Bridal Cave is located at 526 Bridal Cave Road, two miles north of Camdenton, approximately 30 miles from Atlantis Island Condos. Daniel Boone’ sons, Nathan and Daniel Morgan, are believed to be the first white men to explore the cave. The pair traveled the Osage River, by canoe, from Defiance to the cave. In 1884 Colonel R.G. Scott purchased 5,400 acres of land in the area. His newly acquired tract of land included Bridal Cave, six additional caves, and Ha Ha Tonka. Colonel Scott was a historian and an influential person of his time, attending at least two receptions at the White House. Colonel Scott discovered the Indian legend of the cave and incorporated the marriage of Irona to Prince Buffalo in the cave into his marketing strategy. The stalactites in the room where the two were wed led to the Bridal Veil Cave name that was later shortened to Bridal Cave.
In 1903 Colonel Scott sold acreage that included Bridal Cave and Ha Ha Tonka to Robert M Snyder, a banker with a colorful history from Kansas City. Mr. Snyder’s main focus of the property seemed to be the bluff overlooking Ha Ha Tonka Spring. He envisioned a large resort on top of the bluff. Mr Snyder did not live to see his vision completed. He`was Kansas City’s first automobile fatality October 27, 1906, while racing another vehicle down Independence Boulevard.
The cave first opened for the general public in 1948, under the direction of Bridal Cave Development Corporation, who continues to operate the cave today. In 1968 the manager of Bridal Cave started the tradition of the “Underground Opinion Poll”. The diversity of tourist who visit the attraction while vacationing at the Lake of the Ozarks has led to the poll being an accurate barometer of the outcome of the Presidential Election. The poll has accurately predicted the outcome of the election since it’s inception. The results of this years unscientific poll show McCain/Palin at 58%, overwhelming Obama/Biden’s 35%.
The cave is a popular choice as a wedding location and over 2000 couples have exchanged vows in the cave. Wedding packages include lifetime passes to the cave for the bride and groom. A 1950’s postcard states “Numerous weddings are performed in the beautiful Bridal Chapel in Bridal Cave every year. Bridal Cave is one of the top tourist attractions of the nation and is visited by thousands, including over ten thousand honeymoon couples annually”.
With a year round temperature of 60 degrees the cave is a respite from the heat during the summer months and comfortable during the other seasons. Vintage postcards advertise “More beautiful formations per square foot than any known cave or cavern.“ Mystery Lake is the newest cavern that has been opened to the public and is a part of the tour. The lake is crystal clear and it has been reported that one can clearly see the pebbles at the bottom of the waters 30 feet below the surface. Bridal Cave is open daily at 9 am, year round, only closing on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Day.
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