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Frick's Cave Preserve

Management Plan | Make a Donation

NOTICE: This cave is currently closed to protect endangered bats from possible exposure to deadly White Nose Syndrome (WNS).

The Southeastern Cave Conservancy is pleased to be the owner of Fricks Cave, The cave features 10,000 endangered Gray Bats, Georgia's only known population of the rare Tennessee Cave Salamander, and 33.8 acres of north Georgia karstland. Without a doubt Fricks is Georgia's richest biologic spelean environment. It is one of two Gray Bat caves in Georgia. The cave is in Walker County on the eastern flank of Lookout Mountain.

Previous attempts to buy the cave were unsuccessful and the cave, along with the entire 426 acre Meadowview Farm, went up for auction on May 10, 1997. We went to the auction and were able to secure a contract on all the tracts that we wanted to get. The bidding was rather fierce, and we had to pay more than we had hoped, but we got what we need to protect the cave and its inhabitants. 

The SCCi was represented by a delegation consisting of Bill Putnam, Mark Wolinsky, Buddy Lane, E.T. Davis, Kenneth Huffines, Steve Hudson, Diane Cousineau, and Karen Padgett. All of these people, plus Jim Ozier (Georgia Department of Natural Resources), Andrew Schock (Georgia Nature Conservancy), Jim Godwin (Alabama Natural Heritage Program), Kurt Buhlman (University of Georgia), and several others helped make this acquisition possible.

The SCC took ownership at the closing on June 10, 1997. Financing for this acquisition was provided by the Georgia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. Additional support was provided by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Fricks Cave is closed to all visitation due to the presence of the endangered bats and salamanders. Entry into the cave may constitute harrassment as defined in Section 9 of the federal Endangered Species Act and is punishable by imprisonment and fines up to $50,000. Please respect the endangered wildlife in this delicate cave.

The SCCi historically hosted an annual Open House day at the preserve each winter to allow visitors to tour the cave when the bats are not present. However, the open house for 2009 was cancelled due to concerns about the deadly White Nose Syndrome bat disease. Hopefully open houses will resume in the future.

Acreage: 33.8 acres (owned) in Walker County, Georgia
Property Managers: Frick's Cave Management Committee (fricks@scci.org)
Access: Closed due to endangered cave life. Access by special arrangement only. See the management plan for details.