Lost River Cave, Show cave and protected area in Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States.
Lost River Cave is a cave system in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where an underground river flows through passages carved into limestone rock. The rock formation dates back more than 300 million years, when much of North America lay beneath a shallow sea.
People took shelter here more than 10,000 years ago, hunting with stone points near the mouth of the cave. In the 1930s, an underground nightclub opened inside, hosting live music and evening entertainment in its cool passages.
During the 1930s, the cave housed the Cavern Nite Club, which attracted visitors with live performances in its naturally temperature-controlled environment.
Boat tours carry visitors through the underground river sections, with guided trips offered throughout the year. Hiking trails extend for roughly two miles (three kilometers) around the protected area, suitable for walks above the cave.
The river surfaces at three separate spots before entering the cave, so the water disappears and reappears between sections. This trait gives the place its name and makes the underground course especially hard to track.
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