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2021 McDonald county Directory | 20 Back in the 1920s Noel was a premier resort spot nationally known as a place to come and relax in its natural splendor. In 1925 C. Arthur Browning, a native of the Ozarks, found limestone rock on his family's property. Limestone is what most of the caves in the Ozark region are formed out of. It was there that Browning discovered Bluff Dwellers Cave. Further exploring his discovery, Browning quickly realized he had stumbled upon something special. Two years later, he launched his cave business in an effort to share this beautiful work of nature with the general public by offering educational tours of the cave. With the success of the cave tours, Arthur Browning's daughter, Kathleen, acquired the family business in 1958. She expanded the tourist destination to include the Browning Museum. e displays at the museum showcased rocks, minerals and fossils that Kathleen had collected along the way. In 1991 upon Kathleen's retirement, her younger sister Reita took over the family business. With her husband George, she turned the family home into a lodge called e Cavern Inn which is still available year-round to visitors. Bluff Dwellers Cave has several unique features. It has a 10 ton balanced rock that a guide can actually move with two fingers. It is home to the state's longest known rimstone dam. Another thing that sets it apart from other cave adventures you might find in the Ozark region is the fact that navigating inside the cave is very easy. Unlike other caves where you have to climb down narrow ledges and duck to get into small openings, Bluff Dwellers Cave can be explored comfortably without squeezing or ducking to enjoy the natural wonder. On a hot summer's day, it can also be a nice, cool retreat from the Southern Missouri heat. Bluff Dwellers Cave provides an informative educational experience to its visitors. It is a great place to learn about the unique world of caves. e guides strive to be both entertaining and educational. It is a safe and easy way to learn about the caves and the history of the region, ranging from the geological history that includes the oceans of the Mississippian period that formed the limestone to the Archaic inhabitants who used the cave for storage and food processing. Bluff Dwellers Cave: Noel A stunning natural wonder 220 Minnow Springs Ave. • Noel, MO 417-475-3492 • www.arthurmurraysmotel.com Arthur Murray's Motel STAY FLOAT REPEAT