A gorgeous country road drive will take you to the Eckert/James River Bat Cave about thirty minutes southwest of Mason, TX. The Eckert/James River Bat Cave Preserve is one of the largest bat nurseries in the country. About 4 million female bats inhabit the site from May through September. Most of these are pregnant when they arrive. In the Bat Cave, females give birth to a single pup in June or July. The young bats grow rapidly and are able to fly at about five weeks of age. However, they will remain with their mothers until they return to Mexico in October.
The Bat Cave is owned and operated by the Nature Conservancy. The Conservancy offers public viewing on weekends during the season. The preserve is open from mid-May to early October for interpretive tours. These tours run Thursday-Sunday, from 6 p.m.- 9 p.m. Some sunrise tours of the bats returning from their nocturnal hunts also are offered. The preserve is open to visitors each summer. There is a $5 entrance fee. Children 5 and under are free.
An hour or two before sunset, hundreds of bats flutter and chirp around the mouth of the cave. Slowly, a stream of bats emerges and flies in a large circle, low to the ground, just outside the cave entrance. These bats gradually spiral upwards and form a dark funnel of flying mammals, reaching several hundred feet into the evening sky. The bats at the top of the spiral break off, forming columns that stream out over the countryside. This seemingly impossible torrent of bats forms a densely packed "bat tornado" for about an hour.
Richard Phillip Eckert and Virginia Eckert Garrett donated the cave to The Nature Conservancy in honor of their father, Lee Eckert, and grandfather, W. Phillip Eckert. The Eckert family acquired the property in 1907 when W. Phillip purchased the ranch on which the cave was located. In the early 1900s, W. Phillip mined the bat guano in the cave and sold it to local farmers for crop fertilizer. W. Phillip's son, Lee Eckert, continued his father's legacy of bat conservation and guano mining and left the site to his wife and children when he passed away in 1967.
This generation of Eckert’s wanted to ensure permanent protection of the bats, so in 1990 they donated the cave to the Conservancy on condition that the land around the cave remain open to the public for enjoyment and education, as it had been for more than 100 years.
The management plan developed by Bat Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy prevents human entrance to the cave during maternal activity, controls visitation, monitors the bat population and protects the cave opening. Scientific research continues at the site and the cave remains open to scientists throughout most of the year.
Along the way to the cave I strongly suggest three stops. First, stop at Cooper’s BBQ on highway 87 in Mason, next to the Super S grocery store. Pick up some of the best BBQ in Texas to enjoy on your drive to the cave. Second, don’t miss the “Todd Mountain” historical marker on FM 2389 that tells the story of an Indian kidnapping that occurred at this spot in 1864. That kidnapping became the story for the classic John Wayne movie “The Searchers”. Third, stop and swim in the Llano River where FM 2389 crosses the river. You can park on the gravel island in the river and enjoy the clear cool river. Be sure and wear water shoes to protect your feet.
Prepare for your visit by calling (325) 347-5970 during the season or (512) 263-8878 otherwise.
It is wise to phone ahead to obtain local weather conditions and updates concerning the James River, as you will need to drive through the river to reach the cave. This river is affected by flash flooding. Please note that the flood gauge normally reads 1 foot (even though the actual water height is about ten inches when the sign reads 1 foot). Although higher clearance SUVs and pickup trucks are the preferred vehicles to cross the river, if the flood gauge is at 1 foot or below, most vehicles should be able to make the crossing (other than low vehicles like Corvettes). Use your own judgment based upon knowledge of your individual vehicle. Do not make the crossing if the flood gauge is above 1 foot or higher.) Download PDF map and directions or see the directions below:
Start from the southeast side of Mason town square on Highway 87 South. It is about 16.5 miles to the preserve. Follow Highway 87 about 1 mile to FM 1723. If you pass the city park on the left, you have gone too far. Turn right on FM 1723. Follow FM 1723 for about 2.4 miles to FM 2389. Follow FM 2389 for about 4.8 miles to James River Road. You will cross two bridges over the Llano River just before you reach James River Road (you can park o the island between these bridges and enjoy a nice swim!). Turn right on James River road. It is about 8.3 miles to the preserve. Watch for deer and cattle on this road. The pavement will end about half way through and will then be driving on dirt road. Continue on the James River road to the James River crossing. Before you reach the James River, you will pass the Dalton J. Woods paved turnoff to the right; do not turn, continue straight through this intersection. Cross the James River. The roadway actually fords the river. Drive slowly. When crossing the river, you will see small waterfalls to your right. If you stay near those waterfalls (careful not to go to the right of them) the water level is constant all the way across the river and the river bottom is hard rock all the way across. Although it can be slick at times, it is crossable. Caution: This river is affected by flash flooding. Continue along the James River road about a 1/2 mile until the road turns a sharp left; the gated entrance to the preserve is on the right at this curve. Follow the road to the parking lot.
The drive from Mason to the cave takes about 30 minutes without stops. There is no opportunity to purchase fuel along the drive from Mason to the cave, so be sure and buy fuel in Mason.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNo5AuRH2To
-Don Gray
P.S. Here's some photos taken along the drive from Mason to the Bat Cave...
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