sinkhole
If you want to see the bats, you can go on special evening tours. These "bat flight tours" are offered only during the summer. You can also join guided nature hikes to explore the area.
The park has a viewing platform that is easy to use for everyone, including those in wheelchairs. There are also picnic areas where you can relax. Remember, you can only visit by making tour arrangements in advance.
The tours are run by a group of local volunteers called the Devil's Sinkhole Society. They work with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Bat Conservation International. Their goal is to help visitors learn about the sinkhole and its bats.
