BELLA VISTA
HISTORICAL MUSEUM

While learning about the tree sitting contest featured in my previous article, I discovered several other documents about
Wonderland Cave before the name Wonderland was added in 1930. This massive system of underground passageways was used by Native Americans for thousands of years as shelter while they hunted and fished in the hills and streams we now call Bella Vista.

Once permanent settlers began to settle the valley of Little Sugar Creek, this cave and others provided shelter in one way or another. During the chaotic years of the Civil War, the caves provided a hiding place for civilians, guerillas, and those just wanting to escape the devastation going on around them. At the end of the war, as people began to resettle the area, the caves became a center of fascination and exploration.

We find the first recorded mention of the cave we know as Wonderland in 1868. Captain J.V Lee told the Weekly Arkansas Gazette, “The cave extends a distance of some nine miles in length, and one chamber alone has the width of over 200 yards, while the distance to the top of the arched roof is upwards of 100 yards.” Almost at once the cave would become a tourist attraction.

The cave would be known by several other names before it would be given the Wonderland title in 1930. It was previously called Big Cave, North Cave and the most interesting Lost Dog Cave. A column from the June 3, 1927 Bella Vista Breeze would state “ LOST DOG CAVE, also known as Big Cave, can be reached by car or hiking. Anyone can direct you. According to local tradition a wildcat was chased into this cave by a hound dog owned by an old trapper many years ago. The dog never came out of the mouth of the cave but was found a week later in Missouri nine miles away. Don’t go in this cave without a cord to guide you out, for the cave has several branches.”

Not everyone paid attention to this warning and explorers would occasionally get lost in the cave and would have to be rescued by local farmers who were more familiar with the cave. As far as we know, no loss of life ever occurred inside the cave.

To this day the Wonderland Cave has never been fully explored. The main level contains the 1930’s ball room, stage, Missouri Room, Arkansas Room, wishing fountain and wine cellar. I will talk more about these areas in my next article. The main level also descends to at least one more level, which contains an underground river. This level is almost impossible to explore for an outside rain storm could very quickly turn it into a flooded death trap.

Wonderland or Big Cave wasn’t the only cave in our area that drew visitors before 1930. Another was Crystal Cave located within today's Brompton Court area. Known for its beautiful crystal formations over 200 feet straight down below the entrance, this cave would unfortunately be scavenged by the local residents. Today, many fireplaces in post Civil War homes around our area include crystals from this cave.

Other nearby caves include the Devils Hole, Suits Us Cave, Hidden Cave (today’s Sugar Bluffs Cave) and Cold Cave (today’s Blowing Springs Cave). Most of these caves are not accessible today and are on private property.

To learn more about the caves and the other features of early Bella Vista, visit the Bella Vista Historical Museum located at 1885 Bella Vista Way. It is open 1-5 Wednesday to Sunday. Admission is free.