EXPLORING Fantastic Cavems, Drive-Through Cave

Plus a Bucket List of Caves for the Physically Challenged

- SUE EYRE

Everyone should be able to enjoy the beauty of a cave, but if you, or one of your travel companions has physical - limitations, you may avoid caves as part of your travel plans. Fantastic Caverns, the only naturally-formed, completely drive-through cave tour in North America, is located a few minutes northwest of Springfield, Missouri, and provides a viable option for all.

THE 'WHYS' AND 'HOWS' OF RIDE-THROUGH CAVING 

'Physically challenged' has a variety of meanings. It could mean that you are confined to a wheelchair; a recent injury may have you in a cast or on crutches; you may have had a recent surgery or, you may just be at a stage in your life where you feel unsafe walking on damp, uneven surfaces.

A vision or hearing loss may also deter a cave visitor. Another reason for taking a ride-through cave tour may be that you are on a multi-generational outing that includes young children and grandparents, both who may have difficulty walking at the pace of a traditional cave tour.

Fantastic Caverns can handle almost any of these situations. They use propane-powered Jeeps to pull large trams through the cave for a 55-minute tour. Most visitors just step up into the tram and grab a bench seat in the wagon. Because of the height of the cave and the width of the tram ramp, wheelchairs are restricted to 45 inches high by 28 inches wide. If your chair doesn't meet those requirements, but you're able to transfer into the passenger seat of the Jeep, you may get to ride shotgun with the tour guide. For visitors with hearing loss, English transcripts of the tour are available. At this point, everyone is on the same tour, hearing the tour guide's explanations and able to ask questions-everyone has the same experience.