There’s a lot to discover in Door County – the peninsula is filled with cherry and apple orchards, towering bluffs, quaint villages, and scenic beaches. Underneath this idyllic countryside, there’s a remarkable natural feature few people ever see. An underground river flows through a wet and wonderful cave that’s hidden in plain sight. Here’s what you need to know about Door County’s Horseshoe Bay Cave.
The cave is located in the Town of Egg Harbor, just south of the Village of the same name. The original park property was established after the Murphy family donated 11 acres to the county in 1937.
Google / Bruce Wilk
The property has a lot of history: a pier on the property was once used to ship a fresh bounty of apples, cherries and plums to Dykesville and Peshtigo.
Google / Michael Toll
The park doubled in size in 2014 with a 14-acre land donation. The new land included parking space for events like the Door County Triathlon, as well as access to an incredible underground cave.
Google / DC Transitions
The Horseshoe Bay Cave is one of Wisconsin’s longest caves – it’s a half mile long. It’s rumored to have been a hideout for gangster Al Capone and Chief Tecumseh.
Youtube / Destination Door County
It’s not exactly a bone-dry cave. Portions of the cave are like an underground river. People who are adventurous enough to explore this cave can get very wet and muddy.
Youtube / Destination Door County
Access to the cave is limited. The county occasional holds special tour events that take people into this little-known underworld. It the future, it may expand access to the cave so more can see this underground world for themselves.
Youtube / Destination Door County
Curious to see more of this underworld in Wisconsin? Check out this YouTube video courtesy of Destination Door County:
Google / Bruce Wilk
Google / Michael Toll
Google / DC Transitions
Youtube / Destination Door County
Lean more about the home of Horseshoe Bay Cave on the Door County government website. Wisconsin is home to some incredible underground spaces – here’s a little-known abandoned cave with a colorful history.
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Address: Frank E. Murphy Park, 7119 Bay Shore Dr, Egg Harbor, WI 54209, USA
