, Auditorium
Warren Cave is located in the Ocala Karst Plain in north-central Florida and is currently the longest cave in the state. The cave is a joint controlled maze cave formed in the Eocene age Ocala limestone and Miocene Hawthorn formation. Warren Cave is mostly dry and sandy and contains beautiful fossils and crystals. Named after an Army Colonel, John Warren, Warren Cave has been known to locals and visitors since at least the early 1800s and was a popular tourist destination. A strong, cool breeze enticed people into the cave. In 1959, a long-labored breakout opened up an impassable constriction, allowing cavers to explore further. Throughout the 1950s and 60s, cavers surveyed thousands of feet of passage. In the 90s, another breakout led to the southern section of the cave. As of 1994, the cave was about 4 miles long. Work stalled, and unfortunately, all of the data for the cave survey was lost in a house fire, leaving only the map of the cave. The National Speleological Society acquired the cave in 1991, and it had become a popular spot for local cavers. In 2023, Andy Pitkin (NSS#39762) began an effort to resurvey Warren Cave, using modern survey devices. That same year, Maggie Brosky (NSS#71611) joined this effort and has been leading the project for the last 3 years. As of March, the new survey is over a mile long. Beyond the explored, and in some cases resurveyed, passage, there are exciting frontiers for further exploration!
Maggie Brosky