SULPHUR SPRINGS — In early December, the calendar begins to fill with a myriad of activities. There's always the usual round of concerts, parades and holiday open houses, all predictable events. But a Sulphur Springs couple offers a unique alternative to the ordinary, a chance to view holiday movies in an underground theater.
Paul and Tracy Linscott, owners of the Old Spanish Treasure Cave on Arkansas Highway 59 between Sulphur Springs and Gravette, first watched a movie underground when Paul rigged up a projector and screen there as a surprise for his wife. They had so much fun on that surprise date night that they decided a few months ago to share the experience with others. They screened their first film for the public, "The Goonies," in August of this year. The show was announced on Facebook and sold out within 24 hours. Their next showing, a week later, was also sold out.
Those were the last films for a while but, in October, the Linscotts hosted a haunted cavern and "trail of terror" event during the Halloween season. They decided to experiment with showing movies again and the reaction was tremendous, Paul said, so they have chosen to continue the shows.
"A Christmas Story" will be shown on Friday, Dec. 9. "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "Miracle on 34th Street" and "Home Alone" are all being considered for the holiday season.
Suggestions for films to be shown are accepted online at spanish-treasure-cave.com or they can be made by calling 479-787-6508. Future guests are encouraged to make their choices as the Linscotts can show any movie as long as their licensing agency has the rights to it. Upcoming films will be announced on Facebook, and guests are asked to make reservations online and get their tickets soon since seating is limited.
Movies are shown at 7 p.m. and guests are asked to arrive 30 minutes early so they will have time to buy snacks and drinks and learn the rules of the cave. The concession stand always sells the usual popcorn, candy bars and soft drinks; and nachos and hot dogs are sometimes available when larger groups are booked. Paul has been a cave enthusiast for more than 40 years and he was reluctant to serve snacks because he was afraid littering might occur and ruin the beauty of the cave.
The Linscotts felt they just couldn't invite folks to watch movies without allowing them to enjoy the usual fare, so they decided to sell food. Paul was pleasantly surprised when the first guests did a wonderful job of keeping the cave clean. No candy bar wrappers or popcorn kernels were left behind.
"We just told people to please pick up their stuff and not drop anything," Paul said." When everybody left, it was all clean. That eased our minds. They were tremendously respectful of the cave."
Movies are shown in the cave's large Council Room, and walking back to the projection room involves a tour of the front half of the cavern. Guests are asked to bring camp chairs and stay on the trail. They may also bring cameras and flashlights if they wish. Just a short distance from the front entrance, they will pass a niche where tins of all-purpose survival biscuits are visible. They were left from the Cold War days when the cave was designated as a Civil Defense nuclear fallout shelter.
The Linscotts have been very pleased with the response to their movie showings. Guests have come in from Joplin, Tulsa and Fort Smith, even a few from Little Rock, Paul said.
"For a new event, it has been very positive," he commented. "We are exciting about continuing. It's not very expensive ($8 a person), so it makes a great date night or family experience. It's really fun. You'll have a really great time."
Paul is an Arkansas native and Tracy was from Branson, Mo. They have lived in various places around the state. They have owned Spanish Treasure Cave more than 20 years. They bought it in April, 1996, after Paul learned it was for sale from some of his caving friends. He said he was skeptical at first about the legend that Spanish treasure was buried in the cave but he has become a believer after finding a sword blade and belt. Previous explorers have found helmets, pieces of armor, weapons, a few gold coins and a bracelet.
"When I bought the cavern, I didn't believe anything about the treasure," he said. "Being a caver and loving caves, this is a fantastic cavern. I didn't believe it until I did some research and I found some artifacts."
The Linscotts say they are often told by people in the area that they didn't know about the cave. They hope the movie nights will help spread the word about the cave tours they offer. A tour takes about an hour and goes about 1/3 mile into the cave. Tours cost $13.50 for an adult, $6.50 for youngsters, 4-11, and children under 4 are admitted free. Special group rates are available and the Linscotts are now booking several school groups.
Persons touring the cave will learn about George Dunbar, who operated the Sulphur Springs Cave Company in the cave for a time, and see artifacts left by him. Dunbar operated the company as a cover-up; he was really looking for the Spanish treasure. He installed rails to give greater access to parts of the cave. Dunbar died in 1912 in a local field hospital and is buried in Hillcrest Cemetery at Gravette. The Linscotts are now excavating more of Dunbar's rails and they're digging them out by hand.
"It's a slow, painstaking process," Paul said, "but we don't want to destroy history. We treat this just like any other archeological dig."
The Linscotts host caving nights on Saturday nights and offer programs for Scouts and youth groups. The cave is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 to 4 and Sunday from noon to 4. Rockhounds will enjoy the rock shop near the cave with its collection of various rocks, geodes, fossils and petrified wood. Visitors can also purchase bags of soil and use them to pan for gems in the sluice out front.
The Linscotts invite everyone to come enjoy the cave. With the movies and other programs, it's the perfect winter experience. The constant temperature of 58 degrees makes for pleasant surroundings even when it's much colder outside.
"Other events can get rained out or canceled because of the snow," Paul said, "but you can come and enjoy the cave no matter what the weather. Just as long as the roads aren't too icy to get here, you can come see a movie or take a cave tour."
Community on 12/07/2016