Here, too, are numerous needle-like points protruding down from the ceiling as though sharp pointed pins had been pushed through from above. Areas on the floor remind the visitor of a growing rock garden, yet there is not a green leaf anywhere to be seen. Nevertheless, few gardens offer any more beauty or color than these gentle formations along the edges of the Papoose Room, smallest of the scenic chambers on the trail.
Here the party must retrace a few steps, returning through the King's Palace, leaving this time by the eastern end, entering a small passageway which leads to a series of sharp turns and switchbacks made necessary in order to climb the rather steep grade ahead.
It has now been an hour and 45 minutes since the visitor left the outer world behind, and the up and down climbing has done its part towards working up an appetite. But if that hasn't been enough, going up this zig-zagging hill should complete the task and make anyone ready for something to eat. Appropriately enough, it has been tagged Appetite Hill, and uses 60 feet to accomplish its task.
A moment later the party passes by a room of rocks which looks as though it was noon hour at a rock quarry, and the workmen had scurried off at the abrupt blow of the whistle, not caring in what manner of disarray they left their chores. But in this case it was Nature's workmen who left—untold hundreds of years ago—never to return. Labeled the Bone Yard, it features an alcove where the formation resembles a huge sponge—rock eaten away or dissolved by the continuous action of water which, at times, resembles bone formations.
After having seen the more colorful scenic rooms, many visitors give this spot scarcely more than a fleeting glance, but geologists find here exacting evidence as to the Caverns' beginning. After the Swiss cheese effect was created the water was in some manner diverted and, in the absence of drip water, no stalactites or stalagmites were formed.
© BY ROBERT NYMEYER
A few steps more and the visitor finds himself in a huge room with a massive rock formation hanging from the ceiling as though it might fall to the floor at some prearranged signal. Huge boulders dot the sides of the room, between which are many narrow white benches and tables. In the center of the room are long aisles which carry the visitor past waist-high counters on which have been placed hundreds of box lunches. Yes, this is the famous lunchroom, 754 feet below the surface of the earth, and just about the most popular room for those who have been hiking for the past couple of hours.
The guide announces there will be a rest of 40 minutes—ample time to eat a noon-day meal and rest a couple of tired feet. It seems that no matter how many people enter the lunchroom, the line past the counters never stops or is held up. Designed to accommodate 1200 an hour, as many as 2000 hungry sightseers have been clocked picking up their lunch and beverage in that time. The lunchroom is operated by the Cavern Supply Company under the supervision of the National Park Service.
Visitors who took the easy way into the Caverns, via the elevator, arrive at the lunchroom as their first stop. From this point they continue their limited tour of the Caverns pretty much on one level.