Celebrate International Rock Day!

Thursday, July 13, happens to be International Rock Day. As you probably know, we love rocks here at Bridal Cave & Thunder Mountain Park! We have one of the coolest rock and mineral shops around featuring specimens from all over the world. We even have a couple of fun activities you can enjoy involving rocks here at our Lake of the Ozarks family attraction. After reading today's blog, we hope you'll become a rock-lover too. 


Rocks... well, they rock! 
Rocks are a naturally occurring phenomenon, much like the amazing formation of Bridal Cave. Some are composed of only one mineral, while others are made with a mixture of different minerals. When you visit our gift shop, you will see a wonderful variety of rocks, minerals, and gemstones to marvel at. Some of these include Amethyst, Pyrite, Citrine, and Calcite. 

Some people may think that rocks are cool simply because of the way they look. The variety of shapes, sizes, and colors is intriguing, and we even carry some rocks that have been carved into incredible sculptures. Other people have a fascination with rocks, minerals, and gemstones because many of them are known to have some metaphysical and healing properties. For example, amethyst is believed to bring about feelings of serenity, peace, courage, happiness, pain relief, and much more. 


Fun For Rock Hounds at Bridal Cave
We don't just have rocks on display and available for purchase in our gift shop. You can also have some fun with them while you are here. A very popular attraction at Bridal Cave & Thunder Mountain Park is the great big sluice. As a matter of fact, this is such a well-loved activity that we doubled the size of our sluice this year!

In case you are unfamiliar with the word "sluice," it's a track which water flows through so that our guests can dump "sluice bags" full of sand (and more!) into it and pan for the treasures hidden inside. Once you discover them, you get to claim the found gemstones as your own and take them home to keep! Some of the treasures waiting to be uncovered are: amethyst, calcite, citrine, garnet, jasper, moonstone, onyx, opal, peridot, quartz, ruby, sapphire, and so many more! Some bags even contain fossils! 


The other fun rock activity you can take part in while you are here is our geode cracker. A geode is a mysterious, spherical rock which geologists have long debated about how they are actually formed. In the center of a geode is a cavity that may or may not contain crystals. In our gift shop, you can pick your own geode out of the barrel and place it inside our custom-built, high-pressure geode cracker. With over 10 tons of pressure, your geode will be cracked open right before your eyes, and whatever is uncovered is yours to take home. 


Go On A Rock Hunt
While you are here, take to the trails of Thunder Mountain Park and see what different types of rocks you can spot. There are some beautiful Sandstone Bluffs for you to see along the trail, as well as all of the other naturally occurring wonders that can be found here in mid-Missouri. It's a gorgeous place, and there is something new and wondrous to see everywhere that you look. 

Bridal Cave & Thunder Mountain Park, Lake of the Ozarks

We'd love for you to visit our family fun Lake of the Ozarks attraction and take advantage of the exciting and educational opportunities that we have for you surrounding rocks. Until you can make it to Bridal Cave & Thunder Mountain Park, do a little rock hunting in your own backyard! Exploring nature is one of the best ways to enjoy Family Fun... As It Should Be! 


One of America's most scenic 
cave tours.

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526 Bridal Cave Road
Camdenton, MO 65020
(573) 346-2676

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