Cold Water Cave (aka Coldwater Cave) is the 32nd longest cave in the US., with over 17 miles of breathtaking passages. This cave system is designated as a National Natural Landmark.

In December 2003 John expanded the Cave Preserve holdings and purchased 200 acres of subsurface cave rights to Cold Water Cave, including 5 surface acres. That winter a 188 foot deep access shaft was created to the cave below.

Read the HISTORY

To download an article about the Cold Water Cave project, point your browser to:
http://www.karstpreserve.com/ColdWaters.pdf

This old windmill is poised directly over Cold Water Cave.  The well pipe had inadvertently intersected the cave, and was eventually discovered by the original cave explorers after they traced an eerie banging noise.  The ghostly noise was found to be the result of the lift rod clattering in the steel pipe!  Here John measures the amount of land he wishes to purchase, using the windmill as the benchmark.

When this aged windmill was constructed, the drillers knew a large cavern had been encountered.   Wind screamed out of the hole, beckoning them.  But at that time there were no options to discover what they had found.  A wood fence post was sent down the hole, coming to rest in an unknown cave passage.  It wouldn't be until the 1960's, long after the drillers and owners of the windmill were dead and gone, that the mystery was solved.  The petrified fence post was found resting right next to the well pipe, in a spacious decorated passage.

Both the pump handle assembly and well pipe were winched up a few feet so accurate measurements to the cave ceiling and floor could be established.  Phil Gemuenden lowers his camera to obtain the data and also to glimpse at the cave below him.  This was an exciting day!

The access site was chosen about 85 feet south of the windmill for the following reasons

Dave Gerboth compares the original government survey with the survey plotted by the original discoverers.  Combined with the current declination, he calculated where the new shaft should be drilled.

Before committing to a lengthy and costly drilling project, John hired a local Iowa firm to drill a test hole so that positive confirmation of the actual site could be established.

It was a bitterly cold winter day.  The first 5.25 inch diameter hole was drilled to a depth of 190 feet and missed the cave.  Extreme anxiety set in, fearful that the proceeding test holes may also miss the mark.

Dave hastily fine tuned the calculations, which resulted in a positive hit during the second attempt!   Phil's camera was dropped down the hole and revealed a small forest of ceiling formations.  The decision was made to shift the access shaft about 15 feet away so they could be spared.  This was somewhat risky because a third test hole had not been drilled to confirm the cave would be encountered this far away.  We would rely on Dave's recommendations

A second well firm, Thein Well Company, was contracted to drill the main access shaft, which was calculated to be 188 feet deep.

A fifteen inch diameter bit is utilized first.  At 19 feet solid bedrock was encountered and a temporary casing is installed.

By now the neighbors were wondering what was going on! Original reproduction blades, including a fin assembly, were ordered for the top of the windmill.

The weather was brutal but the work went on.

Water, mixed with a foaming agent, along with extreme air pressure, was injected through the end of the drill bits.  The foam helped to carry out the limestone residue.

An array of specialty rigs were necessary to drill the shaft.  Each drill rig could accommodate a certain type and size bit.  Companion air compressor and water rigs were also standard issue.

This was the view from the windmill, looking south.  The red flag marking the second test hole is visible.  The fifteen inch diameter hole was drilled to within ten feet of the cave ceiling.  Then the temporary fifteen inch casing was removed and a 30 inch diameter scoop bit drilled down to bedrock so the permanent steel casing could be installed.   A three part graduated drill bit assembly was used to drill the remaining distance to the cave ceiling.

When an incredibly hard rock layer was encountered, a little extra foaming agent helped to prevent the bit from binding.

Dave Gerboth and Kurt Seeliger installed casing in the second test hole which was not utilized.   Someday this hole may be necessary to serve as an electrical conduit for scientific in-cave equipment.

Ropes, pulleys, and brake systems are starting to get set up for John's initial descent.  At 188 feet, there can be no room for mistakes.

Two hundred pounds of dead weight was lowered and raised down the shaft before John's journey, to assure smooth operation.  Due to the depth and slight shaft hole deviation, it was not possible to visually see the bottom.  Initially there was a concern about the oxygen level, but this proved to be an unwarranted fear.

A permanent industrial strength lockable lid was an immediate priority.

Phil made each ladder section to fit together in series.  Saint Agnus Church is visible in the background.  A suitable limestone building is being designed, and will be constructed over the access shaft.

Restoring the windmill

Restoring the windmill

Restoration complete!

New Entrance

Photo displays windmill pipe protruding into the cave.

A fantastic dome is located approximately 150 ft from the entrance.
There are over 100 tall domes in this cave system.

Looking up into the dome.

Huge formations have formed at the base of the dome.

Kris Haugen is photographed along the main passage.

Swimming across a large lake to another section.

Numerous highly decorated lakes are found within the cave.

Lisette Hornblad and Marc Tiritilli at Cascade Falls.

Swedish caver, Lisette Hornblad in the Gallery section.

Clay Kraus peered up into a large void in a remote section of the cave. Clay and John Ackerman subsequently removed enough rock to gain access into the void and discovered new passages and tall domes. READ THE STORY